Book

Garo and Khasi: a comparative study in matrilineal systems

MoutonParisPublished In 1967 • Pages: 187 , plates

By: Nakane, Chie.

AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
After describing the matrilineal system of the Garo and the Khasi separately, Nakane compares them with each other and with societies having matrilineal systems. Similarity between the social structure of the Garo and Khasi is found only at the level of the minimum criteria of matrilineal systems: the basic succession rules of mother-daughter, mother's-brother's-sister's son; and the fact that property is owned by the woman, but the controlling power and authority over it are in the hands of the man. Differences lie in the composition of a property group: the property group of the Khasi is formed by a descent group at a shallow generational depth, while that of the Garo is maintained by the cooperation of two local lines, each of which represents a localized lineage group. Hence the descent group of the Khasi tends to have a stronger solidarity whereas the one of the Garo tends to be weakened in its solidarity. Nakane also gives consideration to culture change taking place due to expansion of both groups into the lowlands, and consequently more intense contact with the surrounding Hindu population, as well as due to Christian missionaries and their educational programs.
SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
Comparative evidence
Functional and adaptational interpretations
Family
Rule of descent
Lineages
Clans
Community structure
cultureCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
Khasi
HRAF PubDateThe date HRAF published the document
1996
RegionThe area the document pertains to
Asia
Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
South Asia
Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs
Book
Evaluation
Creator TypeThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.
Ethnologist
Document Rating A ranking done by HRAF anthropologists based on the strength of the source material on a scale of 1 to 5, as follows: 1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent; 4 - excellent secondary data; 5 - excellent primary data.
5: Excellent Primary Data
AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
Sigrid Khera ; Dubravka Schmalzbauer ; 1969-1974
Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
October 1955 - February 1956
Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
mid-1950s
Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
Garo Hills, Khasi-Jaintia Hills ; Sonkynduh and Kongton villages (Khasi),Rombagiri village (Garo), Meghalaya, India
NotesAdditional notes
Chie Nakane
Includes bibliography
LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
Khasi (Indic people)/Garo (Indic people)