In Pictures : Matrilineal society of Meghalaya

In Pictures : Matrilineal society of Meghalaya
In Pictures : Matrilineal society of Meghalaya

Meghalaya has been known for its beauty, living root bridges and Khasi culture. It is also an inspiration to many other societies/states for its unique matrilineal society. Women and girls have a special standing in the society and, of course, this exceptional role produces a great deal of self-confidence in them. The girls can be seen playing different roles which are not so common elsewhere. Most of the women are homemakers as well as bread earners for their  .  From fishing to agriculture they make equal contribution in every walk of life . At a  small age , they share the load with their mother as well as complete the basic education providing a strong base to  their home and society.

In Khasi culture, the youngest girl in a family inherits its wealth and property, and children take their mother’s surname. Having only boys is not considered good  luck. Khasi women marry whom they want, no arranged marriages there and women can choose to divorce or  to remain single without any social stigma attached . There have been many cases of widow re-marriages which is accepted by society without any conflicts.

My work in form of a photo series of women portraits and environmental portraits show their involvement in society and how independent they are in their varied professions . The pictures are shot in different areas covering the Jaintia as well as Khasi hills. The presence of such beautiful women can be seen in all areas, including the remote villages. The series is taken in a form of social documentary presenting the beauty of Meghalaya as well as its female dwellers. The work is completed as a subset, but there are opportunities to explore more varied role played by women.