After 25 yeras, bid to ‘reform’ Khasi society yet to gain momentum

SHILLONG: Even after 25 long years, the campaign run by the Synkhong Rympei Thymmai (SRT) to reform the family structure in the Khasi society has gained little acceptance.
Observing this during the silver jubilee celebrations of the SRT held at Don Bosco Youth Centre here on Tuesday, president of the organization, Keith Pariat said, “We have completed 25 years but the fact remains that majority of the people are still strongly opposed to our campaign.”
While admitting that it is difficult to change the system that has prevailed for centuries Pariat said, “The Khasis have always had a matrilineal society in which property and family name pass on from mother to daughter. But time has come to replace it with the patrilineal system found in the rest of the world to save our men.”
According to him, the matrilineal system has many negative aspects like dampening the spirit of the male members, whose status continued to be on the lower side, leading the men to depression.
“Many of our male members land up drinking at a very early age. Many of them die between the age of 35 to 40 years. This irrelevant and outdated tradition is destroying our men,” Pariat said adding that communities where the male has the overall control are better placed when compared to those which follow the matrilineal system.
Pariat said that Khasi men have become so accustomed to a life of no responsibility that they have no drive left and feel useless.