The statement The ritually married husband is not necessarily the quot legalized genitor quot of the...........

Sociology Preliminary Others

The statement, The ritually married husband is not necessarily the "legalized genitor" of the children born to his wife', applied to which one of the following castes or communities in the olden times?

Coorgis

Namboodiris

Nayars

Khasis

Explanation:

- The statement refers to a tradition where the man ritually married to a woman (often through a simple ceremony) may not necessarily be considered the legal or biological father of her children.

- Among Nayars (Option 3) of Kerala, the system called "Sambandham" allowed women to have multiple partners without formal marital bonds as in other societies. The ritually married husband (Sambandhakar) was not always the biological or legal father; instead, children belonged to the mother’s lineage (matrilineal).

- Coorgis (Option 1) did not follow such a custom; their marriage and family structure was more akin to patrilineal Hindu tradition.

- Namboodiris (Option 2), the Brahmins of Kerala, practiced strict patriarchal inheritance and did not follow this system.

- Khasis (Option 4) of Meghalaya are matrilineal, but the specific context of ritual versus legal paternity is not central to their customs as described above.

Correct Answer:

Option: 3 - Nayars