Unit 2: Khasi community of Meghalaya

Unit Objectives
Understand the socio-economic structure of the Khasi community of the state
Analyze the local climatic conditions which determine the architectural style of the Khasi community
Identify various elements of the Khasi house
Mawbynna
Skyngkup
Nengpei
Kympei
Explain the use of building materials and construction techniques in reflection with local physiographic
condition.

Socio-economic Pattern of Khasi Community

Khasi is a predominant agriculture based community of the Meghalaya state. People of Khasi community
look more Mongolian compared to other communities in the plain. Khasi society is largely matriarchal,
women taking a prominenet role in all aspects of life and inheritance passing through the female line. If
the daughter builds her house in her mothers compound, as gesture of respect it must be on the left
side or behind her mothers house. A new home is inaugarated by mother in which she brings a burning
log to place in her daughters hearth. Also accopanied with a loud drumming sound a senior man of the
ecommunity pours a mixture of rice and rice beer over the foot of each corner post to inaugarate the
house. (Dawson, 1998, 176)
Settlement Pattern of their Villages
Khasi villages are built a little below the top of hills in small depressions to protect against storms and
high winds. The community believes that a house should be built on a slope, facilitating drainage and
facing the sun. The west, place of setting sun has association with death in their lore and it is
inauspecious to build houses facing the west. Sites at stream or river junctions are also avoided since
they are considered to be prone to visits from evil spirits. (Dawson, 1998)

Their houses are built in close proximity to one another. In addition to individual houses, family tombs
and memorial stones called Mawbynna are located within their territory. There is no internal division of
the village based on wealth; rich and poor live side by side. Sacred groves are located near the Village
between the brow of the hill and the leeward side, where the village`s Tutelary deity is worshiped. Pigs
wander freely through a village, and some villages (e.g., those of the high plateau) also feature potato
gardens protected by dry dikes and hedges. Narrow streets connect houses and stone steps lead up to
individual houses. The upper portion of a Khasi Village may be as much as 100 meters higher in elevation
than the lower portion. (Indianetzone)

Features of Typical Khasi House

The typical Khasi house is a shell-shaped building with three rooms: These kind of structures were
sqaure in plan with semicircular front. The main entrance opened through the rounded faade into a
skyngkup, a semicircular space porch built at ground level. This has many general functions. Including
storage of utensils and an informal meeting place. Steps led from this up into the riased square section
of the house.

The Nengpei is one of the two rooms built in stone and timber house of the assam region. This room
combined more formal entertainment , sitting and sleeping space. This was the display room exhibiting
the family possesions.

Kympei : Kympei is the adjoining room at the rare end to the Nengpei. This space contains the hearth in
the center and beds at either sides. This was the private space, closed to all but family and intimate
frineds. Where such houses survice thatch has given way to metal roofing. This roofing has diadvantage
of heat loss from above and in the region of heavy rainfall the noise can be defening.

The homes of wealthy Khasi are more modern, having iron roofs, chimneys, glass windows, and doors.
Some have European-style homes and furniture. A marketplace is located outside a Khasi village (close
to memorial stones, by a river or under a group of trees, depending on the region). Within Khasi villages
one may find a number of public buildings, Christian churches, and schools. (Indianetzone)

Building Material and Construction Techniques

Due to extreme rainfall in the region the Khasi build deep foundation for thick stone rubble house walls
which protects their interior and the wall itself from the torrential flow over the ground surface.
Traditionally a roof of steeply pitched paddy straw or grass thatched descends low over the walls
protecting them from the rains full force. In such a climate thatch has to be renewed annually.
Openings are reduced to a single little window-cum ventilator and two low doors, resulting into dark
interior. Many kashi houses are constructed of bamboo and these have a form of gambrel roof leaving a
gablet at either end. Since independence corrugated iron, lighter and more permanent has replaced
thatch on most of the part.

Khasi community has a taboo which precludes the use of metal to join woodwork. In the absence of
nails, joints are fastened either with wooden pegs or thin bamboo strips. When using wood they prefer
jackwood, wild jack and hard ironwood. (Dawson, 1998, 176)

Bibliography
Dawson, I. C. (1998). Traditional Buildings of India . Italy: Thames and Hudson.
Indianetzone. (n.d.). History of Khasi Tribe. Retrieved November 15, 2009, from Indiannetzone:
http://www.indianetzone.com/19/history_khasi_tribe.htm

Suggested Readings
Ehrenfels, U. R. ( Nov., 1955). A Typical Khasi Hat. Man, Vol. 55, , pp. 168-169 .
Questions
1. Critique villages and houses of Khasi community from Meghalya in response to their socio-
economic and climatic condition.
2. Define following elements of the Khasi house: Mawbynna, Skyngkup, Nengpei, Kympei
3. Critique the use of stone rubble and paddy straw as building material by the community.