34. Atomic to Cellular

Class lecture (Family Management, Paper I – Joint and Nuclear Family)

“And now let us look at the name nuclear family. Do you know what nuclear means here?

“Yes, right, it comes from nucleus.

“Where do we find a nucleus? Yes, very good, in an atom. But is that all?

“Also in a cell, right. Now, please note this down. The nucleus of nuclear family used to refer to an atomic nucleus earlier, but according to recent studies it refers more to a cellular nucleus.”

(On the board)

CELLULAR NUCLEUS

ATOMIC NUCLEUS

                                                                                                                            

                                                              

 Before (till 2010)                                        Now (after 2010)

“You must be wondering what this transformation signifies. I will tell you.

“Earlier in the atomic phase, the family used to be held together by the mother - the positively charged proton - and the child/children who were like the charge less neutrons, while the father used to roam semi-freely at a distance from the house, willing to break free but bound by the mother’s charge and thus played the role of the negatively charged electron. As a whole the family resembled an atom.

“This structure has become uncommon in recent times. Nowadays a family functions as a cellular nucleus, where the DNA of the cell is protected inside a strong membrane. The DNA or the building block of the family is similarly protected behind the safe walls of their home. It is only at home, behind this membrane like walls, that the father, the mother and the children exist as a family. But once outside, every member of the family is extremely busy and is unwilling to be in touch with each other during their working or learning hours. The functionality of a home for such families resemble the functionality of a cellular nucleus.

“Which is the reason the definition had to be changed. Any questions?”

9. First Session

(Family Management)

Teacher: “Welcome! In this course we are going to discuss the different aspects of family and learn how to go about having a peaceful family life. Peaceful and well balanced – these are the two utmost important criterion. You will want neither a tumultuous and rough family life nor an isolated family life.

“That is to say, one needs to be involved in the family and yet be able to handle it smoothly.

“Now, before we go any further, we need to explain what family is. What does it mean? What does it signify? Yes, any suggestions?”

Student A (female): “Blood relations.”

Teacher: “Your husband is not your blood relation, nor are his parents.”

Student B (male): “People outside friends and colleagues?”

Student C (male): “Then the bus conductor is also family.”

Student B: “Strangers do not count, of course!”

Teacher: “Then we need to define what makes somebody a stranger and when he or she turns into an acquaintance. And what kind of acquaintance.”

Student D (female): (smiling) “All people who were invited to my wedding, but who were not friends, colleagues or neighbours.”

Teacher: (smiling) “Then your wedding budget defines your family.”

After some more attempts:

Teacher: “You can see now it is not easy to define a family. Indian families are large and they are not bound by blood, geography or social status. It might indeed be impossible to exactly determine what an Indian family consists of, its extent and volume.

“The accepted definition of a family derives from the Family Trinity Principle. I will write on the board. Please copy.”

(On the board)

The Family of a certain individual can be defined as that particular subset of her/his acquaintances, which

i) has the authority to question her/his intentions and ambitions,

ii) keeps her/him occupied during years of unemployment and failures

iii) act as a support system in case of acute financial, medical and law-and-order crises.

Teacher: “Friends fail at number one, colleagues at number two and neighbours at number three. Strangers and casual acquaintances fail all three.

“Anybody and everybody to fulfill the Trinity is to be considered family, blood relation or not.”