HPAS/Allied Mains 2022 Answer Writing Challenge Day 20: Model Answer

Question: Write brief note on the forms of family in Himachal Pradesh. (4 Marks, 60 Words)

Answer: 

Families in Himachal state believe in strict discipline, obedience, even passivity in their children. Families are still performing their duties as earlier; with the notable move from extended to nuclear families in some regions.

Nuclear (simple) family: This type of families consist of Husband, Wife and Children. Now a days, Nuclear families are common in Himachal Pradesh. However, joint families are still in existence but not popular any more.

Nuclear family with adhesions and/or adjuncts: The adhesions are remnants of the earlier larger group, such as father or mother, or father’s brother, or father’s mother, unmarried brother or sister. Adjuncts are those who do not belong to the patrilineal family; these include affinal kins such as wife’s mother or father, wife’s brother or sister, widowed or divorced sister or daughter. Generally, such units maintain the character of nuclear families and treat the adhesions or adjuncts as temporary members of the family;

Compound family: A simple family becomes compound when the wife dies after the birth of children and the husband marries again. In this case, the unit will have two sets of children – one from the first wife and the other from the second wife. The presence of two sets of children makes the family a compound family. This of families are but found in Himachal Pradesh. The family also becomes compound in case of a polygyny; in such cases; it and is called a polygynous compound family.