India as a patriarchal society, has a system where men hold most of the power. This system is ingrained in many aspects of the Indian life where women are expected to play secondary roles in the house. Though this is the case for many parts of the country it is not true for every region. In the northeastern states of India, like Meghalaya and Manipur, there are strong traditions where family lineage is traced through women, which provides a unique balance between patriarchal and matrilineal practices. Many people confuse this custom as matriarchy but rather it is a matrilineal custom.
In India, men are often decision-makers in the families. Many families prefer to have at least one son if not all among their children, as sons are seen as the one who will carry on the family name and take care of their parents in their old age whereas women are often expected to marry and move to their husband’s home. This male dominated system is reinforced by traditions, religious teachings making it difficult for women to achieve the same level of freedom as men.
In Meghalaya, among the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo tribes, family property is passed down through women, and children take their mother’s surname. The property and family lineage are passed down through the youngest daughter, known as the ‘Khadduh’. She inherits the ancestral home and is responsible for taking care of the family. This tradition takes place whether they do or do not have a son. In cases where women does not have daughters, the custom of nongrap-ling ensures the continuation of the family legacy by adopting a female clan member, known as ka nongrap-ling. But men still usually handle the political and leadership responsibilities.
Similarly, in Manipur, in the Meitei community they celebrate Nupa Piban, also known as Mishri Lai. In this tradition, the youngest daughter marries and her husband moves into her family’s home. Either the couple reside with or near the wife’s family rather than the husband’s. This custom ensures that the youngest daughter, who inherits the family’s property, remains in her ancestral home to take care of her parents in their old age and her husband becomes part of her family. This is commonly practiced in a family with only daughters. Here too, men still are the head of the household and hold major power.
While these traditions tend to uplift women, in many cases, you can see the man acting and behaving as the head of the household where all decisions are routed through him.
By integrating both men’s and women’s contributions into family heritage practices we could transform how societies value and sustain their traditions. For instance, property and family names can be passed on to either one of the genders. By embracing a system where the importance of all family members is recognized, there could be a future free from gender biases which creates an equitable society.
Comentarios