The people with whom you live are your immediately family. Parents, brothers, sisters and sometimes grandparents are makeup an immediate family.

Uncle, aunts, cousins and nephews who stay separately are part of our extended family. Both maternal and paternal relatives are part of an extended family.

Family gatherings

A family occupies a very important place in Indian society. The members of the family who do not stay together meet on family functions. The birth of a child, a naming ceremony, birthdays, marriages, festivals and a house-warming ceremony are some occasions that all family members celebrate together.

Ram is very excited today. It is his grandfather’s birthday. All the relatives will get together in the evening. Special dinner is being prepared for the occasion. Ram has bought a watch for his grandfather. He will present it to him in the evening.

Decision –making in the family

Ram’s uncle, Ranga, works in a bank. There he met Sania. After they had known each other for a year, they decided to get married.

It was a big decision. Sania was a Muslim and Ram a Hindu. Ram’s father raised the topic at the dinner table.

Ram’s grandfather asked, ``what about Sonia’s parents? Have they agreed to the marriage?’’

Ram said, ``Yes, they have.’’

Grandfather said, ``If both of you are sure that this is what you want, we will support you. But both of you will have to adjust a lot. Our good wishes are with you.’’

Ram father said, `Tomorrow we will visit Sonia’s parents and speak to them’’

The children clapped.

This is how a big decision was taken in Ram family in the presence of all the family members.

Family values

Anil has huge collection of books. He has a bookrack in his room. He keeps all his books covered. He has read them all.

In Anil’s family it is a practice to present books to each other on occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. His grandparents, parents, uncle, aunts and cousins, all love books.

Anil’s grandmother does a lot social work. In the afternoon he collects the children of the neighborhood helpers and teaches them for two hours. She has been doing this for many years. Anil’s mother also helps grandmother to teach the kids. She teaches them Maths and handicraft. Many times Anil also helps his daughter and mother.

Anil’s aunt, who lives in Delhi, has started the same practice there. This shows how family practices and values are passed on among the family members.