NEW DELHI (MeriNews) December 21, 2007:
A new order is taking shape in Indian society. A new approach to family and societal relations is gaining popularity now. And many are thinking aloud what if they go back to the roots of their traditional society and give them a new dimension - so that several problems precipitated by onslaught of modernism could be sorted out.
Nuclear family has been popular for long. However, the conveniences nuclear families offer have failed to outweigh the troubles it created.
Several nuclear family supporters now realize that there was something very important in the age-old system, that our forefathers were not wrong in many of their convictions and conclusions to establish social and family values.
The conveniences that we enjoy today are fine and they are here to stay too. But several people have the opinion that these conveniences come with a price; at times we are forced to pay dearly for it. This lack of balance between the conveniences and inconveniences must be the reason behind emergence of this new ‘joint nuclear family’ setup.
There was a time when we felt pride in being able to do things all by ourselves. Those who set out to do things individually are now being looked at with suspicion. They are said to follow the ‘use and throw’ culture - whether it is product you buy, use, throw away or parents you depend on and, eventually, disown.It is the last proposition that makes sense to several new generation nuclear families to go to a new order called ‘joint nuclear family’.
Unlike in the past, today’s new generation families happen to have two or three children and new nuclear families arise when these children grow and get married. Such nuclear families now realize that it is a good idea to stay back in their families and enjoy a blend of nuclear and joint family atmosphere.
The Joint Nuclear Family Is Here
Modern affluent parents are prepared to provide their newlywed children with houses and flats. They are happy to find their dear ones accommodate themselves in a single set up or under a single roof or a building, or in their own modern palatial home itself. This new order is now taking shape slowly in Indian society. Several sociologists are of the opinion that Indian society is moving back to joint family.
There are people who feel that they committed a blunder when they separated from their natal families. So comes the new set up called ‘joint nuclear family’.
Here are some advantages of joint nuclear family set up:
# The problems with old age people could be solved.
# Working couples could comfortably go for jobs when parents are there at home.
# Children get better physical and spiritual care from their grandparents if their
parents are working professionals.
# Society will absorb a new life into itself because many old age people participate in different social activities.
# Working parents get social recognition that they are ready to keep the traditional values intact and at the same time be abreast of the changes of the times.
# There will be limited room for child abuse, juvenile disorders, domestic violence, family break-ups, picking up of unhealthy habits.
# There will be enough room for discussions, dialogues, problem solving, decision-making, multi-tasking, mutual understanding and sharing.
# Every joint nuclear family will be a constructive society in microcosm. These microcosms will go into the making of a new social order, which will have all the ingredients of a traditional joint family.
Of course, this new social order will enjoy all the independence expected from a nuclear family, and these progressive nuclear mindsets together in turn constitute what I call the ‘joint nuclear family’.
This is happening in society and this is going to be the order of family in coming years. In other words we shall have a culture as Indian as it has always been in the next ten years.
Globalisation and its so-called implications on traditional societies will be eventually proved as insignificant in the coming years. The social values are something different than social changes. Social changes come and go but the social values stay forever. The tradition of nuclear family is something like this.
The signs of such attitude changes are very obvious. Many youngsters now prefer traditional arranged marriages over the so-called unconventional marital arrangements. Children love their grandparents. Old age homes and convenient dwellings have become so commercialised that they have reached their saturation points.
It is a good sign that old social orders are increasingly getting front bench space. There is a section of society very interested to upkeep the fine fabrics of our conventional social orders. Young boys and girls themselves are really fascinated by the traditional ceremonies and rituals. More and more people witness such events more frequently in their surroundings than ever before.
Unfortunately, these kids have not had a chance to experience the virtues of traditional values for long. Now they understand that it is good to be part of the roots and its strengths. It is this part of society that makes life meaningful in today’s ultramodern world order. Good to see old values make a comeback. ‘Better late than never’ holds true here.
