ABSTRACT
Meghalaya, a state in Northeast India, with its breathtaking scenic beauty, is home to the Khasis, Jaintias, and Garos, the predominant tribes in this state. These tribes enjoy the status of being the only matrilineal people in India. Their megalithic tradition has also attracted many scholars and visitors. The Khasi-Jaintia come from the Austro-Asiatic (Mon-Khmer branch) stock and the Garos from the Tibeto-Burman stock. This chapter is an attempt to encapsulate these people's social and political history, albeit briefly, till 1972, when Meghalaya attained statehood.
