Revisiting Traditional Institutions in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills

Download or read book Revisiting Traditional Institutions in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills written by Charles Reuben Lyngdoh and published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. This book was released on 2016-12-14 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Traditional institutions in the Khasi-Jaintia society are “living organisms” which have existed for centuries and internally evolved from one phase to another. Despite having come into contact with newer and more modern forms of administration, they continue to exist, backed by local public opinion that has called for their continuity amidst diminishing responsibility and utility. This collection of papers explores the landscapes of traditional institutions that exist in the present Khasi and Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya, India. The chapters blend oral tradition with historical records and available sources from secondary literature. They examine the interplay of power and functions between the constitutional authorities, such as the state government, and the Autonomous District Councils and traditional authorities represented by the traditional institutions.