Identity In Crisis

Khasi women stand to lose a lot if the Khasi Lineage Amendment Bill is passed

- Manjum Mahanta

Webster defines root as ‘something that is an origin or source’ and for most of us that root is directly or indirectly related to our birthplace and the ethnic group or tribe we are born into. A lot of how we live, the way we perceive the world and interact with others depend on our roots, but what if that link is broken? It would most likely lead to identity crises. In Meghalaya, that very threat looms over its womenfolk. The Khasi Lineage Amendment Bill proposed by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has lead to uproar, both online and offline, because it would alienate Khasi women who marry outside the tribe. We speak to all the stakeholders to understand the situation more clearly.

What is New?

KHADC in a special session, proposed to amend The Khasi Social Custom of Lineage Act 1997. The Khasi Social Custom of Lineage, Second Amendment Bill, of 2018 tabled by KHADC included a new clause under Section 3 of the Act that stated, ‘Any Khasi woman who marries a non-Khasi, as well as offspring born of such marriage shall be deemed as non-Khasi, shall lose the Khasi status and all privileges and benefits as a member of the Khasi tribe, who cannot claim preferential privileges under any law’. Amendment of Section 2 of the Act states that a ‘non-Khasi’ means ‘a person not belonging to indigenous Khasi tribe classified as Scheduled Tribe under the Constitution (Scheduled Tribe) order, 1950 (part III - Rules and Orders under the Constitution) Part XI – Meghalaya.’