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Meet India's youngest MP
Updated On: 31 May, 2009 06:28 AM IST | | Sheela K
The story of Agatha Sangma goes beyond her interesting name
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The story of Agatha Sangma goes beyond her interesting name
IN A man's world, it's hard for minority tribal groups to hold on to matrilineal traditions. No one knows it better than Agatha K Sangma, 29, who won from her father's constituency of Tura, Meghalaya, not once but twice over the last year. The first win came in May 2008, when she stood in a by-election after her father Purno Agitok Sangma decided to give up the seat to join state politics. The second win in the 2009 General Election brought her a ministership in the Manmohan Singh Cabinet.
Three ethnic groups Khasis, Jaintias and Garos dominate this perennially cloud-kissed state. All follow the matrilineal system, where children take the mother's family name and daughters inherit ancestral property. This does not necessarily mean women are on top in this state, facing little or no social discrimination at all.
Ask any knowledgeable woman here, and she will tell you that Khasi, Jaintia or Garo women are not first class citizens, that they are often not the "boss of the house" and that their empowerment is a myth. "As voters, women outnumber men in Meghalaya, but they are political non-entities because they can neither become or elect village and tribal chiefs, where so-called democracy begins," says Patricia Mukhim, editor of The Shillong Times.
According to Mukhim, even the matrilineal privileges are misleading. Despite inheritance it's the right of the 'khatduh' or youngest daughter women cannot take property decisions without the sanction of male members in the family. And the responsibility of carrying on the family line usually means procreating and remaining within the domestic confines. It gets worse in the case of broken marriages; customs warrant that a woman bring up her children without maintenance from her ex-husband.
IN A man's world, it's hard for minority tribal groups to hold on to matrilineal traditions. No one knows it better than Agatha K Sangma, 29, who won from her father's constituency of Tura, Meghalaya, not once but twice over the last year. The first win came in May 2008, when she stood in a by-election after her father Purno Agitok Sangma decided to give up the seat to join state politics. The second win in the 2009 General Election brought her a ministership in the Manmohan Singh Cabinet.
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PA Sangma congratulating daughter Agatha after her victory; Pic/ WFS |
Ask any knowledgeable woman here, and she will tell you that Khasi, Jaintia or Garo women are not first class citizens, that they are often not the "boss of the house" and that their empowerment is a myth. "As voters, women outnumber men in Meghalaya, but they are political non-entities because they can neither become or elect village and tribal chiefs, where so-called democracy begins," says Patricia Mukhim, editor of The Shillong Times.
According to Mukhim, even the matrilineal privileges are misleading. Despite inheritance it's the right of the 'khatduh' or youngest daughter women cannot take property decisions without the sanction of male members in the family. And the responsibility of carrying on the family line usually means procreating and remaining within the domestic confines. It gets worse in the case of broken marriages; customs warrant that a woman bring up her children without maintenance from her ex-husband.
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Agatha Sangma at the oath taking cermonyu00a0 pic/afp/RAVEENDRAN Read Next Story Trending StoriesLatest Photos |
