The Rabha people are a Tibeto-Burmese ethnic group who live mostly in the Northeast Indian state of Assam , with a lesser population in the adjacent state of West Bengal . They primarily inhabit the plains of Lower Assam and the Dooars , while some are found in the Garo Hills . Most of the Rabhas of Dooars refer to themselves as Rabha, but some of them often declare themselves as Kocha.
82-411: The Rabha community has a rich, multi-faceted and distinct culture of their own. The Rabha society is matrilineal . The village economy is based on agriculture and both men and women work in the fields. The women wear colorful clothes that they weave themselves and wear a lot of beads and silver ornaments. The Rabhas are non-vegetarians and rice is their staple food. In general, the traditional economy of
164-450: A female ancestor to a descendant of either gender in which the individuals in all intervening generations are mothers. In a matrilineal descent system , an individual is considered to belong to the same descent group as their mother. This ancient matrilineal descent pattern is in contrast to the currently more popular pattern of patrilineal descent from which a family name is usually derived. The matriline of historical nobility
246-484: A "heavy dose" of their pre-existing beliefs including matrilineality. Tuareg women enjoy high status within their society, compared with their Arab counterparts and with other Berber tribes: Tuareg social status is transmitted through women, with residence often matrilocal . Most women could read and write, while most men were illiterate, concerning themselves mainly with herding livestock and other male activities. The livestock and other movable property were owned by
328-424: A Puja, banana leaves are used in worship, distribution of offerings, for cooking and communal meals.And hence, a group of men were charged with collecting these leaves, and eventually got a name Pati. (6)Bitoliya Rabhas-There is a story,where some people who entertained the people by saying jokes or 'bitoliyas' at religion occasions, festivals, social weeding and meetings etc. And hence the word 'Bitoliya' which means
410-540: A branch of the Tibeto Burman linguistic family . They inhabit mostly in the plain districts of Goalpara, Kamrup, Baksa, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Udalguri, Chirang, Sonitpur, Golaghat, Tinsukia, and Dhemaji. However, the majority of the Rabha live in southern part of Goalpara and Kamrup district bordering of Meghalaya. The Rabha inhabited areas are Udalguri, Baksa, Chirang, Kokrajhar, have already been included into
492-540: A different household. According to this source of further information about the Akan, "A man is strongly related to his mother's brother (wɔfa) but only weakly related to his father's brother. This must be viewed in the context of a polygamous society in which the mother/child bond is likely to be much stronger than the father/child bond. As a result, in inheritance, a man's nephew (sister's son) will have priority over his own son. Uncle-nephew relationships therefore assume
574-531: A different pattern, however: Example 1. Members of the (matrilineal) clan culture Minangkabau do not even have a surname or family name , see this culture's own section below. In contrast, members do have a clan name , which is important in their lives although not included in the member's name. Instead, one's name is just one's given name . Example 2. Members of the (matrilineal) clan culture Akan , see its own section below, also do not have matrilineal surnames and likewise their important clan name
656-442: A dominant position." Certain other aspects of the Akan culture are determined patrilineally rather than matrilineally. There are 12 patrilineal Ntoro (which means spirit) groups, and everyone belongs to their father's Ntoro group but not to his (matrilineal) family lineage and abusua . Each patrilineal Ntoro group has its own surnames, taboos, ritual purifications, and etiquette. A recent (2001) book provides this update on
738-592: A humorist in a respectful way,and as these groups are master of jokes and entertainment they got the name Bitoliya. Whereas there is also a story which says that a group of Rabha who were skilled in the occupation of areca-nut plantation, eventually got the name Betoliya. (7)Kocha Rabhas-The word kocha is the traditional name of Rabhas , but today they are known as a sub-tribe of Rabhas named as Kocha Rabha . In their culture it seems that they don't worship 'Khoksi' because of some social or geographical reasons. (8)Totla Rabhas-A group of Rabha while worshipping deity offered
820-478: A particular ancestress. Several lineages are grouped into a political unit headed by a chief and a council of elders, each of whom is the elected head of a lineage – which itself may include multiple extended-family households. Public offices are thus vested in the lineage, as are land tenure and other lineage property. In other words, lineage property is inherited only by matrilineal kin. "The principles governing inheritance stress sex, generation and age – that
902-714: A place called "Rab-ha" in Tibet, and then entered into Assam and further to Garo hills. There is still a place in Tibet called Raba in the Mongo Valley. In the census report of 1881, F.J. Friend Pereira states, "when Husheng was the chief of the powerful Atong clan, he brought the Rabha into Someswari valley to till the land, because at that time the Garo being nomads, were not acquainted with more settled methods of husbandry." The Rabhas who were earlier known as "Koch" or "Kocha" were driven out of Garo Hills but were later called back by
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#1732772067330984-471: A social actuality of sexual equality." According to LeBow (based on Schlegel's work), in the Hopi, "gender roles ... are egalitarian .... [and] [n]either sex is inferior." LeBow concluded that Hopi women "participate fully in ... political decision-making." According to Schlegel, "the Hopi no longer live as they are described here" and "the attitude of female superiority is fading". Schlegel said
1066-400: A sub-tribe of Rabha. (2)Maitori Rabhas-The Maitori group migrated from place to place and finally founded a fertile land produced paddy on a large scale. 'Mai' which means paddy and 'tori' means land or place in Rabha language.Thus,these group came to be known as Maitori.And there is also an another story where the people who were given the responsibility of the communal meals eventually got
1148-519: A version of male-preference matrilineal seniority , favoring brothers over sisters in the current generation (but allowing sisters to inherit if no brothers remained), but passing to the next generation through the eldest female line. In A Map of Virginia John Smith of Jamestown explains: His [ Chief Powhatan 's] kingdome descendeth not to his sonnes nor children: but first to his brethren, whereof he hath 3 namely Opitchapan, Opechancanough , and Catataugh; and after their decease to his sisters. First to
1230-674: A ‘High Power Committee’ headed by Cabinet Minister Shri Thaneswar Boro suggested a suitable amendment into the Council Acts. As per report of the High Power Committee, the MAC Act, RHAC Act and TAC Act were amended providing for inclusion of Tribal Belts & blocks and TSP areas in to Councils in place of villages havening only 50% or more Mising/Rabha/Tiwa people. But no villages were notified as per these amendments. The Assam Government showed interest neither to strengthen
1312-492: Is a collective Puja. First they established a Khoksi Puja at place called 'Athyabari'. The memory still stands today.Some people divided their work to manage this collective worship and since then,these groups(khels) have been named according to various functions . In Rabha there are 11 sub-tribes or groups and various clans, these groups and clans were matriarchal in ancient times but in present society they follow both matriarchal and patriarchal society in which women inherits
1394-759: Is also matrilocal , a man will exercise guardianship rights not over the children he fathers but over his sisters' children, who are viewed as 'his own flesh'. These children's biological father – unlike an uncle who is their mother's brother and thus their caregiver – is in some sense a 'stranger' to them, even when affectionate and emotionally close. According to Steven Pinker , attributing to Kristen Hawkes, among foraging groups matrilocal societies are less likely to commit female infanticide than are patrilocal societies. Some 20 million Akan live in Africa, particularly in Ghana and Ivory Coast . (See as well their subgroups,
1476-780: Is closely related to neighbouring Boro and Garo , as well as many other Sino-Tibetan languages of Assam. The language was formerly spoken by all 11 Rabha Tribes: Maitori , Rongdani , Pati , Dahori , Totla , Halua , Betoliya , Hana , Sunga , Modahi , Kocha Rabhas . Only the Rongdani , Maitori and Kocha tribes still speak Rabha, although its usage is declining among them as well. The two dialects, Maitori and Rongdani, are divergent enough to cause problems in communication. According to U.V. Joseph, there are three dialects, viz. Rongdani or Rongdania, Maitori or Maitoria and Kocha (page ix). Joseph writes that "the Kocha dialect, spoken along
1558-934: Is determined by the mother,both the boy and girl bear the clan of their Mother. The following 'Barai/hwsuk(hãsuk) or clans are: (1)Hato/Halo/Hakasanang/Hadung:These clans are related to 'Ha' which means Land. (2)Rongkho/Rungdung/Rongduk:These clans are associated with 'Rong' which means Stones. (3)Songdam/Songtuk/Songduk:These clans are related to the 'Song' which means Village. (4)Nasan/Nabra/Nalong/Nadabang:These clans are associated with 'Na' which means Fish. (5)Rungdung/Rungduk/Maita/Mata:These clans are associated with 'Mai' which means Rice. Their are also many clans like: Chanduk,Chira,Pam,Bantho,Baksok,Churchung,One,Fenang,Tara,Sunduk,Chrenggi,Khanda, Mejenga,Kantrang,Doinang,Mata,Lokbok, Chongthap,Barchung,Chãmpai(chwmpai), Rangsa,lem,Juro,Moja,Nabaji,Kara,Kama, Torang,Rongkathop,Dulung,Owanang,Charu, Ronggodek,Dorne,Haipang,Cherena,Mwji(máji),Bandha,Nakra,Pánchibok,etc. The Rabha language
1640-593: Is discussed in the subsection Role of the Tokoor of one of the above-listed main articles. The Tuareg (Arabic:طوارق, sometimes spelled Touareg in French, or Twareg in English) are a large Berber ethnic confederation found across several nations in north Africa, including Niger , Mali and Algeria . The Tuareg are clan -based, and are (still, in 2007) "largely matrilineal". The Tuareg are Muslim , but mixed with
1722-417: Is less common than among farmers. So for example, among the pygmies of Aka, which includes Biaka and Benzene, a young couple usually settles in her husband's camp after the birth of their first child. However, the husband can stay in the wife's community, where one of his brothers or sisters can join him. This can happen in societies where the bride's service is practiced, or in any other societies. According to
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#17327720673301804-404: Is not included in their name. However, members' names do commonly include second names which are called surnames but which are not routinely passed down from either father or mother to all their children as a family name . Note well that if a culture did include one's clan name in one's name and routinely handed it down to all children in the descent group then it would automatically be
1886-591: Is only spoken by a minority of the Rabhas, most of whom speak Assamese in Assam and Meghalaya and Bengali in West Bengal. The six decades of India’s independence and governance under Assam Govt. could not protect the Rabhas from exploitation, deprivation from basic human Rights and bring about faster development. Their Rights over their land and forest was snatched away. Large scale land alienation started uprooting
1968-400: Is that when sisters and their mothers help each other with childcare, the descent line tends to be matrilineal rather than patrilineal. Biological anthropologists are now widely agreed that cooperative childcare was a development crucial in making possible the evolution of the unusually large human brain and characteristically human psychology. Although others refute the claims of supporters of
2050-431: Is to say, men come before women and seniors before juniors." When a woman's brothers are available, a consideration of generational seniority stipulates that the line of brothers be exhausted before the right to inherit lineage property passes down to the next senior genealogical generation of sisters' sons. Finally, "it is when all possible male heirs have been exhausted that the females" may inherit. Each lineage controls
2132-897: The Trobrianders , Dobu and Nagovisi of Melanesia; the Nairs , some Thiyyas & Muslims of Kerala and the Mogaveeras , Billavas & the Bunts of Karnataka in south India ; the Khasi , Jaintia and Garo of Meghalaya in northeast India and Bangladesh ; the Ngalops and Sharchops of Bhutan ; the Mosuo of China ; the Kayah of Southeast Asia, the Picti of Scotland ,
2214-508: The Ashanti , also called Asante, Akyem , Bono , Fante , Akwamu .) Many but not all of the Akan still (2001) practice their traditional matrilineal customs, living in their traditional extended family households, as follows. The traditional Akan economic, political and social organization is based on maternal lineages, which are the basis of inheritance and succession. A lineage is defined as all those related by matrilineal descent from
2296-1183: The Basques of Spain and France ; the Ainu of Japan , the Akan including the Ashanti , Bono , Akwamu , Fante of Ghana ; most groups across the so-called " matrilineal belt " of south-central Africa; the Nubians of Southern Egypt & Sudan and the Tuareg of west and north Africa; the Serer of Senegal , The Gambia and Mauritania . Most of the example cultures in this article are based on (matrilineal) clans . Any clan might possibly contain from one to several or many descent groups or family groups – i.e., any matrilineal clan might be descended from one or several or many unrelated female ancestors. Also, each such descent group might have its own family name or surname , as one possible cultural pattern. The following two example cultures each follow
2378-620: The Cegandum and Kagaw , whose historical account is enshrined in Serer religion, mythology and traditions . In Serer culture, inheritance is both matrilineal and patrilineal. It all depends on the asset being inherited – i.e. whether the asset is a paternal asset – requiring paternal inheritance ( kucarla ) or a maternal asset – requiring maternal inheritance ( den yaay or ƭeen yaay ). The actual handling of these maternal assets (such as jewelry, land, livestock, equipment or furniture, etc.)
2460-616: The Joos matriclan which also became a dynasty in Waalo (Senegal). Some matriclans or maternal clans form part of Serer medieval and dynastic history, such as the Guelowars . The most revered clans tend to be rather ancient and form part of Serer ancient history . These proto-Serer clans hold great significance in Serer religion and mythology . Some of these proto-Serer matriclans include
2542-460: The U.S. became a nation, operated by The Great Binding Law of Peace , a constitution by which women retained matrilineal-rights and participated in the League's political decision-making, including deciding whether to proceed to war, through what may have been a matriarchy or "gyneocracy". The dates of this constitution's operation are unknown: the League was formed in approximately 1000–1450, but
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2624-697: The abusua framework presented above. The Berber inhabitants of Gran Canaria island had developed a matrilineal society by the time the Canary Islands and their people, called Guanches , were conquered by the Spanish. The Serer people of Senegal , the Gambia and Mauritania are patrilineal ( simanGol in Serer language ) as well as matrilineal ( tim ). There are several Serer matriclans and matriarchs . Some of these matriarchs include Fatim Beye (1335) and Ndoye Demba (1367) – matriarchs of
2706-471: The family name or surname for one's descent group (as well as for all other descent groups in one's clan). While a mother normally takes care of her own children in all cultures, in some matrilineal cultures an "uncle-father" will take care of his nieces and nephews instead: in other words social fathers here are uncles. There is not a necessary connection between the role of father and genitor. In many such matrilineal cultures, especially where residence
2788-525: The national Constitution as Scheduled Tribes, "some ... [are] matriarchal and matrilineal" "and thus have been known to be more egalitarian." Several Hindu communities in South India practiced matrilineality, especially the Nair (or Nayar ) and Tiyyas in the state of Kerala , and the Bunts and Billava in the states of Karnataka . The system of inheritance was known as Marumakkathayam in
2870-469: The Akan: Some families are changing from the above abusua structure to the nuclear family . Housing, childcare, education, daily work, and elder care etc. are then handled by that individual family rather than by the abusua or clan, especially in the city. The above taboo on marriage within one's abusua is sometimes ignored, but "clan membership" is still important, with many people still living in
2952-682: The Arabian peoples (first of all among the Amorites of Yemen, and among some strata of Nabateans in Northern Arabia); A modern example from South Africa is the order of succession to the position of the Rain Queen in a culture of matrilineal primogeniture : not only is dynastic descent reckoned through the female line, but only females are eligible to inherit. In some traditional societies and cultures, membership in their groups
3034-554: The Bribri people of Costa Rica and Panama is matrilineal; that is, a child's clan is determined by the clan his or her mother belongs to. Only women can inherit land. The social organization of the Cabécar people of Costa Rica is predicated on matrilineal clans in which the mother is the head of household. Each matrilineal clan controls marriage possibilities, regulates land tenure, and determines property inheritance for its members. In
3116-444: The Council Acts. As per report of the High Power Committee, the MAC Act, RHAC Act and TAC Act were amended providing for inclusion of Tribal Belts & blocks and TSP areas in to Councils in place of villages havening only 50% or more Mising/Rabha/Tiwa people. But no villages were notified as per these amendments. In 1996, a new Govt. led by AGP came to power and the interim nominated bodies were reconstituted. The Assam Govt. appointed
3198-598: The Councils and to pave the way for holding democratic elections. On the basis of the Interim Report of the Ministerial Sub-Committee, the Council Acts were further amended in 2005, mainly to define the areas to be covered by Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council and to make the protective and primitive measures of this council to be enjoyable equally by all Scheduled Tribes. The Amendment concretized
3280-523: The Garo King Husheng in order to teach the Garos the art of cultivation. The Garos mainly lived on hunting and did not cultivate crops. The Rabha people then taught the Garos how to till the soil. Since then the Garos called them Raba which means "recalled or called back" in Garo language, and from then, the name Raba were known as Rabha which we know today. There is another legend which says that
3362-514: The Govt. of Assam on the 10th March,1995 accepting an Autonomous Council under the State Act. in the name of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council with some of salient point as In 1996, a new Govt. led by AGP came to power and the interim nominated bodies were reconstituted. The Assam Govt. appointed a ‘High Power Committee’ headed by Cabinet Minister Shri Thaneswar Boro suggested a suitable amendment into
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3444-516: The Hopi "were and still are matrilinial" and "the household ... was matrilocal". Schlegel explains why there was female superiority as that the Hopi believed in "life as the highest good ... [with] the female principle ... activated in women and in Mother Earth ;... as its source" and that the Hopi "were not in a state of continual war with equally matched neighbors" and "had no standing army" so that "the Hopi lacked
3526-475: The Lenape prevented permanent settlement beyond what is now Jersey City. "Early Europeans who first wrote about these Indians found matrilineal social organization to be unfamiliar and perplexing. As a result, the early records are full of 'clues' about early Lenape society, but were usually written by observers who did not fully understand what they were seeing." The Mandan people of the northern Great Plains of
3608-763: The National Highway-37 and crossing the NH-37 upto certain places. There are Five Tribal Belts/Blocks in the South Kamrup Goalpara districts, namely- Besides the Tribal Belts & Blocks in Goalpara and Kamrup district, there are also some TSP areas and three Assembly Constituency reserves for ST (P) namely Dudhnoi, Goalpara West and Boko-Chhaygaon Constituency of Goalpara & South Kamrup district. There are various opinions as to
3690-480: The Rabhas along with other tribes form their own homeland. This led the Rabhas to seek protection under the Indian Constitution and started to demand more Autonomy. The original Autonomy demands of the Rabhas were as follows: A popular Mass Movement was launched focusing on these demands by ARSU-RHDC. In the wake of this Mass Movement, the then Chief Minister of Assam Late Hiteswar Saikia announced on
3772-552: The Rabhas is based on agriculture, forest based activities, and weaving. In the past, the Rabhas used to practice shifting cultivation. They continued to cultivate the land with Gogo or bill-hook. Later they took up the job of settled cultivation and started cultivation with plough. Besides cultivation, hunting was also an old practice of Rabha people. Weaving was a traditional occupation of the Rabha women. thumb|Rabha Pajar (Gamocha) The Rabhas are mostly found in Lower Assam on
3854-556: The State . The Morgan-Engels thesis that humanity's earliest domestic institution was not the family but the matrilineal clan soon became incorporated into communist orthodoxy . In reaction, most 20th century social anthropologists considered the theory of matrilineal priority untenable, although during the 1970s and 1980s, a range of feminist scholars often attempted to revive it. In recent years, evolutionary biologists , geneticists and palaeoanthropologists have been reassessing
3936-535: The United States historically lived in matrilineal extended family lodges. The Naso (Teribe or Térraba) people of Panama and Costa Rica describe themselves as a matriarchal community, although their monarchy has traditionally been inherited in the male line. The Navajo people of the American southwest are a matrilineal society in which kinship, children, livestock and family histories are passed down through
4018-635: The background. Originally, Chinese surnames were derived matrilineally, although by the time of the Shang dynasty (1600 to 1046 BCE ) they had become patrilineal. Archaeological data supports the theory that during the Neolithic period (7000 to 2000 BCE ) in China, Chinese matrilineal clans evolved into the usual patrilineal families by passing through a transitional patrilineal clan phase. Evidence includes some "richly furnished" tombs for young women in
4100-420: The bamboo poles from the mountains.And eventually got the name Sunga and became a sub-tribe of Rabha. (5)Pati Rabhas-A large group Rabha tribe, according to some native authors attempted to reform their traditional socio-religious practices under the influence of Hinduism.In the process, they separated themselves from the their traditional society and were designated as Pati Rabha. An another story says that in
4182-426: The birds are naturally attracted to it. These birds were very troublesome.And therefore a group of men were hired to pursue them. Each member of this group of people carried a 'Dahori' (long tube bamboo stick) to chase birds.This 'Dahori' word eventually became a sub- tribe and got a name Dahori. (4)Sunga Rabhas-There is a story where in a puja Wine and water required to do.So, therefore a group of men were hired to cut
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#17327720673304264-487: The clan and man inherits the groups.The groups are: (1)Rongdani Rabhas-There is also a story where Khoksi Puja was going on and many flat stones are needed to erect altars of the Gods and the people to sit on. 'Rong' which means stone and 'dan' which means to carry. A group of men were tasked with collecting these stones from the nearby mountains.And hence, eventually got the name 'Rongdan> Rongdani>Rongdaniya' and became
4346-409: The concept of core, satellite Area and other area by the following definitions- Matrilineal Matrilineality is the tracing of kinship through the female line. It may also correlate with a social system in which each person is identified with their matriline, their mother's lineage , and which can involve the inheritance of property and titles. A matriline is a line of descent from
4428-641: The constitution was oral until written in about 1880. The League still exists. Other Iroquoian-speaking peoples such as the Wyandot and the Meherrin , that were never part of the Iroquois League, nevertheless have traditionally possessed a matrilineal family structure. The Kogi people of northern Colombia practice bilateral inheritance, with certain rights, names or associations descending matrilineally. Occupied for 10,000 years by Native Americans ,
4510-560: The council nor to hold the election of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council to make it a democratic institution by implementing the Rabha Accord. The pathetic failure of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council compelled to the Rabha people to reject it and demand fresh Autonomy under Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution by All Rabha Students’ Union, All Rabha Women Council and Sixth Schedule Demand Committee and
4592-411: The creator of the universe, Rishi-Bai (Shiva) , created three brothers called Bingga, Ringga, and Raba. They were brought down to Básámáta (Earth), along with their families. The third brother, called Rabawas, extended to the whole group. In Rabha language, "Raba" means "to bring".Thus, this group of people came to be known as Raba. Although the tribe name is Rabha, the native articulation in earlier times
4674-556: The data above, some scientists also say that kinship and residence in hunter-gatherer societies are complex and multifaceted. For example, when re-checking past data (which were not very reliable), the researchers note that about 40% of the groups were bilocal, 22.9% were matrilocal and 25% were patrilocal. A number of scientists also advocate multilocality, refuting the concepts of exceptional matrilocality (matrilineality) or patrilocality (patrilineality). Matrilineal surnames are names transmitted from mother to daughter, in contrast to
4756-481: The early Neolithic Yangshao culture, whose multiple other collective burials imply a matrilineal clan culture. Toward the late Neolithic period, when burials were apparently of couples, "a reflection of patriarchy", an increasing elaboration of presumed chiefs' burials is reported. Relatively isolated ethnic minorities such as the Mosuo (Na) in southwestern China are highly matrilineal. Of communities recognized in
4838-695: The eldest sister, then to the rest: and after them to the heires male and female of the eldest sister; but never to the heires of the males. The Upper Kuskokwim people are the original inhabitants of the Upper Kuskokwim River basin. They speak an Athabaskan language more closely related to Tanana than to the language of the Lower Kuskokkwim River basin. They were traditionally hunter-gatherers who lived in matrilineal semi-nomadic bands. The Wayuu people of Colombia and Venezuela live in matrilineal clans, with paternal relationships in
4920-435: The entrials of birds or animals,this group came to be known as Totla Rabha.Where'Totla' refers to entrails in Rabha language. (9)Hana Rabhas-A group of Rabha tribe during their offerings to the deities instead of cutting the neck of the birds and animals they pierced the animals.Therefore,they came to be known as Hana. (10)Modahi Rabhas-The word 'Modahi' refers alcohol who were involved in Rabha social organisation. The clan
5002-673: The female. In marriage the groom moved to live with the brides family. Children also came from their mother's clan living in hogans of the females family. The Tanana Athabaskan people, the original inhabitants of the Tanana River basin in Alaska and Canada, traditionally lived in matrilineal semi-nomadic bands. The Powhatan and other tribes of the Tsenacommacah , also known as the Powhatan Confederacy, practiced
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#17327720673305084-604: The floor of the Assam Assembly on 16th March,1993 to grant Autonomy to the Rabhas. He reiterated the announcement again on 11 May, 1993 at the open Session of the 8th General Conference of All Rabha Sahitya Sabha (Bebak Rabha Krourang Runchum) held at Dudhnoi of Goalpara District. In response, the Rabha Organizations set down for serious talks with Assam Government and ultimately singed the MoS (Rabha Accord) with
5166-410: The issues, many citing genetic and other evidence that early human kinship may have been matrilineal after all. One crucial piece of indirect evidence has been genetic data suggesting that over thousands of years, women among sub-Saharan African hunter-gatherers have chosen to reside postmaritally not with their husbands' family but with their own mother and other natal kin. Another line of argument
5248-458: The land that is present-day New Jersey was overseen by clans of the Lenape , who farmed, fished, and hunted upon it. The pattern of their culture was that of a matrilineal agricultural and mobile hunting society that was sustained with fixed, but not permanent, settlements in their matrilineal clan territories. Leadership by men was inherited through the maternal line, and the women elders held
5330-596: The left bank of the Brahmaputra, in the districts of Goalpara and Kamrup . Some are found in the right bank districts of Baksa , Udalguri and Kokrajhar . In Meghalaya, the Rabhas mainly live in West Garo Hills , East Garo Hills , and Ribhoi districts. In West Bengal, the Rabha mainly inhabit the districts of Alipurduar , Cooch Behar and Uttar Dinajpur . The Rabha belong to the South Assam in
5412-457: The lineage land farmed by its members, functions together in the veneration of its ancestors, supervises marriages of its members, and settles internal disputes among its members. The political units above are likewise grouped into eight larger groups called abusua (similar to clans ), named Aduana, Agona, Asakyiri, Asenie, Asona, Bretuo, Ekuona and Oyoko. The members of each abusua are united by their belief that they are all descended from
5494-473: The more familiar patrilineal surnames transmitted from father to son, the pattern most common among family names today. For clarity and for brevity, the scientific terms patrilineal surname and matrilineal surname are usually abbreviated as patriname and matriname . There appears to be some evidence for the presence of matrilineality in Pre-Islamic Arabia , in a very limited number of
5576-411: The name 'Maitori' were 'Mai' means rice, 'tori' means to share or distribute and to give. (3)Dahori Rabhas-A legend says that a group of Rabha tribes worshipped a serpent to whom a man had to sacrificed every year.Then the two brothers namely Randan and Chandan killed the serpent and saved the life of these groups forever and after the death of two brothers.The two brothers were honoured every year by
5658-545: The newly created BTR or BTAD under the Sixth Schedule. Therefore, creation of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council now remains confined to the two South Bank of Goalpara and Kamrup District. In the Kamrup and Goalpara district, the Rabhas, along with some Garo and Boro people, predominantly inhabit in a contiguous tract extending East-West wise from Rani to Joyramkuchi and South-North wise from the foothills of Meghalaya up to
5740-570: The northern bank of the Brahmaputra , is highly divergent and is not intelligible to a Rongdani or Maitori speaker" (page ix). Joseph also writes that "[t]he dialect variations between Rongdani and Maitori, both of which are spoken on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra, in the Goalpara district of Assam and belong to the northern slopes of Meghalaya, are minimal" (pages ix-x). He concludes the paragraph on dialectal variation with: "The Rongdani-Maitori dialectal differences become gradually more marked as one moves further west" (page x). The Rabha language
5822-455: The origin of the name Rabha. Dhananjay Rabha is of the opinion that the Rabha got their name from the word Marabwhich means "man" in the kocha Rabha dialect. This is derived from the words "Ma" from "mra" (meaning "man"), "rab" (meaning "uneven" or "rough"), and "ha" (meaning "land" or "earth"). Thus, Marab is a condensed form of "man of uneven place." He is further of the opinions that a group of people called Kocha migrated and first took refuge in
5904-564: The people of RHAC area. In 2001, another new Govt. came into power at Dispur, and in the wake of large scale of Mass Movement for inclusion of Mising, Rabha and Tiwa Autonomous Councils into the Sixth Schedule under Indian Constitution, the Govt. constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Dr. Bhumidhar Barman to examine the demand for Sixth Schedule of these Autonomous Councils. The Committee could not complete its study, and instead, submitted an interim report recommending certain amendment to these three Autonomous Council Acts to give more power to
5986-475: The power to remove leaders of whom they disapproved. Villages were established and relocated as the clans farmed new sections of the land when soil fertility lessened and when they moved among their fishing and hunting grounds by seasons. The area was claimed as a part of the Dutch New Netherland province dating from 1614, where active trading in furs took advantage of the natural pass west, but
6068-414: The same ancient ancestress. Marriage between members of the same abusua is forbidden. One inherits or is a lifelong member of the lineage, the political unit, and the abusua of one's mother, regardless of one's gender and/or marriage. Note that members and their spouses thus belong to different abusuas , mother and children living and working in one household and their husband/father living and working in
6150-651: The spur to masculine superiority" and, within that, as that women were central to institutions of clan and household and predominated "within the economic and social systems (in contrast to male predominance within the political and ceremonial systems)", the Clan Mother , for example, being empowered to overturn land distribution by men if she felt it was unfair, since there was no "countervailing ... strongly centralized, male-centered political structure". The Iroquois Confederacy or League , combining five to six Native American Haudenosaunee nations or tribes before
6232-532: The traditional culture of the Guna people of Panama and Colombia, families are matrilinear and matrilocal, with the groom moving to become part of the bride's family. The groom also takes the last name of the bride. The Hopi (in what is now the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona ), according to Alice Schlegel , had as its "gender ideology ... one of female superiority, and it operated within
6314-446: The tribe.On the occasion of the two brother's death anniversary. These groups of Rabha tribe erects two bamboo-poles bearing colours of serpents.These group is named after the bamboo poles known as Dahori. An another story says that when Khoksi Puja was worshipped in the deserted forests and mountains some distance from the village. There was a communal meal. There was a lot of smell in the place, like flying crows, chickens, etc. And so
6396-475: The universality of matrilocality or patrilocality , pointing out that hunter-gatherer societies have a flexible philopatry or practice multilocality, which in turn leads to a more egalitarian society, since both men and women have the right to choose with whom to live. According to some data, pastoralists and farmers strongly gravitate towards patrilocality, so patrilocality is a common phenomenon among non-Pygmies. But among some hunter-gatherers, patrilocality
6478-623: The women, whereas personal property is owned and inherited regardless of gender. In contrast to most other Muslim cultural groups, men wear veils but women do not. This custom is discussed in more detail in the Tuareg article's clothing section , which mentions it may be the protection needed against the blowing sand while traversing the Sahara desert . The Bororo people of Brazil and Bolivia live in matrilineal clans, with husbands moving to live with their wives' extended families. The clan system of
6560-459: Was Raba. As like the origin of Rabhas there are also different based folk etymology, as there is a story that in the Vedic era, the Rabhas formed sub-tribes or groups (khels) just as Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras were formed according to their karma. Initially, the Rabhas were non-partisan. These groups(khels) originated from the worship of their supreme deity, Khoksi or Baikho . It
6642-523: Was also called their enatic or uterine ancestry, corresponding to the patrilineal or "agnatic" ancestry. In the late 19th century, almost all prehistorians and anthropologists believed, following Lewis H. Morgan 's influential book Ancient Society , that early human kinship everywhere was matrilineal. This idea was taken up by Friedrich Engels in The Origin of the Family, Private Property and
6724-744: Was – and, in the following list, still is if shown in italics – inherited matrilineally. Examples include the Cherokee , Choctaw , Gitksan , Haida , Hopi , Iroquois , Lenape , Navajo and Tlingit of North America ; the Cabécar and Bribri of Costa Rica; the Naso and Kuna people of Panama; the Kogi , Wayuu and Carib of South America; the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra , Indonesia and Negeri Sembilan , Malaysia ;
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