The study of family in its various forms helps us to understand different cultural practices and the Himalayan mountains provide us with forms of polyandry that enable us to interrogate the ‘modern’ norm of the family. This practice has been historically prevalent in the western Himalayas and was meant to conserve the resource, make labour optimal and was driven by the inseparableness of the family lands from the family.
The western Himalayas are characterized by rugged mountains, difficult terrain, and a scarcity of arable land. Under such conditions, polyandry was a practical solution that allowed families to pool their resources and prevent the fragmentation of land holdings. The polyandry practised in the Himalayas was based on patriarchal, patrilineal and patrilocal characters. We witness both kinds of polyandry, fraternal (in which brothers share a wife), as well non-fraternal polyandry (in which unrelated men marry a woman), thus ensuring that land and resources remain within the family. The study examines the complexities and contradictions of polyandrous marriages, including issues of inheritance, property rights, and gender relations.
The study also explores the impact of colonialism on the practice of polyandry. The British colonial government in India viewed polyandry as a backward and immoral practice and sought to discourage it. Modernization, in the form of improved infrastructure, education, and healthcare, led to a decline in the practice of polyandry as families became more self-sufficient and the need to share resources diminished.
The study reveals how polyandry served as a practical solution to the challenges of life in difficult terrain and how it evolved in response to changing social and economic conditions. By examining the complexities of polyandrous marriages, this study highlights the need to appreciate the diversity of human experience and avoid simplistic judgments about what constitutes a "normal" family structure.
