Kisan Tribe - Family

Family

The family is the smallest form of the society. Generally family is nuclear in structure. The family is composed of husband, wife and their unmarried children. Married children establish separate family. The Kisan family is patrilineal and the residence is patrilocal.

The husband or the father is the head of the family. But he does not take any decision in authoritarian manner. He seeks the advice of wife and children, if they are reaching towards younghood and are unmarried. Their decision in the family is made by consensus.

The Kisan family is based on cooperation of the family members. In order to run the family properly, the division of labour based on age and sex is found among the family members. It is the duty of the wife to cook breakfast and food for entire family members. It is they duty of the husband to perform work out side the house. The duty of children is to assist parents in household chores. They duty of the aged is to keep watch on kids, house, cattle, chicks and to prepare ropes and made articles. The division of labour does not mean that they do not know the work of other. The husband can cook if the wife is ill or she has gone in the house of relatives for some days. The aged and children also know how to cook food. The women also perform work in the field and forest. The children also accompany them there. Thus, the division of labour is just to facilitate the proper functioning in the family.

The Kisan family is based on belief and co-operation of all family members. This is possible when there is good relation between all family members. The relation between husband and wife is generally cordial. This does not mean that difference of opinion does not exist. But both make compromise and cooperation each other with full belief. The husband wife relation gets sour on laziness and extramarital relations. Such incidence leads to even divorce and re-marriage. Both husband and wife are free to divorce each other. The divorce is allowed with the permission of village Panchayat. But in practice it takes place rarely.

The parent-children relation is very sweet. The children are assistants of their parents. They are the progeny of the family. They continue the lineage and family name. They are means of entertainment for the family members. They are loved by their parents. Parents try to fulfil their desires within their economic limits.

The sibling relation, i.e., brother-brother, sister-sister and sister-brother, is also very cordial and sweet. Being the children of the same parents, they live together, eat together, play together and sleep together. They have some difference too and quarrel for something. They are also involved in beating of each other. But their conflict is resolved with the help of parents. After marriage, brothers establish separate house and sisters go to live in the house of husband situated in another village. The property of father is shared equally by the brothers. Sisters have to forget their share in father’s property. But this does not change the affection and love. They maintain relation through reciprocal exchange of visits, service, food, gift, presentation, invitation etc.

The relationship of Kisan family with the families of lineage, tribes and other castes of the village is also generally sweet. Being the member of the same village they exchange opinions, visits, food items, services etc. reciprocally. The Kisan call themselves Nagbansis, Nagesar and Nagesia.