“Joint family, organised family, safe family, prosperous family, constructive family, happy family and healthy family” are the primary objectives and goals of family enlightenment initiative of the RSS. Globalization, mindless imitation of the West, excessive use of social media, materialism, self-centered mentality and so on are all negative influences on the Bharatiya family system. Recognizing that the rate of these changes, which are contrary to Bharatiya culture’s ideal family system, is accelerating, the RSS has initiated the family enlightenment (Kutumba Prabodhan) initiative in their Panch Parivartan program. The goal of the family awareness activity is to raise the next generation of Bharatiya who prioritize their nation.
The Bharatiya Society was defined by a joint family arrangement that is unique in the globe. In the present era, this has been supplanted by a nuclear family arrangement, resulting in more individuality. Many causes, including urbanization and Macaulay’s education system, have contributed to increased nuclearization and change in the Bharatiya family system. Families do not exist in isolation, and family dynamics are frequently best understood in light of their societal and cultural contexts. Culture has been found to influence family structure by altering its kind, size and form. The evolving household— As the nuclear family arrangement gained popularity, the number of ‘couple only’ families grew. The share of single mothers has also increased, along with rising divorce rates in a nation. Extended families (one or more parents or relatives) are also prevalent. Single-mother households (5.4%) outnumber single-father households.
How does leaving the Bharatiya family system harm individuals, families and society?
Shift from joint to nuclear family: Previously, combined families were common, with multiple generations living together. According to NFHS-5 data, Bharat’s proportion of nuclear households is 58.2% in 2019-21. This encourages autonomy while increasing elderly isolation and weakening family bonds and ties. More and more complicated concerns between couples cause stress, unneeded disputes and conflicts, disrupted routines, difficulties managing children and a lack of moral values learning for children at a young age.
Rise of Love marriages and live in relations: There is nothing wrong with love marriages, but in many situations, fraudulent techniques are utilized to damage a girl’s life, such as love Jihad and phony identities. Another harmful precedent is the “live-in relationship,” which is creating additional harm to individuals, families and society while also eroding the Bharatiya culture.
Acceptance of new family structures: Following legislative changes, the number of single-parent, live-in, and LGBTQ+ families has increased. Childless couples choose not to have children. According to the 2011 Census, more than 31% of India’s population resides in cities, with more people migrating for better education and employment opportunities. In 2023-24, Bharat’s female labor force participation rate (LFPR) was 32.68%. The breakdown of empathy, social relationships, and traditional support mechanisms causes growing alienation and societal fragmentation. Individual selfishness is eroding the culture of family bonding, caring for and sharing with those we care about.
Increased mental health concerns: Loneliness, depression and anxiety are all consequences of a lack of family support. Children and the elderly are frequently ignored, which has a detrimental effect on their emotional and mental health. Children are drawn to the transient charms of social media apps to watch videos and talk, online gaming, sexual encounters during adolescence, drugs, alcohol and smoking, which have become the new normal at this age. The number of patients with depression and nervousness is increasing. The suicide rate has increased.
Weakening of the social fabric: The social fabric eroded and people show concerns to others and social problems superficially. The trust deficit has increased. Societal norms and helping each other have declined.
Rise in old-age homes and elderly abuse: A lack of respect and care for the elderly leads to abandonment and neglect. Financial and emotional exploitation of senior folks is becoming increasingly prevalent.
Reduced crisis management capacity: Traditionally, joint families offered financial and emotional support during crises. Nuclear families lack these safety nets, leaving them susceptible to emergencies leading to stressful and panic situation.
Lack of moral leadership: The absence of strong family values and parental leadership frequently leads young people astray. Negative effects lead to greater incidences of crime and deviant behavior. Divorce rates rise when adherence to family values declines. A lack of compromise and support mechanisms undermines marital stability.
Decline in ethical and moral principles: The shift toward individualism and materialistic pursuits undermines ethical principles. Dishonesty, lack of sympathy, and greed become increasingly common. Cultural and traditional practices are weakened, with family rituals, traditions, and festivals being overlooked. Younger generations lose touch with their origins and history.
Poor emotional development in children: Children raised in turbulent environments lack emotional resiliency. The lack of role models and supervision has an effect on their psychological development. They start following the wrong role models, taking them to a wrong path or ideology of extremist aggressive mindset, which is against the constitution and “Idea of Bharat”
Practical examples of the erosion of family values
The Supreme Court recently stated that the concept of family in Bharat appears to be disappearing as society shifts toward a “one person, one family” approach. (Context: Property dispute in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh between Samtola Devi (68) and her eldest son, Krishna Kumar). The parents tried to evict their son under the 2007 Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act. Despite the Bharatiya philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family), cohesiveness among direct family members is dwindling. No legal grounds for eviction: The Senior Citizens Act (2007) does not clearly permit eviction.
The strength of a nation is determined by the integrity of its houses. – Confucius
Culture, on the other hand, does not have an external passive impact on families; rather, families play an important role in passing on cultural values to their members. Parents utilize both hidden and overt strategies to help their children learn, internalize, and become culturally aware. Social learning concepts help family members modify their own and others’ conduct. During this process, global and Bharatiya norms and beliefs may be adapted to match the needs of the family, yielding a set of “family values” – a subset of social norms unique to the family. An endeavor is made to impart the idea that at least six items in every family should be culturally appropriate: hymns (भजन), food (भोजन), language (भाषा), clothing (भूषा), House (भवन), and travel (भ्रमण).
Without family values, economic progress has no meaning, and growth is only cosmetic. As a result, as members of this magnificent civilization, we must take the initiative to teach family values in both our own families and society. Only RSS working on these issues will not fix them completely, but the support of society will undoubtedly make a positive effect in making our family, society, and nation great again.
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