Welcome to Meghalaya. It literally means “the home of clouds.” But this isn’t just a crowd core, it’s a female core. One of India’s largest Matrinial communities, the Kashi tribes turn the inheritance script upside down like a K-drama plot.
In the Khasi tradition, it is Ka Khadduh, the youngest daughter who inherits the family’s property and becomes a caretaker of the family. Yes, the last born girl will become the legal queen of heritage. Talk about birth order goals.
Marriage does not mean moving for her. Her husband packs his bags and moves with his family. Children? They take her last name. property? She gets it. Family pedigree? Follow her side.
But here it becomes subtle. Despite this Matrinial setup, the Khasi Society is not entirely mother-long. That is, women are not necessarily political or tribal powers. However, their social and cultural influences are undoubtedly strong, shaping the values of the community and maintaining oral traditions, rituals and identity.