By Mebanrihunlang Nongrem
Meghalaya, the “abode of clouds,” is one of the last regions in India where matriliny continues to thrive. Among its people, the Khasi tribe follows a distinctive system in which lineage and inheritance pass through women. Yet, this beautiful tradition carries its own challenges. As one Khasi saying goes: “A Khasi man, when he leaves his home, leaves empty-handed… if he is fortunate, he may get a government job, but if misfortune strikes, he must toil daily just to earn rice and salt for his meals.” This contrast between cultural pride and personal struggle reflects the paradox of inheritance in Khasi society.
Matriliny safeguards women, ensuring their security and social identity. But it also raises a deeper question: is inheritance truly just if it favours only one gender? Philosophers have long wrestled with this dilemma. John Rawls, in A Theory of Justice, argued for a balance between liberty and equality as the foundation of a well-ordered society. Centuries earlier, Aristotle described justice as proportional equality rooted in virtue and merit, aimed at creating conditions for the “good life.” From this ethical lens, privileging sons in patriarchal societies—or daughters in matrilineal ones—creates imbalance. True harmony arises only when every individual, male or female, is recognized as an equal heir.
The Khasi principle of ka jingbha paidbah—the welfare of the community—resonates with this vision. Inheritance, ideally, should not only preserve family continuity but also foster shared responsibility within households. Mylliemngap (2024) observes in Inheritance, Identity, and Power: The Role of Women and Maternal Uncle in Khasi Matrilineal Lineage Systems, property among the Khasi is divided into two types: Ka Nongtymmen or ancestral property, consisting of land, houses, fields, ornaments, and cash passed down through generations; and Ka Nongkhynraw or self-acquired property, earned individually during one’s lifetime. The ancestral property is inherited by the youngest daughter, Ka Khadduh. If she dies, remains childless, or has only sons, the inheritance passes to the next younger daughter or the elder sister’s youngest daughter. This ensures that ancestral wealth remains firmly within the female clan line.
Such a system highlights women as custodians of family heritage while shaping the roles and responsibilities of men within the community. Yet Khasi matriliny, often misunderstood as “matriarchy,” is not about female domination. Rather, it is a sophisticated network of family structures, inheritance rules, and social responsibilities that gives women a central place in lineage while men contribute to governance, the economy, and rituals. As one Khasi elder reflects: “If you want a strong community, you must also strengthen the role of the male child.”
The future of Khasi society lies in balancing its matrilineal heritage with universal principles of justice and equality. A society that honours all its members—sons and daughters alike—will stand resilient for generations to come. As Meghalaya’s clouds drift over valleys where matriliny still breathes, one is left to wonder: if culture safeguards women but leaves men striving, can society ever be truly just? If equity means giving each person their due, what would a balanced system of inheritance look like for the Khasi? Should tradition adapt when it collides with universal principles of justice and fairness?
True justice lies in equality. By giving each child an equal share, we honour their dignity and potential. Growth, wisdom, and opportunity should not be dictated by custom or circumstance, but by fairness. When inheritance becomes a shared gift rather than a privilege reserved for one gender, individuals flourish—and so does society.
