people have been residing in meghalaya since neolithic stone age which has been evident from discovery of neolithic sites in areas of khasi hills and garo hills. the three major tribes – khasis, garos and jaintias had their own kingdom till 19th century after which they came under british administration. in 1835, the britishers merged meghalaya into assam. meghalaya became as an independent state on 21 january 1972, when it was carved out from two districts of the state of assam – the united khasi, jaintia and garo hills.