Domestic violence is a global issue today crossing across barriers of caste, class,
status, religion and culture. The Indian society is facing the worst impact of domestic
violence. Nevertheless, this is not just the phenomenon of patriarchal society alone,
women in matrilineal society like that of the Khasi in Meghalaya face this malady. The
common supposition rules out domestic violence in Khasi matrilineal society as it assumed
that women enjoy better status and opportunities than their counterparts in patriarchal
societies. However, when it comes to day to day transactions it posits numerous problems
such as gender differences, interplay of class, status, patriarchy and power, of which
domestic violence against women is one of the effects. Therefore, though Khasi society is
matrilineal in nature it mirrors a patriarchal society in many ways and domestic violence
is a dilemma that the Khasi matrilineal society is facing today.
This book is an attempt to prove that women in matrilineal society face domestic
violence. It also tries to analyze the different factors that contribute to the rising
cases of violence against women at home. It also aims at responding to the problem taking
into consideration indigenous/tribal ethical parameters that are deemed viable. The effort
is to rediscover those ethical principles that are already available in the
indigenous/tribal culture and worldview, which otherwise are not given due importance in
the present indigenous/tribal epistemology. Formulating a feasible alternative
theological-ethical response by making use of the indigenous/tribal resources and
epistemologies to address the issue of domestic violence in matrilineal society is the
intention of this book.
Contents
Foreword
Abstract
List of Abbreviations
List of Tables
Introduction
1. Khasi Society : An Overview
2. Conceptualizing and Contextualizing Domestic Violence in India
3. Analyzing Domestic Violence in the Khasi Matrilineal Society
4. `Kamai ia ka Hok' (Earn Righteousness) : Toward an Indigenous Ethical Response to
Domestic Violence in the Khasi Matrilineal Society
Conclusion
Questionaire
Bibliography
Rev. Malwin Stone Passah is an Assistant Professor in the Department
of Theology and Ethics, teaching Christian Social Ethics at the John Roberts Theological
Seminary, Mawklot, Shillong, India. At present he is serving as the Dean of Extension
Program of the Seminary and also as the Editor of the Khasi Theological Journal `Ka Thiar
Jingtip'. He is an ordained Minister of the Presbyterian Church of India. He has completed
his B.D. and M.Th. degrees from the Senate of Serampore College (University). He has also
contributed many articles in different theological journals in India.
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