JOINT FAMILY VIS-A-VIS NUCLEAR FAMILY

“JOINT FAMILY OR NUCLEAR FAMILY’- it is the much talked about contradiction of the day. Some advocate for joint family and some cast their favour for nuclear family. The issue is hardly un-debated. While formulating any definite opinion over the issue arguments and counter arguments run in tremendous confusion. None wants to switch over from his own standpoint. Those who plead for joint family concept cite optimism in joint family concept and they discard the concept of nuclear family because it narrows the liberalization of mind with a steady promotion of self-centered activities. The advocators of nuclear family plead that everyone has the right to live with individualism and individual comfort should not be sacrificed in the altar of collective comfort.

The pragmatics of joint family, it should be opined so on the ground of reality, can never be sidelined. The advantages of joint family are immense from different angle of consideration. At the very outset, it develops commonness and collective approach. We all seek happiness in the run of life. But that happiness is a remote chance when collective happiness is sent in exile. One can never remain in happiness if others surrounding him remain in unhappiness. Happiness is not a commodity to be purchased against money. It is a reflective feeling and that is to be perceived keeping mind in complete liberalism. It comes from different senses and different kind of teachings. Joint family concept tutors us how to share joy and sorrow with others. We are compromise positively if we want to lead a life in peace and tranquility. Joint family concept is the ideal form to teach that. There is no room for self-centered activities in a joint family. Question of individualism is a bygone conclusion in a joint family. Want to live alone with individual happiness and comfort is unrealistic and joint family concept teaches that very effectively with examples. None can deny that example is better than precept. Besides this, in a joint family we know how to reconcile with others thinking on common minimum consideration. The members of a joint family never run with same mental setup. Differences and contradictions are very common there. Yet, we live under the same roof giving up our own egoism. It teaches us the sense of unity among diversities. It is the only concept what propels our future in the right direction.

On the other hand; nuclear family may subscribe individual comfort up to the end level, but that is not enough to lead a life peacefully. Self-centered activity is a factor to count and it spoils our life from the root. A self-centered man only counts his individual benefit with no consideration to other’s interest. This kind of people is always disliked on the floor of the society as they contribute nothing to the good to the society. A life is just like a flowing river with a rocky bed. There are many ups and downs, trials and tribulations. A man grown up in a nuclear family concept can never put a strong fight against the odds of life and in most of the cases they become defeated in the battle of life. As nuclear family contributes to own benefit only a man grown under the canopy of this concept does not know how to compromise if the situation demands so at the different sharp “U” turns of life. Boldness becomes fragile in a nuclear family because there is no struggle for existence. A person in a nuclear family builds up his own imaginary castle and in case that castle gets collapsed in the tug of war of life the person fails to bounce back with inextinguishable spirit. Meanness and narrowness are the two basic byproducts of nuclear family. Liberalized mind in a nuclear family concept is a remote chance, but a joint family concept subscribes that effectively.

Nuclear family concept may subscribe transitory earthly benefits; but considering the entire optimisms joint family concept we should denounce the nuclear family concept. It underscores the values of life and a person with a trend of elimination of the moral and ethical values of life should never be taken into consideration a man at all.