Character · Pillar 7 of 8
Family and Society
Whether Indian society stays connected, fair and caring as it grows richer: living by Dharma towards family, friends and society, so that no one is left behind or left alone.
What is the Family and Society pillar?
Family and Society is the seventh of eight pillars in the 47 BH framework for a developed Bharat by 2047, and one of the three pillars in the Character layer, which covers the more important goal of becoming richer in character. It asks whether Indian society stays connected, fair and caring as it grows richer: living by Dharma towards family, friends and society, so that no one is left behind or left alone. It has six sub-pillars: family and elders; women's participation and safety; social fairness; community and belonging; migration; and culture, heritage and languages.
How Family and Society connects to the 47 BH vision
Family and Society is one of three Character pillars. It speaks to the part of the vision where people live by Dharma, doing their duty towards their family, friends and society.
A developed Bharat that is richer in per capita income and, more importantly, in character: where people work hard and build wealth, yet live by Karma, accountable for every action, and by Dharma, doing their duty towards their family, friends, society and all life on this earth.
The 47 BH vision for 2047
The six sub-pillars of Family and Society
Each sub-pillar is a part of Family and Society that 47 BH examines in its conversations and explainers, through the two lenses described below.
- 7.1
Family and elders
Changing family structures, falling birth rates, and care and respect for elders.
47 BH looks at how families are changing, at falling birth rates, and at whether elders are cared for and respected.
- 7.2
Women's participation and safety
Women's participation in work and leadership, and their freedom from violence and harassment.
47 BH looks at whether women take part fully in work and leadership, and whether they are free from violence and harassment.
- 7.4
Community and belonging
Neighbourhood bonds, protection against loneliness, and the culture of volunteering and seva.
47 BH looks at neighbourhood bonds, at loneliness, and at the culture of volunteering and seva, or selfless service.
- 7.5
Migration
The movement from villages to cities and its effect on families, and the brain drain of talent abroad.
47 BH looks at the movement from villages to cities, what it does to the families who move and those who stay, and at talent leaving the country.
- 7.6
Culture, heritage and languages
Languages, arts, crafts, festivals, heritage and sport as living parts of everyday Indian life.
47 BH looks at whether India's languages, arts, crafts, festivals, heritage and sport remain living parts of everyday life.
Two lenses on Family and Society
Two lenses apply to every sub-pillar in the 47 BH framework, so that rural India is present throughout and India learns from the world without copying it.
City and village
Family and Society is examined for both urban and rural Bharat: whether elders, women and migrants are supported in villages as well as cities, and how migration between them changes families at both ends.
Learn, avoid, protect
- Learn
- What can India learn from countries that have brought more women into work and leadership while keeping strong communities?
- Avoid
- Which mistakes should it avoid, such as rising loneliness and the isolation of the elderly as societies grow richer?
- Protect
- What of its own should it protect, such as its family culture of care, the tradition of seva, and its many languages and living traditions?
Where Family and Society meets other pillars
Elder care, the care and respect older people receive within families, sits under Family and Society. Elder health sits under the Health pillar. Each topic has one home in the framework.
Questions about the Family and Society pillar
What is the Family and Society pillar of 47 BH?
Family and Society is the seventh of eight pillars in the 47 BH framework for a developed Bharat by 2047. It asks whether Indian society stays connected, fair and caring as it grows richer, living by Dharma towards family, friends and society so that no one is left behind or left alone.
What are the six sub-pillars of Family and Society?
Family and elders; women's participation and safety; social fairness; community and belonging; migration; and culture, heritage and languages.
What is seva?
Selfless service to others. 47 BH sees the culture of volunteering and seva as part of community and belonging.
Why is migration part of Family and Society?
Because the movement from villages to cities, and of talent abroad, reshapes families and communities, not only the economy.