FAMILY as per definition is a unit or a social organization of men and women, tied together by kinship bonds, but, its real essence cannot be expressed merely by words or definitions. It is a unit in which members are tied up with unseen bond of cooperation, harmony and interdependence, in which satisfactory rearing of a child is ensured, proper care and support to the ageing parent is provided, widows/ unmarried/ separated members are protected and nurtured, work is divided, happy moments are enjoyed, and sad moments are embraced together. Family system is valued considerably by all the cultures, across the world, especially in India, where a family is considered as a sacred institution of ones belonging and the kinship bonds are always nurtured to stay strong. Another beautiful aspect of Indian family system is the longstanding belief in joint family tradition. A joint family is an arrangement where members from more than one generation, sharing kinship ties, such as grandparents, their children, their children's spouses, their offspring, aunts, uncles etc. live under a same roof, worship a common idol, eat from a common hearth, share the household expenses and income, share the property and wealth etc. In such a setup, availability of multiple members ensures that no one is left alone, specially the aged or the child, the responsibilities are shared, so that no single member gets overburdened, problems are faced collectively, festivals or successes are celebrated together and so are the sorrows. In majority of families, Indian patriarchal system is followed where the eldest male member holds primary power and predominates the other members in any sort of familial decision making. Not just decision making, but he is majorly responsible for everyone's welfare and protection, therefore other family members may live carefree. They rely upon him for any kind of support, physical, emotional, financial, as they say‖ bauji/ papa hain na wo sab sambhal lenge‖. This sense of belonging and nurturance is very important for overall wellbeing of an individual. Such a shelter, helps an individual to divide responsibilities and duties amongst themselves and thereafter concentrate on the related important aspects of work and role responsibilities, otherwise most of the time and energy will be wasted if everybody has to undertake the responsibility of every task and duty on their own. 1 The Indian family system is currently on a continuum on which tradition and modernity,
