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The
primacy of the female principle is reflected in the general belief among
various tribes that mother is the origin of everything. The female body,
the Mother Earth, the primal force in nature gives birth to everything.
The myths and beliefs of the Khasis and
Garos of Meghalaya , Noctes Singphos,
Mishmis, Tangsas, Adis, Sherdukpens and many other tribes of the northeast
are based on female divinities.
Goddesses
One of the important temples of this region is attributed to
Kamakhya , the mother
Goddess at Guwahati in Assam
. The forest Goddess, "Sengra", is worshipped by Muslim Halams
of Tripura. The feminine principle is so overbearing that the sun is
considered a female and the moon a male; fire is female and ashes male.
Female Domination In Meghalaya
Though women in general enjoy a high status in society, those from
Meghalaya have a place of prominence, the
Khasis and Garos being matrilineal. The descent is through the mother, so
a daughter is sought after for the perpetration of the family line. Women
not only occupy a sound footing legally, they also perform rites of
passage. In fact, they also perform rites of passage. In fact, they are so
powerful in Meghalaya that like female emancipation in other parts of the
country, a movement known as society of the new hearth for male
emancipation has started.
Thus
contrary to the impression that women are oppressed all over the country,
here is a region where women are in full command of the social order and
play a vital role in the economic sphere as well.
Adis Women Of Arunachal Pradesh
Women also have freedom to choose their spouse as among the Adis of
Arunachal Pradesh. The family of the bride is compensated by the
bridegrooms family as the former suffers a loss of their daughter due to
her marriage. This is dowry-in-reverse practice and a testimony to the
importance of women.
Women of the northeast are independent to a great extent. Their talent
finds fulfillment in running household chores, tending infants tied to
their backs while working in the fields or shopping or even fetching water
from a far off source. Their contribution is much more than the menfolk in
running various errands and attending to multifarious responsibilities
like sowing seeds, watering fields, weeding and transplanting cuttings.
Meiti Women Of Manipur 
The
Meiti women of Manipur came out of patriarchal
fetters when they revolted against male hegemony by protesting against
drunkenness. They established the Ima (Mother) market. It is an
exclusively female dominated market where a wide range of wares are sold.
The market's unique and worth a visit while in Imphal. It has a dual role.
Firstly, it provides financial autonomy to the women and thus raises their
stature. Secondly, to seek harmony in the house and to avoid conflicts,
the mother in law creates space for true autonomy of the daughter in law
by shifting her operation outside the house, thereby giving freedom to the
new entrant. Thus, the mother in law and daughter in law are not
competitive but supplementary to each other.
Moreover, the younger woman is able to acclimatise herself to her new
surroundings without interference, and has freedom in raising the family
and attending to household chores. The older woman takes a much-needed
sabbatical and socialises with others while also earning. Women are also
prominently represented in the markets of Meghalaya
, Mizoram and interiors of Tripura
.
Representing Regional Culture
Women are repositories of the cultural and folk traditions. The Bihu
dances of Assam, the bamboo dance of Mizoram,
Ponung
Dance of Arunachal Pradesh , Hozaigiri dance of the ranges of
Tripura have been retained and practised in
purity without contamination from the pop and modern variations.
The women of the region are hardworking and scorn idleness. They shun
alibis for inaction. Ennui is unknown to their genius for if at all they
have time, they would spend it on weaving sarongs, 'Mekhlas' and exquisite
shawls, knitting and other handicrafts that are aesthetic and at the same
time fulfill domestic needs.
Reforming The Society
Women of the northeast also have the courage to protest. They had
successfully launched a drive against liquor, drugs and narcotics. They
are in the vanguard of advancement, seeking reforms where necessary and
acquiring education where ever possible.
Though the past is visible prominently in the interiors, the present is
gaining a gradual hold in towns and administrative headquarters under the
impact of advancement in education, better facilities of communication,
broadcast and television network and participation of women in Panchayati
Raj.
