Editor,
Firstly, a consanguineous mating (mating between relatives) is one which nature is against because it arrests evolution and adaptation in living organisms. We try and ensure that such acts don’t occur. Some rodents do practice consanguineous mating but they are considered dirty and repulsive. Take the lions for instance, once the male cubs are old enough they are exiled by the pride so as to avoid consanguineous mating. So is the case with elephants. Now how can we rid ourselves of such kind of mating if we do not know who our relatives are? More often in a patrilineal kind of society, blood relations often become blurred down the generations and in some cases offspring are born unwholesome. This is because recessive genes are expressed as there is no dominant gene. A recessive gene will only express when infants are born out of consanguineous mating. Gregor Mendel performed such an experiment with the use of a plant and he called it ‘selfing’. Here we can see that recessive genes do also express. Following a patri-lineage may lead us to drift apart from blood relatives and sooner or later consanguineous mating may occur and sick infants are born. This has a lower possibility of occurring in a matrilineal society. Therefore, it is safe to say that the matri-lineage is scientifically more correct. Meghalaya as a state is unique as we have a matrilineal society. The Khasis, pride themselves in having far-sighted ancestors, but as of now, should we disobey them? I am not saying that we should neglect the father or the paternal side of the family. In fact, a lot of importance is placed on the father and his family. The mother and the children totally depend on the father. Any Khasi who disrespects ‘Ki Kha Ki Man’ diminishes himself and is considered a worthless person with a disabled soul. Respect towards elders and others has always been and will always be a big part of the Khasi society. I, therefore, see no wrong in continuing the matrilineal way of life. If men’s ego is hurt when they think that they are losing their own clan name and gaining someone else’s, remember we do not take the woman’s name or the wife’s name, we take our mother’s. In our country, we see women viewed as mere objects. (Satyamev Jayate aired on 9 /11/2014 at 11am on Star World). People look to us and appreciate and applaud the matrilineal society that we have. Why should we follow everyone when we can be leaders?
A society which respects mothers and women, girls and little ones is a society which will grow.
Yshua Lyngdoh
Govt. Boys High school
Class XII
Is Meghalaya becoming a rapists’ paradise?
Editor,
Rape is considered the fourth most common crime against women in India. According to the National Crime Records Bureau 2013 annual report, 24,923 rape cases were reported across India in 2012. Out of these, 24,470 were committed by relatives or neighbours; in other words, the victim knew the alleged rapist in more than 90 per cent of the cases. According to 2012 statistics, New Delhi has the highest number of rape-reports among Indian cities, while Jabalpur has the least incidence of reported rape cases. Several rape cases in India received widespread media attention and triggered protests since 2012. This led the Government of India to reform its penal code for crimes of rape and sexual assault.
Going by the crime diary of Meghalaya, one observes that rape cases have risen exponentially. On an average 1-2 cases of reported rape appear every day in local dailies. Many more cases might have been suppressed due to fear of social ostracism or other security reasons. I have lived in Meghalaya for over fifty years and noticed that change in mentality of the male population here has happened in the last 25 years or so. The all-India statistics on rape has shown a rising graph in North East India with Mizoram heading the list.
In Meghalaya while newspapers report a rape, no rapist has as yet been convicted. The police simply pass on the news of an FIR filed by a rape survivor to the media with the usual set phrase ‘the case is under investigation’. And, the investigation continues……
The indigenous tribes of Meghalaya practice a matrilineal culture where women are respected then why does this perversion prevail in the minds of the male members? Is it due to lack of lack proper guidance, education or counselling? The educated tribals should start searching for the reasons. If any group intends to form a society for tackling rape I would be glad to involve myself with such a cause.
Yours, etc.
P B DAS,
Shillong-3