Khasi Hills

Khasi Hills
Region
Eastern Khasi Hills
Country	India
State	Meghalaya
Area
• Total	10,443 km^2 (4,032 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	1,468,223
• Density	140/km^2 (360/sq mi)
Languages
• Spoken	Khasi
Districts	East Khasi Hills West Khasi Hills South West Khasi Hills Eastern West Khasi Hills Ri-Bhoi

The Khasi Hills (/ˈkɑːsi/) are a low mountain formation on the Shillong Plateau in the Meghalaya state of India. The Khasi Hills are part of the Garo-Khasi-Jaintia range and connect with the Purvanchal Range and the larger Patkai Range further east. The Khasi Hills, and the whole Garo-Khasi-Jaintia range, are in the Meghalaya subtropical forests ecoregion.

The Khasi Hills, and the entire Meghalaya state, was administratively part of Assam before 1970. In older sources in particular, the alternative transcription Khasia Hills is seen.^[1]

The region is inhabited mainly by tribal Khasi dwellers, who are traditionally in various chieftainships, states known as the Khasi Hill States. One of its capitals, Sohra, is considered one of the wettest places in the world.^[2] The majority of Khasis are Presbyterians followed by Catholics and Anglicans.

The region came under the Khasi Hills district, which was divided into the West Khasi Hills and East Khasi Hills districts on 28 October 1976.^[3]

The highest peak is Lum Shyllong which is 1,968 metres (6,457 ft) high.^[4] It is situated a few kilometers south of Shillong town.^[5]

Administration

Administratively, the Khasi Hills used to be a part of the Khasi Hills district.^[6] The district was divided into East Khasi Hills district^[7] and West Khasi Hills district on 28 October 1976. On 4 June 1992, the Ri-Bhoi District was carved out of the East Khasi Hills District.^[8]

Demographics

The population of the region according to the 2011 Census is 1,468,223.^{[9][10][11][12]}

Religion

Religion in Khasi Hills (2011)^[13]

  Christianity (76.88%)

  Hinduism (12.42%)

  Niam Khasi (8.70%)

  Islam (1.19%)

  Others (0.81%)

A vast majority of 1,128,769 people in Khasi Hills follow Christianity of various denominations, mostly Presbyterian and Catholic. Hinduism is mainly followed by 182,353 people, mainly non-tribals (Bengalis, Nepalis, Biharis, Marwaris etc.) living in the region. A small segment of Khasi tribe members numbering around 127,735 still follow their indigenous tribal religion called "Ka Niam Khasi", Islam is a tiny minority with around 17,471 people following it.^[13] 0.81 percent follow other religions.

Language

Languages of Khasi Hills (2011)^[14]

  Khasi (78.27%)

  Garo (6.03%)

  Bengali (3.82%)

  Nepali (3.27%)

  Others. (8.61%)

Khasi is spoken by 1,149,178 people as their mother tongue, Garo is spoken by 88,533. While Bengali and Nepali come in at 3rd and 4th position, spoken by 56,086 and 48,010 people respectively.^[15] A vast number of non-tribals can be found in the multi-diverse East Khasi Hills district.

See also

• Garo Hills
• Khasi and Jaintia Hills
• Patkai

References

1. Sarkar, A.B. Chaudhuri & D.D. (2003). Megadiversity conservation : flora, fauna, and medicinal plants of India's hot spots. Delhi: Daya Publishing House. ISBN 8170353017.
2. Bhaumik, Subir (28 April 2003). "World's wettest area dries up" (stm). South Asia News. Calcutta: BBC. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
3. Bhattacharjya, Umasaday (1980). Local government in Khasi Hills. Vivek, 1980. p. 263.
4. Karlsson, Bengt G. (2010). Unruly hills : a political ecology of India's northeast. New York: Berghahn Books. ISBN 978-0857451040.
5. Riggins, Stephen Harold, ed. (1990). Beyond Goffman : studies on communication, institution, and social interaction. Berlin [u.a.]: Mouton de Gruyter. ISBN 3110122081.
6. Shangpliang, Rekha M. (2010). Forest in the life of the Khasis. New Delhi: Concept Pub. Co. ISBN 978-8180696671.
7. "East Khasi hills". Government of India. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
8. "About district". Ri Bhoi District | Government of Meghalaya. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
9. "Demography | East Khasi Hills | India". Retrieved 5 September 2024.
10. "Demography | West Khasi Hills District | Government of Meghalaya | India". Retrieved 5 September 2024.
11. "Demography | South West Khasi Hills District | India". Retrieved 5 September 2024.
12. "Demography | Ri Bhoi District | India". Retrieved 5 September 2024.
13. "Population by religion community – 2011". Census of India, 2011. The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 25 August 2015.
14. ORGI. "C-16: Population by Mother Tongue". www.censusindia.gov.in. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
15. DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-0000.xlsx

Further reading

• Yule, Henry (1844). "Notes on the Khasia Hills, and people". Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 14 Part 2, Jul–Dec (152): 612–631.

25°35′N 91°38′E