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The Khasi are a tribe living chiefly in the State of Meghalaya, in North East India, but also in neighbouring Assam India and in parts of Bangladesh. They call themselves Ki Hynñiew trep which means "the seven huts" in the Khasi language. Their language, also called Khasi, is the Northernmost Austro-Asiatic language. It was essentially oral until the arrival of European missionaries, and particularly significant in this regard was the Welsh missionary Thomas Jones, who transcribed the Khasi language into the Roman Script. The Khasi people form the majority of the population of the eastern part of Meghalaya. Most Khasi are Presbyterian, Anglican, Roman Catholic, or followers of the original Khasi religion Ka Niam Tynrai, although there is a tiny Unitarian presence, as well. Some Khasi reside in the hilly areas of Sylhet, Bangladesh. The Khasi tribes are usually dependent upon jhoom cultivation in which the vegetation is left to grow totally under the care of nature. In Bangladesh, one of the main products produced by the Khasi using jhoom cultivation is betel leaf. In several States of India, Khasis have been granted the status of scheduled tribe

Geographical distribution and sub-groups

The total Khasi population may be estimated at 1,2 M people. According to the Census of India over 1,1M Khasi lived in Meghalaya in 2001 ^[2], in the districts of East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi and Jaintia Hills. In Assam their population reached 13 000. The Census of Bangladesh ennumerated 12,280 Khasi for the whole country in 1991. It is generally considered that the Khasis consist of four sub-tribes, Khynriam, Pnar, Bhoi and War, the Khasis or Khynriam inhabiting the Khasi Hills proper, the Pnar or Syntengs the Jaintia Hills and the steep southern slopes leading to Bangladesh. The Bhoi live in the lower hills to the north and north-east of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills towards the Brahmaputra valley. The Lynngam people who inhabit the western parts of the Khasi Hills display linguistic and cultural characteristics which show influences from both the Khasis to their east and the Garo people to the west. The Wars inhabit the precipitous slopes and deep valleys to the south of the district.^[3]

Physical variation

A Khasi man

Khasi from different regions have small, but noted differences. They are descendants of Mon-Khmer speakers who migrated probably from Mongolia to Meghalaya. Most Khasi have brown to light yellow skin, epicanthic folds, high nasal bridges and aquiline noses.

Dress

The traditional Khasi male dress is Jymphong or a longish sleeveless coat without collar, fastened by thongs in front. Now, the Khasis have adopted the western dress. On ceremonial occasions, they appear in ‘Jymphong’ and dhoti with an ornamental waist-band.

The Khasi traditional female dress is called a jainsem or a dhara, which are rather elaborate with several pieces of cloth, giving the body a cylindrical shape. On ceremonial occasions, they wear a crown of silver or gold on the head. A spike or peak is fixed to the back of the crown, corresponding to the feathers worn by the menfolk. The Jainsem consists of two pieces of material fastened at each shoulder. The Dhara consists of a single piece of material also fastened at each shoulder.

Social structure

The Khasis have a matrilineal and Matrilocal society.^[4][5] Descent is traced through the mother, but the father plays an important role in the material, mental life of the family and social welfare. According to Khasi laws, a woman cannot be forced into marriage, she owns the children and properties. In Khasi tradition, the youngest daughter will also inherit the property. A woman may end a marriage at her will with no objection from her husband. The Khasi have an unusual dedication toward matrilineal customs, most notably similar to the Minangkabaus.

References

1. ^ Joshua Project - Khasi of Bangladesh Ethnic People Profile
2. ^ Census of India 2001
3. ^ The Khasis — Peter Gurdon
4. ^ Hussain, Seema (1999). The Week, India. The Week, India. pp. 181.  
5. ^ Ahmed, Syed (1994). What do men want. New York Times. pp. 5.  

See also

• Mon-Khmer
• Khasi Pine
• Tirot Sing
• Anglo-Khasi War

External links

• Census of India 2001, Scheduled Tribes
• The Khasis by Gurdon, P. R. T.
• Government of Meghalaya Portal
• Dictionary German Khasi