The Role of the Mahari in A'chik Society

This paper focuses on the changing role of clan organisations in A'chik society. The A'chik are matrilineal. They trace descent along the female line, and pass property on via the daughters. A'chik clan organisations regulate matrimonial alliances, solve disputes and impose customary laws. In the past one and a half centuries, the significance of kinship among the A'chik has changed. Here I present three cases that are illustrative of contemporary kinship practices. In addition, I show how formal clan organisations (mahari) are emerging as powerful and well-organised institutions. Keywords: matrilinityadaptabilitysocial cohesion Notes 2 In 2001 the districts of East, West and South Garo Hills had 668,930 inhabitants. Government of Meghalaya, Meghalaya Socio-Economic Review (Shillong: Government of Meghalaya, 2003), p.6. 3 The A'chik or Mande language is one of the languages of the Bodo group, which is a major branch of the Tibeto-Chinese family of languages. See S.K. Chatterjee, Kirata-Jana-Krti. The Indo-Mongoloids: Their Contributions to the History and Culture of India (Calcutta: Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1951), p.23. 1 I am grateful to Erik de Maaker and Vibha Joshi for their comments and feedback. 4 William Carey, A Garo Jungle Book (Tura: Tura Book Room, 1993), pp.254–9. 5 A third sept called Momin is found in the plains of Goalpara District of Assam and in the adjacent foothills of the Garo Hills. 6 Violation of the laws of exogamy is not exceptional. See A. Playfair, The Garos (New Delhi: Spectrum Publications 1998), p.66. 7 Ibid., p.65. 8 Ma'dipil is a smaller social unit which is limited to three or four generations of a family at any given time. It includes grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren. The term is sometimes also applied to a group of families in a locality, irrespective of their chatchi and ma'chong affiliations. 9 Playfair, The Garos p.72. 10 The constitution of the Rangsa Mahari Union of Tura was adopted on 9 March 1985. The constitution of the Raksam Mahari Association was passed on 12 August 2006. Most constitutions are written in English, only that of the Te'giti Association is in A'chik

Archaeology · Clan · Endogamy · Ethnic group · Ethnology · Genealogy · Government (linguistics · Jungle · Kinship · Sociology · African Studies and Geopolitics · Anthropological Studies and Insights · Anthropology · History · Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology