Family and kinship
From the moment you wake you talk with and get help from parents, grandparents and siblings; that is family.
A family is relatives who live together and care for each other. In a joint family several generations live together; in a nuclear family only parents and children. Relationships have special names; in many Indian families cousins are also called brothers and sisters.
In the figure : Types of family and kinship.
Rule 1: Joint and nuclear family — In a joint family work, expenses and duties are shared and elders' experience is available. A nuclear family is small and decides quickly. Jobs, education and urbanisation have increased nuclear families.
- Easy : Grandparents, uncles and aunts living together form a joint family.
- Medium : Mother, father and two children = nuclear family.
- Exam-type : Name one benefit of a joint family. Answer: duties and expenses are shared.
Rule 2: Kinship and its names — Every language has particular names for relations: separate words for mama, kaka, mavshi, aatya. In many families cousins are treated as brothers and sisters, which widens the circle of kin.
- Easy : Mother's brother = mama.
- Medium : Father's sister = aatya.
- Exam-type : Who are cousins? Answer: children of one's uncles or aunts.
Family means cooperation: sharing and caring.
Thinking a joint family is just more people. Duties are shared in it.
Joint = many generations; nuclear = parents + children. Memory clue : "Joint = many, nuclear = just the core".
Spot the difference
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Joint family | Many generations together | Grandparents, uncles/aunts |
| Nuclear family | Parents and children | Small city home |
| Kinship | Structure of family relations | Mama, mavshi |
| Cooperation | Working together | Helping with housework |
Practice questions
- 1What is a joint family?
- 2Who live in a nuclear family?
- 3Who is mother's brother?
- 4Give a home example of cooperation.
- 5Why are nuclear families growing?
- 6How do elders help in a joint family?
- 7Why are cousins called brothers and sisters?
- 8Compare joint and nuclear families in one sentence.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1A family with several generations living together.
- 2Parents and their children.
- 3Mama.
- 4Dividing chores, e.g. helping in the kitchen.
- 5Jobs, education and urbanisation.
- 6Experience, guidance and care for children.
- 7Because the circle of kin is seen as wide and close.
- 8A joint family shares duties, while a nuclear family is small and decides quickly.
Community and service
A society water tank or a village well belongs to all, and all must take care of it.
A community is people living in a place, sharing resources and keeping mutual duties. Indian tradition values dharma (duty), ahimsa, dāna (giving), sevā (service) and tyāga (sacrifice), which strengthen a community.
In the figure : Values of community and examples.
Rule 1: Halma: working together — In the Bhil community of Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, the "halma" tradition means all come together to help free of cost. During a water crisis the Shivganga group used it to build water-holding structures on hills. Mahesh Sharma received the Padma Shri in 2019.
- Easy : Halma means helping together without payment.
- Medium : Water was held back in Jhabua.
- Exam-type : Which value does halma show? Answer: service and cooperation.
Rule 2: Community in crisis — During the 2015 Chennai floods people distributed food to those stranded. In Ahmedabad Kamal Parmar teaches about 150 children in evening classes. These are examples of help and service.
- Easy : People shared food during the flood.
- Medium : Children are taught in evening classes.
- Exam-type : What can you do for your community? Answer: keep the area clean, help others.
Five values: dharma, ahimsa, dāna, sevā, tyāga.
Thinking a community is just living together. It includes duty and help.
Community = sharing + duty + service. Memory clue : "D-A-D-S-T".
Spot the difference
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Community | People who live and share together | Village, locality |
| Sevā | Selfless help | Food distribution |
| Dāna | Giving willingly | Aid to flood victims |
| Halma | Bhil tradition of helping together | Jhabua |
Practice questions
- 1What is a community?
- 2In which community is halma?
- 3Which award did Mahesh Sharma get, and when?
- 4In which year were the Chennai floods?
- 5How many children does Kamal Parmar teach?
- 6Differentiate sevā and dāna.
- 7How does a community help in a crisis?
- 8Name a shared resource of your locality and how you would protect it.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1People living together, sharing resources and keeping duties.
- 2Bhil community (Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh).
- 3Padma Shri, 2019.
- 42015.
- 5About 150.
- 6Sevā = giving effort or time; dāna = giving things or money.
- 7By sharing food, shelter and help and supporting each other.
- 8E.g. well or garden; by not littering, keeping it clean and telling others.