Caste- Tribe interaction and its impact on the Matrilineal System: A study on Garos of Sonitpur, Assam

Abstract

The tribal women of North-East India are always considered as privilege and Gender sensitive in compare to the mainstream society, especially for some unique practices, matrilineal family system is one of them. But the concept of gender is very complex and it is differing from one society to another. North-East India is full ethnic variety and this variety makes this place culturally vibrant. At the same time Assam has been considered as homeland of various religious, ethnic, linguistic as well as cultural group. Due to various factors such as migration, hinduisation, internal conflict, resettlement, developmental project the tribal groups are settled from one to another place. This resettlement has affected their life style, livelihood and also the cultural practices. Matrilineal family system has also been affected by these processes and the Garo men of this village is much affected by the Hindu patriarchal ideology.