Khasi people

{{short description|Ethnic group in North-East India}} {{About|the ethnolinguistic Austroasiatic group|the neighbouring Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group|Khas people}} {{More citations needed|date=November 2022}} {{Use Indian English|date=April 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox ethnic group | group = Khasi | native_name = Hynñiewtrep | native_name_lang = Khasi | flag =  | flag_caption = | image = Khasi Girls.jpg | image_caption = Khasi women in traditional dress | total = 1,512,831 | total_ref =  | genealogy = | total_year =  | regions =  | region1 = {{flag|India}} | pop1 = 1,427,711 | ref1 = <ref name="census">{{cite web|title=A-11 Individual Scheduled Tribe Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/ST.html|website=censusindia.gov.in|publisher=Government of India|access-date=28 October 2017}}</ref> | region2 = {{spaces|14}}Meghalaya | pop2 = 1,382,278 | ref2 = <ref>{{cite web |title=C-16 Population By Mother Tongue - Meghalaya |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1700.XLSX |website=census.gov.in |access-date=28 October 2020}}</ref> | region3 = {{spaces|14}}Assam | pop3 = 34,558 | ref3 = <ref>{{cite web |title=C-16 Population By Mother Tongue - Assam |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1800.XLSX |website=census.gov.in |access-date=28 October 2020}}</ref> | region4 = {{flag|Bangladesh}} | pop4 = 30,000<ref>{{Cite web |title=[PDF] Changing Context of Bangladesh's Matrilineal Khasi Ethnic Group: A Critical Evaluation from Socio-Cultural Perspective |url=https://ijisrt.com/changing-context-of-bangladeshs-matrilineal-khasi-ethnic-group-a-critical-evaluation-from-sociocultural-perspective}}</ref> | languages = Khasi | religions = '''Majority''': Christianity (Catholic & Protestant)<ref name="ThePrint">{{cite news |last1=Ghosh |first1=Paramita |title=Missionary is not a popular word in India. But in the Khasi hills, it holds a different meaning |url=https://theprint.in/features/missionary-is-not-a-popular-word-in-india-but-in-the-khasi-hills-it-holds-a-different-meaning/751501/ |access-date=14 July 2022 |work=ThePrint |date=16 October 2021}}</ref><br />'''Significant''': Ka Niam Khasi,<ref name="Dizionario">Khasi, in Dizionario di storia, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana, 2010</ref> <br />'''Minority''': Hinduism,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxx-st.html?m=1 | title=Religion Data of Census 2011: XXX ST Meghalaya | access-date=27 January 2023 | archive-date=25 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025174848/https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxx-st.html?m=1 }}</ref> Buddhism<ref>{{cite web | url=https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxx-st.html?m=1 | title=Religion Data of Census 2011: XXX ST Meghalaya | access-date=27 January 2023 | archive-date=25 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025174848/https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxx-st.html?m=1 }}</ref> and Islam<ref name=muslims>{{cite journal|journal=Journal of Human Ecology|title=Demographic structure of the Khasi-Muslims of Shillong, Meghalaya|url=https://www.academia.edu/64041300 |author=Langstieh, Banrida Theresa|date=2001|volume=12|issue=2|pages=121–125 |doi=10.1080/09709274.2001.11907591 |s2cid=134712439|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227204243/krepublishers.com/02-Journals/JHE/JHE-12-0-000-000-2001-Web/JHE-12-2-081-01-Abst-PDF/JHE-12-02-121-01.pdf|archive-date=27 December 2015 }}</ref> | related_groups = Jaintia people and other Mon–Khmers | footnotes = | philosophies = }} The '''Khasi people''' are an Austroasiatic ethnic group of Meghalaya in north-eastern India with a significant population in the bordering state of Assam and in certain parts of Bangladesh. The Khasis constitute the majority population in the eastern part of Meghalaya, particularly in the Khasi Hills, where they represent 78.3% of the region's population.<ref name="Census2011">{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16.html|title=C-16: Population by Mother Tongue|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|last=ORGI|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=10 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815035759/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16.html|archive-date=15 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> They also comprise about 48% of Meghalaya's total population, making them the state's largest ethnic community. They are among the few Austroasiatic-speaking peoples in South Asia. The Khasi tribe holds the distinction of being one of the few remaining tribes that have a matrilineal society.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nakane |first1=Chie |title=Garo and Khasi: A comparative study in matrilineal systems |date=18 March 2019 |publisher=Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG |isbn=978-3-11-133016-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=viuLDwAAQBAJ&q=khasi+tribe+matrilineal |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Langstieh |first=Mebarisuk |last2=Sahu |first2=Sudhansubala |date=25 February 2026 |title=Patriarchal Constraints in Everyday Lives: Gender Roles, Matrilineality, and the Status of Contemporary Khasi Women |url=https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol28/iss1/14 |journal=Journal of International Women's Studies |volume=28 |issue=1 |issn=1539-8706}}</ref> Under the Constitution of India, the Khasis have been granted the status of Scheduled Tribe.

==Etymology== {{Empty section|date=August 2023}}

==History == ===Khasi mythology=== thumb|Khasi women and standing-stones, near Laitlyngkot, Meghalaya, India Khasi mythology traces the tribe's original abode to {{lang|kha|'Ki Hynñiewtrep}} ("The Seven Huts").<ref name="Banaji2010">{{cite book|author=Shakuntala Banaji|title=South Asian media cultures | date=1 April 2010|publisher=Anthem Press|isbn=978-1-84331-842-2|pages=48–}}</ref> According to the Khasi mythology, {{lang|kha|U Blei Trai Kynrad}} (God, the Lord Master) had originally distributed the human race into 16 heavenly families ({{lang|kha|Khadhynriew Trep}}).<ref name="Nongkinrih2002">{{cite book|author=Aurelius Kyrham Nongkinrih|title=Khasi society of Meghalaya: a sociological understanding |year=2002|publisher=Indus Publishing| isbn=978-81-7387-137-5 | pages=130–131}}</ref> However, seven out of these 16 families were stuck on earth while the other 9 reside in heaven. According to the myth, a heavenly ladder resting on the sacred Lum Sohpetbneng Peak (located in the present-day Ri-Bhoi district) enabled people to go freely and frequently to heaven whenever they pleased until one day they were tricked into cutting a divine tree which was situated at Lum Diengiei Peak (also in present-day East Khasi Hills district), a grave error which prevented them access to the heavens forever. This myth is often seen{{by whom|date=January 2020}} as a metaphor of how nature and trees, in particular, are the manifestation of the divine on Earth and destroying nature and trees means severing our ties with the Divine. Like the Japanese, the Khasis use the rooster as a symbol because they believe that it was he who aroused God and also humbly paved and cleared the path for God to create the Universe at the beginning of time. The rooster is the symbol of morning marking a new beginning and a new sunrise.

Khasian is closely related to Palaungic language of Myanmar. Pre-Khasian migrated through Upper Burma to Brahmaputra Valley on the way to Meghalaya.<ref>the only other AA branch present in mainland India, Khasian, shows clear affiliation with the Palaungic language of Myanmar (Sidwell 2011) such that we can confidently suppose a pre-Khasian migration through Upper Burma to the Bhramaputra Valley on the way to Meghalaya{{harvcol|Sidwell|2021|p=62}}</ref>

===Language=== {{See also|Peopling of India}} The Khasi language is classified as part of the Austroasiatic language family. According to Peter Wilhelm Schmidt, the Khasi people are related to the Mon-Khmer people of Southeast Asia. Multiple types of research indicate that the Austroasiatic populations in the Indian subcontinent are derived from migrations from Southeast Asia during the Holocene period. Many of the words are similar to other Austroasiatic languages such as Palaung and Khmer language:

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Comparison between Khasi, Khmer, and Vietnamese |- ! Meaning !! Khasi !! Khmer !! Vietnamese !! Notes |- | Tiger || {{lang|kha|khla}} || {{lang|khm|khla}} || {{lang|vi|hổ, cọp}} || |- | To fly || {{lang|kha|her}} || {{lang|khm|haer}} || {{lang|vi|bay}} || |- | Belly || {{lang|kha|kpoh}} || {{lang|khm|poh}} || {{lang|vi|bụng}} || |- | New || {{lang|kha|thymme, thymmai}} || {{lang|khm|thmei, thmai}} || {{lang|vi|mới}} || |- | Year || {{lang|kha|snem}} || {{lang|khm|chnem}} || {{lang|vi|năm}} || |- | Leaf || {{lang|kha|sla, 'la}} || {{lang|khm|slaek}} || {{lang|vi|lá}} || |- | Crab || {{lang|kha|tham}} || {{lang|khm|ktam}} || {{lang|vi|dam, đam}} || |- | Hand || {{lang|kha|kti, 'ti}} || {{lang|khm|tai}} || {{lang|vi|tay}} || |- | Finger or toe || {{lang|kha|pream}} || {{lang|khm|mream}} || {{lang|vi|ngón}} || |- | Children || {{lang|kha|khun, khon, kon}} || {{lang|khm|kaun, kon}} || {{lang|vi|con}} || |- | Birds || {{lang|kha|sim}} || _ || {{lang|vi|chim}} || |- | Eyes || {{lang|kha|khmat, 'mat}} || {{lang|khm|phnek}} || {{lang|vi|mắt}} || |- | Fish || {{lang|kha|dohkha}} || {{lang|khm|kaa-}} (prefix) || {{lang|vi|cá}} || |- | Mother || {{lang|kha|mei}} || {{lang|khm|mae}} || {{lang|vi|mẹ}} || {{lang|th|mea}} in Thai |- | Rice || {{lang|kha|khaw}} || {{lang|khm|sraw, angkhor}} || {{lang|vi|gạo}} || {{lang|th|khaw}} in Thai |- | Python || {{lang|kha|thlen}} || {{lang|khm|thlan}} || {{lang|vi|trăn}} || |}

There are also words similar to those in Sino-Tibetan languages, such as {{lang|kha|nga}} meaning "I", which is the same in Tibetan, Burmese, and Old Chinese as it is in Khasi. Traces of connections with the Kachin tribe of North Myanmar have also been in the Khasis. The Khasi people also have their own word for the Himalayan mountains which is ''Ki Lum Mankashang'' which means that at one point in time, they did cross the mighty mountains. Therefore, all these records and their present culture, features, and language strongly show that they also have a strong Tibeto-Himalayan-Burman influence. The word "Khas" means hills and they have always been people of cold and hilly regions and have never been connected to the plains or arid regions. This nature-loving tribe calls the wettest place on Earth their home. The village of Mawsynram in Meghalaya receives 467 inches of rain per year.

Primarily an oral language, they had no script of their own, until the arrival of the Welsh missionaries. The Welsh missionaries originally used the Bengali script before resorting to the Roman script to transcribe the Sohra dialect of the Khasi language. Particularly significant in this regard was a Welsh evangelist, Thomas Jones.

===Modern times=== [[File:Man in Khasia Tribal Village - Lawachara National Park - Outside Srimangal - Sylhet Division - Bangladesh (12924388915).jpg|thumb|Khasi man in Sreemangal, Bangladesh]] The Khasi first came in contact with the British in 1823, after the latter captured Assam. The area inhabited by the Khasi became a part of the Assam Province after the Khasi Hill States (which numbered to about 25 kingdoms) entered into a subsidiary alliance with the British.

The main crops produced by the Khasi people are betel leaves, areca nut, oranges, pineapples, plums, litchis, local varieties of rice and vegetables.

== Geographical distribution and sub-groups == thumb|right|Khasi states, 1947

Many Khasi sociologists classify the Khasi tribe in the following seven sub-tribes, which are collectively also known as 'U Hynñiewtrep' or 'Khasi':

* '''Khynriam''' (or Nongphlang): inhabit the uplands of the East Khasi Hills district. * '''Pnar''' (or Synteng) live in the uplands of the Jaintia Hills district. * '''Bhoi''' live in the lower hills to the north and north-east of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills towards the Brahmaputra valley in a vast area in Ri-Bhoi district. * '''War''' subdivided into War-Jaintia and War-Khynriam tribes live on the steep southern slopes of Khasi Hills leading to Bangladesh. * '''Maram''' inhabit the uplands of the central parts of West Khasi Hills District. * '''Lyngngam''' inhabit the western parts of the West Khasi Hills district bordering the Garo Hills display linguistic and cultural characteristics which show influences from both the Khasis to their east and the Garo people to the west. * '''Diko''' are extinct group who once inhabited the lowlands of the West Khasi Hills District.

According to the 2011 Census of India, over 1.41 million Khasi lived in Meghalaya in the districts of East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills, Eastern West Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi, West Jaintia Hills and East Jaintia Hills which togetherly constitute the Eastern part of Meghalaya's Khasi and Jaintia Hills region. In Assam, their population reached 35 thousand.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/khasis-in-assam-for-indigenous-tag/cid/1705685 | title=Khasis in Assam for indigenous tag }}</ref> In Bangladesh's Sylhet Division specially in Jaflong, around 85 thousand Khasis are living there.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://theshillongtimes.com/2019/02/04/khasis-in-bangladesh/ | title=Khasis in Bangladesh | date=4 February 2019}}</ref>

Khasi inhabiting the northern part are known as Bhoi, as that area is often called Ri Bhoi. People in the east are known as the Pnar, and they call their land Rilum Jaintia. The south are called War or Ri War, because of its mountainous regions and soil fertility. The west has a number of regional names: Maram, Rimen, Khatsawphra, Mawiang, Lyngam. A Khasi who inhabits the central area is known as Khynriam. The War inhabitants of the Khasi community designed and built living root bridges of the War region.

==Dress== thumb|right|Khasi children, 1944 thumb|Dancers during the festival of Shad Suk Mynsiem in Shillong

The traditional costume of the Khasis is known to be 'i shongkun bad i Don burom" which translates to being grand/respectful and modest.<ref>Ryndia silk of the Khasi Hills |url=https://garlandmag.com/article/ryndia-silk-of-the-khasi-hills-meghalaya/: Dr. Nisaphi Lyndem; Garland Magazine, Australia</ref>

The traditional Khasi male dress is a {{lang|kha|Jymphong}}, a longish sleeveless coat without collar, fastened by thongs in front. Nowadays, most male Khasis have adopted western attire. On ceremonial occasions they appear in a {{lang|kha|Jymphong}} and sarong with an ornamental waist-band and they may also wear a turban.

The traditional Khasi female dress is called the {{lang|kha|Jainsem}} or {{lang|kha|Dhara}}, both of which are rather elaborate with several pieces of cloth, giving the body a cylindrical shape. On ceremonial occasions, they may wear a crown of silver or gold. A spike or peak is fixed to the back of the crown, corresponding to the feathers worn by the menfolk. The {{lang|kha|Jainsem}} consists of two pieces of material fastened at each shoulder. The "Dhara" consists of a single piece of material also fastened at each shoulder.

Weaving Ryndia is an art passed down through the generations and treated as an occupation, providing livelihood to families in the region. Traditionally a hand-spun, hand-woven fabric, worn with pride by both the men and women in Meghalaya, the fabric in its un-dyed off-white state, or maroon and mustard plaid design, is a cultural symbol of the Khasi people. Eri silk is also known as 'peace silk' as the production process is considered to be non-violent. Weaving is primarily done by women. Eri silk in Meghalaya is produced from start to finish by women working from home or in clusters.<ref>Ryndia - Eri Silk of the Khasi Hills, Selvedge Magazine, United Kingdom. 2021-04-17, written by: Dr. Nisaphi Lyndem</ref>

== Marriage == thumb|An elderly Khasi married couple The Khasis are, for the most part, monogamous. Young men and women are permitted considerable freedom in the choice of partners.<ref name="Leonetti_2007">{{Cite journal |last1=Leonetti |first1=Donna |last2=Nath |first2=Dilip |last3=Hemam |first3=Natabar |date=December 2007 |title=In-law Conflict: Women's Reproductive Lives and the Roles of Their Mothers and Husbands among the Matrilineal Khasi |url=http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/520976 |journal=Current Anthropology |language=en |volume=48 |issue=6 |pages=861–890 |doi=10.1086/520976 |s2cid=17143612 |issn=0011-3204|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Potential marriage partners are likely to have met before betrothal. Once a man has selected his desired spouse, he reports his choice to his parents. They then secure the services of a mediator to make the arrangements with the woman's family (provided that the man's clan agree with his choice). The parents of the woman ascertain her wishes and if she agrees to the arrangement her parents check to make certain that the man to be wed is not a member of their clan (since Khasi clans are exogamous, marital partners may not be from the same clan). If this is satisfactory then a wedding date is set.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

Divorce is relatively common,<ref name="Leonetti_2007" /> with causes ranging from incompatibility to lack of offspring. This ceremony traditionally consists of the husband handing the wife 5 cowries or paisa which the wife then hands back to her husband along with 5 of her own. The husband then throws these away or gives them to a village elder who throws them away. Present-day Khasis divorce through the Indian legal system.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

The type of marriage is the determining factor in the marital residence. In short, post marital residence for a married man when an heiress (known as {{lang|kha|Ka Khadduh}} or {{lang|kha|"The Youngest daughter in the family"}}) is involved must be matrilocal (that is, in his mother-in-law's house), while post-marital residence when a non-heiress is involved is neolocal. Traditionally (though nowadays this rule is not absolutely true), a Khasi man returns to his Iing-Kur (maternal home) upon the death of his spouse (if she is a Khadduh and they both have no children). These practices are the result of rules governing inheritance and property ownership. These rules are themselves related to the structure of the Khasi Kur (clan system).{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

== Onomastics == Khasi names are known for their originality and elaborate nature and often literal nature. The given names may be invented by parents for their children, and these can be based on traditional native names, Christian names, or other English words. The family names, which they call "surnames", remain in the native Khasi languages or its dialects.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

== Traditional politics == thumb|The royal seat of Khyrim at Smit The traditional political structure of the Khasi community is democratic in nature. In the past, the Khasis consisted of independent native states called Syiemships, where male elders of various clans under the leadership of the Chief (called U Syiem) would congregate during Durbars or sessions and come to a decision regarding any dispute or problem that would arise in the Syiemship. At the village level, there exists a similar arrangement where all the residents of the village or town come together under the leadership of an elected Headman (called U Rangbah Shnong) to decide on matters pertaining to the locality. This system of village administration is much like the Panchayati Raj prevalent in most Indian States. There were around 25 independent native states on record which were annexed and acceded to the Indian Union. The Syiems of these native states (called Hima) were traditionally elected by the people or ruling clans of their respective domains. Famous among these Syiemships are Hima Mylliem, Hima Khyrim, Hima Nongkhlaw, amongst others. These Syiemships continue to exist and function till today under the purview of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), which draws its legal power and authority from the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://megartsculture.gov.in/herit_volIII-trad_insts.htm|title=Traditional Institutions of the People of Meghalaya, Heritage of Meghalaya: Department of Arts and Culture, Government of Meghalaya|website=megartsculture.gov.in|language=en-US|access-date=13 September 2017}}</ref>

== Religion == {| class="wikitable" |+ '''Religion among Khasis (2011 census)'''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxx-st.html?m=1 | title=Religion Data of Census 2011: XXX ST Meghalaya | access-date=27 January 2023 | archive-date=25 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025174848/https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxx-st.html?m=1 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=India - ST-14: Scheduled tribe population by religious community (State/UT level), Tripura - 2011 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11904 |access-date=19 November 2025 |website=censusindia.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=India - ST-14: Scheduled tribe population by religious community (State/UT level), Mizoram - 2011 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11903 |access-date=19 November 2025 |website=censusindia.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=India - ST-14 A: Scheduled tribe population by religious community (State/UT level), Assam - 2011 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/12521 |access-date=19 November 2025 |website=censusindia.gov.in}}</ref> ! rowspan="2" |Religion ! colspan="2" |Meghalaya |- ! Population ! % |- | Christians | 1,173,693 | 83.14% |- | Niam Khasi | 217,488 | 15.41% |- | Hindus | 10,302 | 0.73% |- | Buddhists | 1,803 | 0.12% |- | Muslims | 1,689 | 0.11% |- | Atheists | 6,800 | 0.49% |- | Total | 1,411,775 | 100% |}

Before the arrival of Christian missionaries and post- conversion, almost all of the Khasi people practised an indigenous tribal religion.<ref>Iarington Kharkongngor (1973), The Preparation for the Gospel in Traditional Khasi Belief. I. Kharkongngor. pp. 19-26.</ref><ref>Gurdon, P.R.T. The Khasis.</ref> The first translation of the Bible into any of the languages of Northeast India was a Khasi version, published in 1891 by missionaries. The main Christian denominations today followed among the Khasis include Catholicism, Anglicanism, Presbyterianism (largest Christian denomination among the Khasis), and others. Around 83.14% of the Khasi tribe numbering around 1.17 million are Christian of various denominations (mainly Presbyterian and Catholic) and 15.41% of them numbering around {{Lakh|2.17}} still follow their Indigenous khasi religion called "Ka Niam Khasi" which is monotheistic in nature.<ref name="ThePrint">{{cite news |last1=Ghosh |first1=Paramita |title=Missionary is not a popular word in India. But in the Khasi hills, it holds a different meaning |url=https://theprint.in/features/missionary-is-not-a-popular-word-in-india-but-in-the-khasi-hills-it-holds-a-different-meaning/751501/ |access-date=14 July 2022 |work=ThePrint |date=16 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Religion Data of Census 2011: XXX ST Meghalaya |url=https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxx-st.html |access-date=8 March 2025 |language=en-GB}}</ref> In Khasi traditional religion Niam Khasi, the principal deity U Blei Nongthaw, who is '''One''' and '''formless''' is the Supreme creator of the whole universe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History & Culture {{!}} South West Khasi Hills District {{!}} India |url=https://southwestkhasihills.gov.in/history/ |access-date=8 March 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref>

A significant small number of Khasi population also adheres to Hindu and Buddhist faith. As per as 2011 census, around 10.3 thousands Khasi people have stated their religion as Hindu and Around 1.8 thousand Khasis follow Buddhism.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxx-st.html?m=1 | title=Religion Data of Census 2011: XXX ST Meghalaya | access-date=27 January 2023 | archive-date=25 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025174848/https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxx-st.html?m=1 }}</ref> Lesli Hardinge Pde, a 73-year-old retired Meghalaya civil servant, who is also an Khasi actor, comedian have translated Bhagavad Gita into Khasi language, locally known as "The Song of God or in Khasi, Ka Jingrwai U Blei". The book was published on 9 May 2011. The author have also translated the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Upanishads into Khasi.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bhagawad Gita now available in Khasi - Retired Meghalaya Civil Service officer Leslie Hardinge Pde translates scripture from Sanskrit |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/bhagawad-gita-now-available-in-khasi-retired-meghalaya-civil-service-officer-leslie-hardinge-pde-translates-scripture-from-sanskrit/cid/395862 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125125224/https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/bhagawad-gita-now-available-in-khasi-retired-meghalaya-civil-service-officer-leslie-hardinge-pde-translates-scripture-from-sanskrit/cid/395862 |archive-date=25 January 2025 |access-date=8 March 2025 |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> Historians suggested that the Kamakhya temple of Assam's Nilachal Hills was an ancient sacrificial site for an Austroasiatic tribal goddess, locally called or known as ''"Ka Mei Kha"'' (literally: ''old-cousin-mother''), of the Khasi tribe<ref>{{harvcol|Urban|2009|p=46}}</ref> supported by the folk lores of these very peoples.<ref>" In fact, many Khasi and Garo folk tales have claimed that the Kamakhya temple was originally a site of their own tribal deities." {{harvcol|Urban|2009|p=46}}</ref> The traditional accounts from Kalika Purana of (10th century) and the Yogini Tantra too recorded that the goddess Kamakhya is of Kirata origin,<ref>" The ''Kalika Purana'' records that the goddess Kamakhya was already there in Kamarupa kingdom even during the time of the Kiratas and immediately before Naraka started to reside there. After the Kiratas were driven out, Naraka himself became a devotee of Kamakhya, at the instance of his father Vishnu. This however throws some light that Kamakhya was originally a Khasi tribal mother goddess. It is not unlikely that the Khasis who are not far off from the site of Kamakhya were the original worshipers of the goddess." {{harvcol|Sharma|1990|p=319}}</ref> and It is said that the worship of Kamakhya goddess predates the establishment of Kamarupa in (4th century CE).<ref>{{harvcol|Shin|2010|p=7}}</ref>

There is also very small community of Khasi Muslims, mostly residing in Shillong and adjoining areas of the city,<ref>{{cite news|title=Everyday pleasures|author=Pariat, Janice|date=31 July 2010|work=Business Standard|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/everyday-pleasures-110073100015_1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025125905/https://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/everyday-pleasures-110073100015_1.html|archive-date=25 October 2015}}</ref> who accepted Sunni Islam as a result of historic Muslim traders in the region.<ref name="Khasi muslims">{{cite journal|journal=Journal of Human Ecology|title=Demographic structure of the Khasi-Muslims of Shillong, Meghalaya|url=https://www.academia.edu/64041300 |author=Langstieh, Banrida Theresa|date=2001|volume=12|issue=2|pages=121–125 |doi=10.1080/09709274.2001.11907591 |s2cid=134712439|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227204243/krepublishers.com/02-Journals/JHE/JHE-12-0-000-000-2001-Web/JHE-12-2-081-01-Abst-PDF/JHE-12-02-121-01.pdf|archive-date=27 December 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |first1=N. K. |last1=Singh |first2=A. P. |last2=Mishra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H8HT5OMWVssC&q=Mirasi&pg=PA563 |title=Global Encyclopaedic Enthnography Of Indian Muslim (3 vol. set) |date=August 2008 |publisher=Global Vision Publishing House |isbn=978-81-8220-297-9 |pages=405–407 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=North-East India: Land, People and Economy|author1=Dikshit, K. R.|author2=Dikshit, Jutta K.|page=361|chapter=The People of Meghalaya|publisher=Springer Science+Business Media|date=21 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=History, Religion and Culture of India|volume=6|chapter=History, Religion and Culture of North-East India|page=32|year=2004|publisher=Gyan Publishing House|author=Gajrani, S.}}</ref><ref name="ANM 2012">{{cite journal |last=Ali |first=A.N.M. Irshad |date=January 2012 |title=Islam in the Hill Areas of Northeast India |journal=The NEHU Journal |volume=X |issue=1 |pages=2–12 |publisher=North-Eastern Hill University |postscript=. "Second Lecture, XV Dr. Verrier Elwin Endowment Lectures, Department of Anthropology, North-Eastern Hill University, March 29-30, 2011" .|url=https://dspace.nehu.ac.in/server/api/core/bitstreams/93fbbce6-b591-48c4-8666-875102b3ee40/content |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260329194009/https://dspace.nehu.ac.in/server/api/core/bitstreams/93fbbce6-b591-48c4-8666-875102b3ee40/content |via=dspace.nehu.ac.in|archive-date=29 March 2026 |access-date=29 March 2026 |quote=|s2cid=211665820}}</ref> On 3 February 2019, Quran, Islamic Holy Book, was released in the Khasi language.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qur'an released in Khasi language {{!}} The Shillong Times |url=https://theshillongtimes.com/2019/02/03/quran-released-in-khasi-language/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240929190036/https://theshillongtimes.com/2019/02/03/quran-released-in-khasi-language/ |archive-date=29 September 2024 |access-date=8 March 2025 |website=theshillongtimes.com |date=3 February 2019 |language=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref> The translation of 1251 pre-pages and pages of Quran, was done by a Khasi Muslim leader Mubarak Lyngdoh, to propagates Islam among the local Khasis.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Holy Quran in Khasi language released |url=https://theshillongtimes.com/2019/02/02/holy-quran-in-khasi-language-released/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203005740/https://theshillongtimes.com/2019/02/02/holy-quran-in-khasi-language-released/ |archive-date=3 February 2019 |access-date=25 April 2026 |work=The Shillong Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Syllad {{!}} The Rising Meghalaya |date=2 February 2019 |title=The holy book of Muslim translated into Khasi |url=https://www.syllad.com/the-holy-book-of-muslim-translated-into-khasi/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625015346/https://www.syllad.com/the-holy-book-of-muslim-translated-into-khasi/ |archive-date=25 June 2024 |access-date=25 April 2026 |work=Syllad |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rupang |date=4 February 2019 |title=12 snem, ka shim por ban pynkylla Khasi ia ka Quran |url=https://www.urupang.com/12-snem-ka-shim-por-ban-pynkylla-khasi-ia-ka-quran/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260425215554/https://www.urupang.com/12-snem-ka-shim-por-ban-pynkylla-khasi-ia-ka-quran/ |archive-date=25 April 2026 |access-date=25 April 2026 |work=Rupang |language=Khasi}}</ref> The translation was done at the initiative of the Seng Bhalang Islam (A local Islamic organisation of Shillong, Meghalaya).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mubarak |first=Lyngdoh |date=15 September 2010 |title=Koran translated into Khasi |url=https://assamtribune.com/koran-translated-into-khasi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125125504/https://assamtribune.com/koran-translated-into-khasi |archive-date=25 January 2025 |access-date=8 March 2025 |website=assamtribune.com}}</ref> Khasi Muslims numbers around 1,689 as per 2011 census.

There are also a small segment of Khasi population who do not follow any particular faith. Around 6.8 thousand Khasis have stated that they are atheist and do not believe in any particular religion or God as per 2011 census.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxx-st.html?m=1 | title=Religion Data of Census 2011: XXX ST Meghalaya | access-date=27 January 2023 | archive-date=25 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025174848/https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxx-st.html?m=1 }}</ref>

== Fertility rate == According to a 1998-99 research by the National Family Health Survey of India (NFHS), the Khasi tribe, along with Jaintia and Garo had the highest fertility in India at TFR=4.57.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Saikia |first1=Udoy Sankar |title=High Fertility in Khasi Tribe of Northeast India- A Repercussion of the Fear of Identity Loss? |journal=Public Health, Flinders University, South Australia |url=https://www.demoscope.ru/weekly/knigi/tours_2005/papers/iussp2005s51588.pdf |access-date=9 August 2022}}</ref>

== Notable people == {{unreferenced section|date=January 2021}}   * Paul Lyngdoh, politician * Ampareen Lyngdoh, politician * Sniawbhalang Dhar, Deputy Chief minister of Meghalaya * Prestone Tynsong, Deputy Chief minister of Meghalaya * Donkupar Roy, former chief minister of Meghalaya * D. D. Lapang, former Chief minister of Meghalaya * J. D. Rymbai, former Chief minister of Meghalaya * Paty Ripple Kyndiah, Indian politician *Bonily Khongmen, Indian politician from the Indian National Congress party, Former member of Lok Sabha *James Michael Lyngdoh, former Chief Election Commissioner of India *U Kiang Nangbah, freedom fighter *Keishing Clifford Nongrum, MVC, Mahavir Chakra awardee (posthumously) *Neil Nongkynrih, director of the Shillong Chamber Choir *J. J. M. Nichols Roy (Rev. James Joy Mohan Nichols Roy) member of the Constituent Assembly of India, pioneer of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India "which established autonomous district councils in tribal areas in the north-east"<ref>{{cite web |title=Constitution of India |url=https://www.constitutionofindia.net/constituent_assembly_members/j_j_m__nichols_roy |website=Constitutionofindia.net |access-date=15 August 2022 |archive-date=6 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006141900/https://www.constitutionofindia.net/constituent_assembly_members/j_j_m__nichols_roy |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=J.J.M. Nichols Roy: Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council |url=https://khadc.nic.in/JJM_Nichols_Roy.html |website=khadc.nic.in |access-date=15 August 2022}}</ref> *George Gilbert Swell, former Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha and Ambassador to Norway and Burma *Silverine Swer, Indian social and environmental activist, educationist and civil servant. *U Tirot Sing Syiem, freedom fighter *David R. Syiemlieh, former chairman, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) *Skendrowell Syiemlieh, Notable Khasi folk singer and Padmashree awardee. *Sayeedullah Nongrum, Khasi philanthropist and three-time MLA *Rocus Lamare, Indian footballer *Aiborlang Khongjee, Indian footballer *Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Indian footballer *Ricky Shabong, Indian footballer

== See also == * Khasi pine * Tirot Sing * Anglo-Khasi War * Tungrymbai

== References == {{reflist}}

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== External links == {{commons category}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100605042409/http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/scst_main.html Census of India 2001, Scheduled Tribes] * [https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12786 The Khasis] by Gurdon, P. R. T. * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080308175546/http://meghalaya.nic.in/culture/people.htm Government of Meghalaya] Portal * [http://khasi.free-dict.de Dictionary German Khasi] * [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122421694 Khasi Folk Songs and Tales], translated into English by Desmond L. Kharmawphlang and translated into Hindi by A.R. Tripathi

Category:Khasi people Category:Tribes of Meghalaya Category:Ethnic groups in Bangladesh Category:Scheduled Tribes of Assam Category:Scheduled Tribes of Meghalaya Category:Ethnic groups in Northeast India Category:Ethnic groups in South Asia