Garo Customary Laws and Practices : A Sociological Study/Julius Marak. Revised edition. New Delhi, 2000, xii, 244 p., $25. ISBN 81-87606-00-2.

Contents: Preface. 1. Historical background. 2. Social offences and crimes and its penalities. 3. Religious laws. 4. Civil, criminal and non-criminal laws. 5. Laws of marriage and divorce. 6. Laws of inheritance. 7. Nokpante system. 8. Laws governing birth and death. 9. Conclusion. Glossary. Selected bibliography. Index.

"The customary laws and practices of the Garos of A'chiks or Mandei in matters of succession, inheritance, transfer of moveable or immoveable properties, gift, mortgage, etc. are varied and their interpretations on their customs and practices are not uniform for want of written customary laws.

"This book now has been revised and enlarged by trying to meet all the basic requirements and demands as well as suggestions of the present generations in the matters of existing traditional customary laws and practices of the entire Garo community wherever they may live.

"This book is the comprehensive study made by a Garo Scholar himself who could understand better the intricacies and complexities of customary laws. He has also cited all the important case laws on the point not only of the districts and village courts but also of the state high courts, neatly forged a chain by the aid of which an inquisitive reader may easily get down at the bottom and in the process be acquainted with the subject matter.

"It will be of great interest to all those who are interested in the Tribal customary laws of Northeast India." (jacket)

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