Indian Family: Changing Patterns
For the past four weeks, India Probe has been devoted to issues of the political variety. Its time to take a break from politics and discuss something more social. The strength and weakness of the family system often determines the cohesion and disintegration of a society. Family is the foundation stone of society. It teaches us to be social. It teaches us to digest the fact that there is a common interest, which may be more important than individual interest. Thus, it may require to be given up in favour of family interest. It modifies individual behaviour and cultivates tolerance, patience, respect for others, love and affection, dedication, care and sacrifice. It checks selfishness and restrains rigidity. In fact, a family is the first institution that cultivates social values and social behaviour among individuals. Social values are basically family values written at large. Had the family been absent, concepts like nationalism could never originate. Traditional Asian societies have survived for thousands of years mainly because there has been a consistent emphasis on enforcing family values. Collapse of the family system simultaneously leads to social breakdown. There is a visible rise in criminal behaviour and violence. The individual looses the ability to tolerate those who differ from him.
The traditional Indian family was a large sized joint family. Vertically, one could find 3-4 generations living together in a single house. Horizontally, many brothers with their families lived jointly in one house. The base of such a joint family was either an agrarian land holding or a traditional business. Women were usually uneducated but they were very well versed in Indian epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata. These epics are an encyclopaedia of family values, social behaviour and issue clear guidelines regarding what is to be done in particular circumstances confronting a family or a nation. Simultaneously, these women were well versed in stories of legendary heroes specific to every community. The epics combined with a repeated recital of hero stories provided the basic education to every child from where he/she learnt norms of social behaviour. By the time he/she grew up, the child too was well versed in such values. Therefore, generations kept following them. In fact, these norms and values are so comprehensive that it is impossible to find a second instance of such comprehensiveness in modern literature. For example, the Bible provides comprehensive guidelines of social behaviour. Such a family structure entailed collective decision-making on most issues. Whether it is marriage or a business decision.
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