India has always believed in the value of family. Discuss the changes, both good and bad, that have resulted from the break-up of the traditional Indian joint family.

‘Unity to strength’. This proverb implied perfectly on the joint families of India in the older days. But now in the 21st century, each family is self-sufficient, they need more money and freedom but not strength. Isn’t it true?

In olden times, there used to be big ancestral Havelis where grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, cousins, brothers and sisters all lived together under one roof, under the rule of grandparents who were the head of the family. Sometimes, members of the joint family would exceed 50-60 also. The males of the family were busy in their business or agricultural affairs. The ladies of the house would be busy with their daily chores of work like washing, cleaning, cooking and looking after their children. Throughout the day they used to be busy and fighting among themselves on the pressure or duties distributed to them. Even children in the house were as many as five Indian cricket teams playing under one roof and fighting among themselves for petty reasons. The scene would be like a line WWF match those days. It was a stressful experience among the ladies, children and gents, as well. Seriously, every individual dreamt of living a separate life in a nuclear family but the elders of the house would stop their development and growth, by putting restrictions on them.

At least, the trend of nuclear families started so drastically, and a lot of changes are noticeable in society nowadays. Even nuclear family is fragmented by their sons and daughters-in-law. Some are doing for the sake of freedom, peace, for their jobs and some for other reasons. Nowadays, everybody wants to lead their lives independently without anybody’s interference in their lives. Thus, wants to live a separate peaceful life. The benefits of a nuclear family are many. Here, gents of the house are free to take initiative steps and decisions for the betterment of their families. Women are free to work at home or outside according to their will. Children are looked after very nicely, their education, health, growth activities etc., is looked after by their parents. So, everyone is happy and free. They can enjoy their holidays together and help each other, have outings, fun, according to their wish. So, this way break-up of traditional Indian joint families has set them apart. Because of their Sanskars or values, they are still united, in some way or the other. The issue is not that, they live separately, but are united at any family function, pooja’s, weddings or even on deaths’. We can still say Indians still believe in family values. Their families are their priority.

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