Lucknow: Concerns over the weakening of family relationships and changing social values took centre stage at a seminar on “The Contemporary Nature of Family and Social Relationships”, organised by the Awadh Foundation at its Janakipuram auditorium.
The event brought together educationists, social workers, intellectuals and young participants to discuss the growing challenges faced by modern families, particularly the shift from joint family systems to nuclear households and its impact on emotional well-being.
Delivering the keynote address, noted Ram Katha exponent Dhirendra Vashistha said that the decline of traditional family support systems has left many individuals emotionally isolated, contributing to rising levels of stress, anxiety and depression. He observed that while human beings are born with innocence and simplicity, societal influences such as materialism, greed and social divisions often shape their attitudes and behaviour over time.
He remarked that although individuals are born free, they increasingly find themselves constrained by social and material pressures, making it essential to rebuild values rooted in compassion, mutual respect and family unity.
Welcoming the guests, Surajdev Shukla, President of the Awadh Foundation, said that family relationships have gradually weakened over successive generations and stressed the need to revive the values of trust, responsibility and togetherness in contemporary society.
The programme began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, followed by devotional presentations of Shri Ram Stuti and the Hanuman Chalisa by Aradhya Mishra, Advait Mishra, Sakshi Mishra and Rachit Mishra, disciples of Bina Mishra.
Speaking during the seminar, Dr Kashinath Pandey underscored the importance of the family as the foundation of a child’s education, character and overall development. He emphasised that Indian cultural traditions have historically focused on duties and responsibilities, while modern social trends increasingly emphasise individual rights, a shift he believes has contributed to the erosion of family values.
Poet and scholar Bina Mishra highlighted the relevance of family ideals depicted in the Ramayana, presenting verses inspired by its characters to illustrate the importance of harmony and mutual respect within households. Virendra Srivastava described the family as the fundamental unit of both society and the nation, stressing that strong families are essential for a stable and progressive society.
The seminar concluded with an interactive discussion in which participants exchanged views on strengthening family ties, promoting intergenerational understanding and preserving cultural values in an era of rapid social change.
Among those who attended and shared their perspectives were Dr Kashinath Pandey, R.D. Shukla, Shiv Kumar Pandey, Chhath Kumar Shukla, R.C. Tripathi, Janaki Sharan Shukla, Pranav Dutta, Prakash Chandra Sharma, Rakesh Tiwari, Kesar Singh, Bina Mishra, Ram Dayal Shukla, T.N. Shukla, and Laxmi Narayan Dixit, along with several educationists, social activists and members of civil society.
