Polyandry in the Himalayas

Polyandry

(First published in Small World Ezine on 27 May 2002)

 

Polyandry is a form of marriage in which a woman has more 
than one husband at the same time. 

The Encyclopedia Britanica (1972) has stated criteria in 
identifying a polyandry society as followings. 

1. Children recognize more than one man as having the status 
of father, 
2. A woman bears legitimate children to several different 
fathers in succession, 
3. A legitimately married woman regularly cohabits with 
several men, none of whom rate as father to her children, and 
4. A single legitimate husband allows other man for sexual 
access to his wife 

In most countries, polyandry is illegal. However, Two 
principal forms of polyandry exist today. Among the Nair 
people, who inhabit India's Malabar Coast, where a woman may 
marry several men of equal or superior rank; and in areas of 
the Himalayas where a woman may marry the eldest brother of 
a family and then also take his brothers as mates.

While the Nair's Polyandry seems to be rooted from religious
belief, the Himalayan's Polyandry is more interesting because
all brothers in a family will be having the same wife!

I believe this was at least originally from a rational 
explanation. Socio-economists say this tradition/behavior 
occurs when resources/land are scarce and/or difficult to 
work with, so there is a need for brothers to stick together. 
According to socio-economic point of view, through this 
cultural complex, division of labour is being channelized, 
social security to woman and children is being systematized 
and the unity of people and property of a family also 
remained secured. Birth rate is pretty low as well.

It can be a good solution IF girls can make her choice 
whether to accept the next brother or not. But in some 
tribes, girls do not have such privilege. 

Nowadays, with the development interventions and modern 
education, the practice is rapidly losing ground to the 
monogamist. Polyandry, as a cultural institution is still 
found in various pockets in Indian Himalayas i.e., Ladakh, 
Lahaul & Spiti, Kangra, Sirmaur in Western Himalaya, Jaunsar 
Bawar in Central Himalaya and Siyang district in Eastern 
Himalaya. 

More:

Isn't it difficult to be a woman? 

In places that men are allowed to have more than one wives,
we said that's bad for girls. Now we are talking about places 
women are allowed to have more than one husbands. But we 
still think it's bad for girls.

In China, men will have to beg the girls parents to allow
her to be his bride. And we say this makes girls secondary
gender. In India, it's the girls and their families who have 
to ask for men to become her groom. Yet, female is considered
secondary!

I don't think it's the culture or religion that have been 
taking advantages on women. The communities where men are 
allowed to have more than one wives were probably countries 
in war (where there were few men, and it was dangerous for 
women to live by themselves) or places where resouces were 
scarce. They probably did not really prohibit women to work, 
but originally said it's the men's responsibility. Later 
generations just interpreted it the way they wanted it to be. 

 

In this case, Polyandry was just naturally formed in the 
area it suited. Nothing deviled or sexist in it. It's not 
even a group-rape as regarded in some books. But now, 
centuries after, some religious or village leaders could 
have made it so just to serve their perversive needs.