Womens Role and Responsibility in the Family: A Manipuri Perspective

Abstract

A home is a unique place with a 'woman', which gives happiness to all the members of the family. In every home, the woman the mother-the homemaker-is the beacon light. Her special functions are: bringing up children, inculcating proper value in their minds, looking after the comforts of the husband, children, and relatives, and helping them to find fulfilment in the family life. In Indian philosophy, the home is identified with the woman as 'Greeha Laxmi' of the house. Home is another name for the woman who is mother and wife. In Manipuri society, women are regarded as 'Yumburembi' (female head of the house) and also 'Emma' means mother. The various roles of mother, sister, daughters, and wives, played by women in the family and the society for upholding die elixir of life and safeguarding the universal need of nature, deserves lots of appendices. They are the preservers of the cultural customs and traditions in society. The woman can be seen as an ideal wife, an obedient and faithful homemaker, and above all a good mother. They are the key to sustainable development and quality of life. Her role in the family is also to act as -a wife, leader, administrator, manager of the family income, and last but not least an important mother. The importance of women and mothers in a family is proven by the different statements given by eminent personality leaders also. And women are the architect of the home.