SHILLONG: The matrilineal society in the State that sits amid the patriarchy in the country needs to be understood in a broader context, feels NEHU-Shillong pro-vice chancellor Henry Lamin.
Speaking on the concluding day of the seminar on ‘Understanding the tribes of Asia’ at Synod College here on Friday, Lamin highlighted the problems that women face in India as well as other countries. He pointed out that in Meghalaya women are respected so much that “sometimes we might say where the position of men is”.
The remark is significant at a time when the State is witnessing a significant rise in the number of crime against women.
“It (the matrilineal society) is a challenging one because it is surrounded by the patrilineal society… Meghalaya is a state that is quite different from the others where matrilineal system is strictly followed even today. You may interpret it in different ways, but I want to drive home the point that through this seminar, the main intention is to learn, to know and to understand in a broader context,” he added.
The two-day seminar, organised by the departments of Education and History at Synod College in collaboration with the P.A Sangma Foundation, also saw participation of academicians and researchers who presented papers on tribal rituals and practices, conflicts, social and cultural heritage and the impact of globalisation on indigenous people.
It may be mentioned that the international seminar was inaugurated by Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram on Thursday in the presence of Tura MP Conrad Sangma.
