Family and Community
This chapter emphasizes the significance of family as the fundamental unit of society in India and Community as important part of life which exists outside of Family.
Family as fundamental unit
It highlights the existence of diverse family structures, including:
- Joint Families: These families consist of multiple generations living together, encompassing grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, siblings, and cousins. The story of Shalini from Kerala exemplifies the strong support system and sharing characteristic of joint families. Despite financial constraints, Shalini’s parents prioritize the needs of her uncle’s family during the Onam festival, showcasing their commitment to family well-being.
- Nuclear Families: These families are typically limited to a couple and their children, and occasionally include a single parent with their children. The story of Tenzing from Meghalaya illustrates the division of labor and shared responsibilities within a nuclear family. Tenzing’s father actively participates in household chores, while his grandparents play important roles in childcare, education, and community involvement.
Family Roles and Responsibilities:
- Relationships within families are founded on principles of love, care, cooperation, and interdependence. Each family member has designated roles and responsibilities that contribute to the overall functioning of the unit. Parents are primarily responsible for raising and nurturing their children to become responsible members of society. As children mature, they progressively assume more responsibilities within the household, assisting other family members, including parents and siblings. This dynamic fosters a sense of shared responsibility and mutual support.
- Children acquire essential values through their upbringing in the family environment. These values encompass ahimsa (non-violence), dāna (giving), sevā (service), and tyāga (sacrifice). The concept of dharma, meaning duty or righteous conduct, holds central importance in family life. It often requires individuals to prioritize the needs of the family above their own personal desires.
Students are encouraged to engage in thoughtful reflection on various aspects of their family dynamics:
- Decision-Making Processes: Who holds authority in making decisions within the family?
- Distribution of Chores: How are household tasks divided among family members?
- Roles of Elders: What specific roles do grandparents and other senior members of the family fulfill?
Roles and Responsibilities
Roles and responsibilities are fundamental aspects of both family and community life in India. These roles are often intertwined with the concept of dharma (duty).
Family Roles and Responsibilities:
- Relationships are based on love, care, cooperation, and interdependence. Each family member contributes to the well-being of the unit.
- Parents are responsible for raising children to be happy individuals and responsible members of society. They provide guidance, support, and instill important values.
- Children, as they grow, take on more responsibilities at home, helping parents and siblings. This shared responsibility prepares them for future roles within the family and community.
- The concept of dharma, or duty, is central to family life. Individuals often prioritize the family’s needs over their own. This is illustrated in the story of Shalini, whose family buys clothes for her extended family even though it means Shalini receives a less expensive dress than she expected.
- Decision-Making: The sources encourage readers to reflect on who makes decisions within their families, such as purchases from the market.
- Household Chores: The division of household tasks is explored, asking readers to consider who cooks, cleans, and helps with homework. Tenzing’s story showcases the sharing of household chores as his father helps with cleaning, gardening, and food preparation.
- Roles of Elders: The sources emphasize the roles of grandparents and other senior members. Tenzing’s grandmother shares stories and wisdom, while his grandfather assists with homework and engages in community service.
Community Roles and Responsibilities:
- Communities also have roles and responsibilities, often linked to resource management and mutual support.
- In rural areas, communities may come together for agricultural tasks or agree on practices for using shared resources like water or forests.
- The halma tradition in the Bhil community of Madhya Pradesh exemplifies community responsibility for environmental well-being. The community came together to plant trees and create water harvesting structures to address a water crisis.
- Community support is evident during times of need. The Chennai floods of 2015 highlight how private groups, especially religious organizations, provided food and aid to those affected.
- Kamal Parmar’s initiative to educate underprivileged children in Ahmedabad demonstrates individual responsibility toward the community.
Community
Community is a crucial aspect of Indian society, extending beyond the immediate family unit. Community is portrayed as a group of individuals connected by shared interests, geographic proximity, or common goals. It plays diverse roles, encompassing social interaction, resource management, and mutual support.
- Social Interaction: Communities facilitate social interaction through celebrations, festivals, and organized events. These gatherings strengthen bonds among community members and provide opportunities for shared experiences.
- Resource Management: In rural areas, communities often collaborate on agricultural practices and establish norms for managing shared resources like water, grazing lands, and forests. This collective approach ensures the sustainable use of resources for the benefit of the entire community.
- Mutual Support: Community members provide support to each other in times of need. This can take various forms, including financial assistance, practical help, and emotional support. Examples include:
- The halma tradition in the Bhil community of Madhya Pradesh, where members collectively planted trees and built water harvesting structures to address a water crisis. This exemplifies the community’s responsibility for environmental well-being.
- Private groups in Chennai providing food and aid to those affected by the 2015 floods.
- Kamal Parmar establishing a school for underprivileged children in Ahmedabad, demonstrating individual commitment to community well-being.
The concept of “community” is flexible and can be interpreted in various ways. Some examples include:
- A jāti, or a subdivision of it
- Religious groups, such as “Mumbai’s Parsi community” or “Chennai’s Sikh community”
- Regional groups, like “America’s Indian community”
- People with shared work or interests, such as “Kerala’s scientific community”, “our school’s art community”, or “the village’s farming community”
Modern forms of community also exist, such as Residents’ Welfare Associations in urban areas. These associations establish rules and regulations concerning waste management, cleanliness, and pet care, demonstrating the community’s proactive involvement in managing shared spaces
Community Engagement and Support
These examples showcase how communities come together to address challenges and provide assistance to those in need.
- The Bhil Community in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh: This community faced a severe water crisis. Drawing upon their halma tradition of collective support, they decided to plant thousands of trees and construct water harvesting structures in numerous villages. The Bhils undertook this initiative without expecting payment, driven by a sense of duty toward their community and the environment. This example underscores the community’s commitment to environmental sustainability and collective well-being.
- Chennai Floods of 2015: During this devastating event, roads became impassable, shops closed, and essential services were disrupted. Private groups, particularly religious organizations, stepped up to cook and distribute large quantities of food to those in need. This example highlights the role of community organizations in providing critical support during emergencies.
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