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Abstract
Raid is a political unit which is smaller than that of a chiefdom or Hima in the Khasi-Jaintia hills of the state of Meghalaya in north-east India. During the pre-colonial period, there were a number of Himas in Ri-Bhoi[i] area of the Khasi Hills such as Iapngar, Mawbuh, Khatar Lyngdoh, Myrwet, etc. However, in course of time, these Himas got disintegrated and their boundries shrink to a smaller political unit called Raid. Moreover, the Raids in Ri-Bhoi later fall under the protection of Hima Shillong (It was one of the biggest state in pre-colonial period) of the Khasi Hills[ii]. Due to paucity of evidences, it is not certain as to why and when the Raids accepted the suzerainty of Hima Shillong. But, according to oral tradition, the ruler of Hima Shillong aided the Raids when the Syntengs or the Jaintias[iii] came to invade and henceforth, as a token of appreciation, these Raids accepted the protection of Hima Shillong. After the partition of Hima Shillong into two Himas- Khyrim and Mylliem in 1859, these Raids came under rule of either one of the Himas. Presently there are 29 Raids in Ri-Bhoi[iv]. Most of which are govern by the Syiem or Chief along with other Bakhraws or Basans(Ministers) chosen and elected from a specific clan and succession to office is often hereditary.
[i] Ri-Bhoi Is one of the district of the state of Meghalaya and is considered to be part of the Khasi hills area.
[ii] Hamlet Bareh, History and Culture of the Khasi People, Spectrum Publications, Guwahati, 1985, p. 69.
[iii] The Jaintias or the Syntengs are people living in present day Jaintia hills of Meghalaya. They were part of the Jaintia Kingdom which during the pre-colonial period its extended up to Sylhet in present day Bangladesh .
[iv] Hiarless Tmung, Ka History Jong Ka Synshar Khadar Ha Ri-Bhoi, Self –Published, Shillong, 2007, pp, 1-2.