Beyond Joint and Nuclear: The Indian Family Revisited
Author(s)
D’Cruz, Premilla; Bharat, Shalini
Abstract
It is this evolution of family research in India that is responsible for the genesis and perpetuation of the belief that the Indian family was essentially joint, and that following industrialisation and urbanisation, it has been replaced by the nuclear family. Thus, though family plurality has been an essential feature of Indian society, biases in research impeded the early recognition of this truth, making it appear to be a recent phenomenon. The present paper dispels myths and misconceptions regarding the family in India. Its description of the multiplicity of family forms simultaneously present in the country is enriched by the incorporation of available research on family dynamics and processes. It is important to note at the outset that the review of research presented herein is organised in terms of chronological phases. Though initially this may appear to underplay or even deny the plurality of family forms in India, the approach is adopted to facilitate an appreciation of how family research in India has evolved.
