Khasi council set to block mixed marriages

The khasi hlls autonomous district council has decided on October 26 as the date for amendment to the...

The khasi hlls autonomous district council (KHADC) has decided on October 26 as the date for amendment to the Khasi Lineage Act 2005. The finalisation of the date for amendment of the Act was taken after a marathon meeting held with village headmen, heads of clans and several NGOs on Tuesday.

The proposed amendment Bill is an effort to curb mixed marriages by blocking ST status to children born out of a wedlock between a tribal and a non-tribal. The amended Bill will also deny ST status to Khasis who are named after their father, as Khasis follow the matrilineal system.

Syngkong Rympei Thymmai (SRT), demanding that Khasis be allowed to trace their lineage from the father’s side, objected to the KHADC decision. However, Khasi Jaintia Welfare Association (KJWA) member B Rynjah said: “Khasis are known for their matrilineal society throughout the country. We cannot change our identity.”

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KHADC has also proposed to do away with a Khasi ceremony —Tangjait — which is performed when a Khasi man marries a non-tribal woman, so that the latter can have a Khasi surname. However, the Seng Khasi opposed this move, saying it was one of the oldest Khasi ceremonies and, therefore, cannot be done away with.

KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) H S Shylla felt that Tangjait would slowly disappear once the amendment is operational.

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