Final answer:
In matrilineal societies like the Garo of Northeast India, child discipline is primarily the responsibility of maternal male relatives, especially the mother's brother or maternal uncle, rather than the father.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the matrilineal groups such as the Garo of Northeast India, child discipline is rooted in the broader family structure, where lineage and inheritance are traced through women. In these societies, primary responsibility for child discipline does not fall on the father, but rather on the mother's male relatives, typically the mother's brother or the maternal uncle. These men assume a prominent role in the family, wielding decision-making power over family resources and overseeing the discipline and education of children. This aligns with the structure of matrilineal societies, where familial relations highlight the mother's family, and property, status, and clan affiliation pass through the female line.
The matrilineal descent pattern means that the father's relations to the child are relatively less significant compared to the mother's family. As a result, in the Garo community, while mothers and female relatives are closely involved in day-to-day nurturing, senior men in the matrilineal line—especially the maternal uncles—play a crucial role in disciplining and guiding the children.