Changing Pattern of Marriage Among Tribals in Northeast India

Abstract Population belonging to ‘Scheduled Tribe’ (ST) in India are considered as socio-economically backward section of the society. Tribal display different set of rules regarding inter-tribe and inter-clan marriage. There is a need to understand changing marriage pattern among tribal in North-east India, a region with geographically inaccessible, economically underdeveloped and where a large tribal population resides. Data from Census of India 2001 and 2011, revealed that Singulate Mean Age at Marriage (SMAM) among STs of Northeast is comparatively higher than the ST of India. The spousal age gap has also been decreasing over time. Among the major STs in the Northeast, the SMAM is highest among the Mao, Paomai Naga and among the Tangkhul Nagas of Manipur. Although the Nagas supported early marriage in its lore days, the marriage structure has tremendously changed with dawn of Christianity. Western education brought by Christian Missionaries had great impact on the traditional norms