Joint Family a Dying Tradition

1151 Words5 Pages
A joint family is a group of persons, who are related to one another and who share a common roof, common religion and common property. All the working members of the family pool together their resources and hand them over to a common head who is usually the eldest member of the family. The head of the family looks after the general welfare of the entire family. Any member who brings in extra income does not get preferential treatment. Thus, the joint family actually puts into practice the idea of Karl Marx “To each according to his need, from each according to his ability”. It is socialistic in nature. The joint family system is the characteristic feature of agricultural societies. They have existed in countries like India and China whose economy has been based on agriculture. Collective living, collective farming and collective share in the family wealth are the traditional features of the joint families. The joint family guards the immovable property, held jointly by its members, from fragmentation. Land is the main source of income. The joint family members collectively work to derive benefit from the produce of the land. The jointly possessed land keeps the joint family free from want. Its property is safe under the care of the head of the family. He uses the joint income for its maintenance, marriages, religious ceremonies, education, and treatment in sickness of its members and for other useful purposes. It preserves the traditions, customs and manners handed down to it. Traditional culture and the skill in arts and crafts are safeguarded from generation to generation. There is division of labour where all the members attend to the work assigned to them and contribute to the well being of the family. A joint family provides an ideal setting for cultivation of virtues. The very foundation of joint family is based on co-operation and
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