Page 235 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Unit 29: Family and Marriage in India: Forces of Change, Family in the Context of Care of the Child and the Aged

Our culture needs us to step onto the first stage. The present will always be there, whether, it is Notes
the struggle between people or nations of the world.”
In the beginning the parents are delighted. They proudly say that their children (sons/daugh-
ters) work abroad and have settled there permanently. But with time, this happiness changes
into sorrow. Their children get busy in their own world and the old parents keep on waiting
for them. In the metropolitan cities, the problems of the old have multiplied. The old affluent
parents live alone in houses. They have domestic helps to do the house hold chores and one day,
these very domestic helps kill them and vanish with the valuables. Today, the children’s attitude
has changed. They do not wish to follow their parents blindly. As long as they are small, they
listen to their parents out of fear, as they are small and helpless. But as soon as they become
self-sufficient, they don’t deem fit to listen to the elders as it is against their self esteem. Their
inflated egoes refuse to listen to elders. In this way, the natural human values in the families,
have vanished. The moral values of the lovely stories told by grandmother seem to have gone
into the transhkin. Even if, there are elders in the family, they are there, merely to look after the
small children.
The working women, who have small children, openly say to their colleagues, that as long as
their children are small, they have to live with their in-laws. But when their children grow up,
they would live separately. How can such a dangerous downfall of moral values make the fam-
ily system meaningful? The modern age is the age of freedom and curiousity. The only thing
that matters is extreme individualism. Earlier, the family members used to sit together and share
the joys and sorrows. They would also talk about a family member who stayed far away from
them. As a result, the children used to get acquainted with them indirectly. But now, there is
nothing of that sort. It is not that nobody has the spare time for all this. When they wish to spare
time, they do so despite being busy. The fact is that total nobody feels the need for all this. The
old generation is pained to see this. They remain silent as they do not have the right to expres-
sion. Perhaps, because of this, in India too, old age homes have mushroomed, like in the West.
The children are the ones who are getting ill affected by the disintegrated families. It is the old
who have to bear the brunt of it.

There is no place far emotions in this age of sciertific progress. It is interesting
to note that they too. Consider themselves extremely emotional and sensitive.
But sensitivity of these emotions are limited to theirselves only.

In these changing circumstances, there is no other way than to silently watch the downfall of
civilisation and culture. At the most, there are debates on the existing problem, a few social
organisations hold seminars but a practical solution to this problem is nowhere in sight. The
youngsters present themselves as smarter than elders. The elders, silently and smilingly accept
their egoes. In the joint families, the children get high social development. In no way, can a nu-
clear family be considered complete, for the healthy personal development of children. But, it is
not in the hands of man to stop the speed of time. This problem does not end here. It is surpris-
ing that even the husband and wife are not happy with each other.

29.4 Summary

• The dominance of urban culture has played an important role in influencing a family and
bringing about social changes.
• The responsibilities like assistance in child birth and care, which were earlier fulfilled by
joint families, are now being replaced by maternity nursing homes and ante-natal clinics.

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