Customs and Tradition:

This joint family system appears to be traditional among both the tribal and non-tribal village communities of Assam; it is based on blood relationship. In the case of inheritance, the Dayabhaga system was followed in olden days, as at present. As long as the father lives, the sons cannot claim any share in the property. So the father is the center of the family and he rules supreme. There are a few tribal societies which follow the matriarchal system. The Khasi is one among them. They look upon the mother as he centre of the clan. The mother's property goes to her daughters. When there is no daughter, the property goes to the youngest daughter of the mother's sister. The Garos also also follow a similar system in the Garo Hills. Among the Dimasa-Kacharis the prevalent custom is that the sons inherit their father's properties and the girls inherit their mothers properties. When there is no children of their own their relatives inherit the properties. Though Assamese women are given an honoured position, no other community in Assam follows the matrilineal inheritance system. The common paternal system governs general Assamese society.