REUNION: CONCEPT AND RELEVANCE

A research paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the course Family Law- II for
obtaining the degree B.B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) during the academic session: 2019-20

Submitted by:

Pragya, B.B.A., LL.B. (Hons.)

Roll: 2029

Submitted to:

Ms. Pooja Srivastava

Faculty of Family Law- II

May, 2020

Chanakya National Law University,

Nyaya Nagar, Mithapur, Patna-800001, Biha

 DECLARATION

I Pragya, hereby declare that, the project work entitled, ‘Reunion: Concept and Relevance’
submitted to CNLU, Patna is record of an original work done by me under the guidance of,
Faculty Member, CNLU, Patna.

Pragya

B.B.A., LL.B. (Hons.)

Roll No. – 2029

4th Semester

I
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First and foremost, I would like to thanks my Faculty of Family Law- II, Ms. Pooja Srivastava,
for giving the opportunity to work on this project named – ‘Reunion: Concept and Relevance’.
Her guidance and support has been instrumental while making my project on this topic.

I would like to all authors, writers and columnists whose ideas and works have been made use in
my Project. My heartfelt gratitude also goes to all staff and administration of CNLU for the
infrastructure in the form of library that was a great source of help in completion of this Project.

I also thank my friends for their precious inputs which have been very useful in the completion
of this Project. I would also like to thank my parents, my seniors, dear colleagues, and friends in
the University, who have helped me with ideas about this work.

I hope you will appreciate my true work which is indeed a hard work and a result of my true
research and work.

Pragya

B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.)

Roll No. – 2029

4th Semester

II
 TABLE OF CONTENT

DECLARATION………………………...………………………………………………………. I
ACKNOWLEDGMENT………………………………………………………………………… II

1. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................1

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY............................................................................................2

3. FAMILY REUNION: PURPOSE...........................................................................................3

4. FAMILY REUNION: EVENTS..............................................................................................5

4.1. MAKING REUNION MEMORABLE.............................................................................5

5. FAMILY REUNION: RELEVANCE.....................................................................................7

6. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS..................................................................................9

 REUNION: CONCEPT AND RELEVANCE

1. INTRODUCTION

Family Reunions are get-togethers of multiple family units comprised of at least three
generations. This type of kinship ritual fosters recurring, patterned interactions among the family
members that serve to honor family relationships. Reunion helps to produce and reinforce social
webs, family and cultural identity, and shared beliefs and values. These events may be
conceptualized as celebrations, which are shared enactments common within the broader culture
and which may become a family tradition when they take on a form that is unique and
idiosyncratic to the family’s identity. Family reunions may take place on a regular basis, such as
annually or every five years, or on intermittent basis, or coincide with another ritual that brings
the family together, such as weddings and funerals.
Reunions allow families to knit together their past, present and future and maintain the family
system especially when families are geographically dispersed. When successfully enacted, the
family reunion preserves families’ roots, enlarges its history to new kinship, like: spouses or
children coming of age, and builds family bond and connectedness, particularly
multigenerational connectedness. Family reunions tend to become more important for younger
generations once they have children, when they begin to appreciate their place in the family’s
history and desire stronger connections to the family. While the reunion ritual has many benefits
for the family, it may also bring to the surface family stressors, turbulent boundary issues
concerning who is included and not, or loyalty conflicts that may be largely shelved when the
family is not together.

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 REUNION: CONCEPT AND RELEVANCE

There are two types of causes of industrial

disputes viz., economic and non-economic
causes.
The economic causes include issues
related wages, bonus, allowances and
other importance
matters which affect the interest of the
workers, viz., victimization of the
workmen, denial of
the recognition of workers union, denial
of workers’ rights and privileges, anti-
workers policy,
lack of communication between the
management and the workers, excessive
workload,
inadequate welfare facilities and lack of
definite wage policy which affect the
workers both

2
 REUNION: CONCEPT AND RELEVANCE

directly and indirectly leads to confusion,

hat redness, opposing and distrust the
management.
The non economic factors will include
victimization of workers, ill treatment by
staff members,
sympathetic strikes, political factors,
workers indiscipline etc
There are two types of causes of industrial
disputes viz., economic and non-economic
causes.
The economic causes include issues
related wages, bonus, allowances and
other importance
matters which affect the interest of the
workers, viz., victimization of the
workmen, denial of
the recognition of workers union, denial
of workers’ rights and privileges, anti-
workers policy,
3
 REUNION: CONCEPT AND RELEVANCE

lack of communication between the

management and the workers, excessive
workload,
inadequate welfare facilities and lack of
definite wage policy which affect the
workers both
directly and indirectly leads to confusion,
hat redness, opposing and distrust the
management.
The non economic factors will include
victimization of workers, ill treatment by
staff members,
sympathetic strikes, political factors,
workers indiscipline etc
There are two types of causes of industrial
disputes viz., economic and non-economic
causes.
The economic causes include issues
related wages, bonus, allowances and
other importance
4
 REUNION: CONCEPT AND RELEVANCE

matters which affect the interest of the

workers, viz., victimization of the
workmen, denial of
the recognition of workers union, denial
of workers’ rights and privileges, anti-
workers policy,
lack of communication between the
management and the workers, excessive
workload,
inadequate welfare facilities and lack of
definite wage policy which affect the
workers both
directly and indirectly leads to confusion,
hat redness, opposing and distrust the
management.
The non economic factors will include
victimization of workers, ill treatment by
staff members,
sympathetic strikes, political factors,
workers indiscipline
5
 REUNION: CONCEPT AND RELEVANCE

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This study is mainly based on secondary data. The data are collected from various sources
including books, journals, articles, research studies, various websites and newspaper articles.
This study focuses on the concept of family reunion, various events of a family reunion and its
relevance and importance in today’s world.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The researcher has the following objectives:

1. Discuss the concept of family reunion.

2. Discuss the importance of family reunion.

HYPOTHESES

There are following hypotheses:

1. The family reunion helps the new generation to know their family in better way.
2. The family reunion boosts the elderly members of the family when they meet their
relatives and grandchildren.

AREA OF LIMITATION

Area of limitations – Every study has own limitation due to the limited time, lack of sufficient
financial sources and limited area of survey/study of the subject matter.

SOURCES OF DATA

The researcher has used both primary as well as secondary sources of data.

MODE OF CITATION

The researcher follows the Blue Book mode of citation.

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 REUNION: CONCEPT AND RELEVANCE

3. FAMILY REUNION: PURPOSE

Just like snowflakes, no two families are exactly alike. One family might plan a massive reunion
in order to catch up after 10 years apart; another might schedule mini reunions every six months,
despite living in the same town and seeing each other constantly. Organizing a family reunion
has many purposes that are unique to each family. What all families can agree on, however, is
that a family reunion provides an excellent opportunity to leave home and make memories in a
new place – together.1

A reunion serves a unique purpose in each family. In one family, it might be a yearly event
designed to allow young cousins to bond despite living far apart. In another, reunions might be
sporadically and spontaneously planned whenever an older relative is sick and wants to see
everyone for the last time. Other families hold reunions to coincide with specific events, like the
major wedding anniversaries or birthdays of the matriarch and patriarch.2

Ultimately, a family reunion should be a chance for far-flung relatives to reconnect and to meet
new family members, like babies and new spouses. It might serve other purposes too; if relatives
have issues about shared property or inheritances to deal with, or want to settle some
longstanding dispute, organizing a reunion is a sensible way to get everyone together for both
business and pleasure.3

Each family has its own mix of reasons for planning a reunion. It might be a just-because sort of
thing or it may be planned to coincide with a major family milestone, like a 50th wedding
anniversary. Some families establish a routine of having a reunion every year, or every five
years, to make sure that far-flung relatives don't drift apart from one another. Even in families
that see each other often, having a dedicated day or weekend when the focus is all about
togetherness is useful in helping relatives reconnect.

Another purpose of a family reunion is to give young kids a chance to meet and get to know their
cousins, aunts, uncles and other relatives, and for anyone else who is new to the family – like

1
Available at https://www.definitions.net/definition/family+reunion.
2
Available at https://www.familytreemagazine.com/premium/10-steps-to-family-reunion-success/.
3
Ibid.
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 REUNION: CONCEPT AND RELEVANCE

new spouses – to meet the extended group. For older relatives or those in poor health, a big
family gathering presents one last chance to see everyone. These gatherings are also a way for
families to celebrate their shared heritage and culture, to exchange family stories and to honor
the memories of any relatives who have passed away.4

4
T S Eliot, Family Reunion, Amazon Asia-Pacific Holding Private Ltd., 2007.
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 REUNION: CONCEPT AND RELEVANCE

4. FAMILY REUNION: EVENTS

The forms that family reunion takes place are as varied as the families. They range from a single
event to multiple days with a series organised activities. Reunions include activities such as
picnics, formal banquets, workshops, plays, or fashion shows to engage with family history.
Meals are important to most family reunions, and offer another way to establish rituals and
traditions associated with the family’s cultural roots, geographic region, or recipes from beloved
family members.5 Artifacts are often highlighted in family reunions, and range from
photographic displays to religious items of symbolic importance, etc.6

4.1. MAKING REUNION MEMORABLE

One can make a family reunion memorable by various events. The family gathering is in itself
exciting and can be made more exciting and sweet by including various events. Some of them
are given below:

 Play some games. Games help involve the whole family and set a cheerful and playful
mood. For specific game ideas, read our resource on fun family games.
 Plan a large potluck. Ask each family member to bring their favorite dish, or a dish that
has significance to the family history.
 Make a family reunion photo book. Ask for family members to provide old photos and
take new ones during the reunion. Then craft a family reunion photo book using
these family photo album ideas.7
 Go for a hike. Exercise is a great way to bond and stay healthy as a family.
 Host a BBQ party. BBQ’s are a family reunion classic for a reason. Check out our BBQ
party ideas for more inspiration.8
 Take a family photo. Schedule a professional photography session during the reunion for
a reunion photo the whole family can look back on.

5
T S Eliot, Family Reunion, Amazon Asia-Pacific Holding Private Ltd., 2007.
6
Available at https://traveltips.usatoday.com/purpose-family-reunion-52387.html.
7
Caroline B. Cooney, Family Reunion and Gatherings, Library Binding Pvt. Ltd., 2015.
8
Available at https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/family-reunion.
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 REUNION: CONCEPT AND RELEVANCE

 Go on a family trip. Take a day trip somewhere special. Read our family trip ideas for
help picking the right trip.
 Do some arts and crafts. Arts and crafts are as child friendly as they are fun for the
creative members of the family. Check out our art projects for kids for some ideas.
 Keep up with some family traditions. Including well loved and remembered family
traditions in your itinerary is often a key to a successful family reunion. And if you’re
looking to start some new traditions, make sure to visit our following resources.9

9
Available at https://amazingreunion.com/blog/family-reunion-events.html.
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 REUNION: CONCEPT AND RELEVANCE

5. FAMILY REUNION: RELEVANCE

For more than two million years, family and community were the same: our extended family was
our community. Now, our extended family is often widely scattered, and our community is
composed mostly of strangers. We may be fortunate to turn some of those strangers into friends,
but most of the members of our community are not even known to us by name. This situation,
coupled with our penchant for frequent moves to new communities of strangers, has led to a
pervasive sense of loneliness and isolation in our society.

For these reasons, our relatives - even those we might not have chosen as friends - have a special
meaning to us. With a friend, or even a partner, there is always the possibility of ending the
relationship. With family, that avenue is rarely taken. Even if we have few social ties with a
relative, we cannot change the fact of our relatedness. Because relatives share a history and hold
a permanent connection to us, we tend to try a little harder to maintain a good relationship. 10 This
requirement of extra effort is good for us; it helps us to work toward achieving a loving bond. It
also reminds us of the importance of unconditional love - love that is expected to be permanent
and sets no requirements.11

During the vacation season, extended families often gather together. A family reunion can, at
least for a short time, re-establish the kind of shared communication, activities and special caring
enjoyed for generations in small, natural societies. Be alert to the needs of mothers, especially
new mothers. Mothers were never meant to have sole care of children. As every parent feels
overburdened at times, watch for opportunities to help. Do not wait to be asked! Offer to carry
the baby, tell the toddler a story, or play a game with an older child. You can benefit too: babies
and children can be delightful companions if treated with gentleness and respect.12

There is much to be learned when family members of different generations share activities, and a
family reunion provides an important opportunity for children to spend time with those who are
younger or older. However, while organized activities can provide such interaction, competitive
games can bring about feelings of inadequacy, frustration and resentment, tempt children to
10
Caroline B. Cooney, Family Reunion and Gatherings, Library Binding Pvt. Ltd., 2015.
11
Available at https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/family-reunion.
12
Available at https://amazingreunion.com/blog/family-reunion-events.html.
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 REUNION: CONCEPT AND RELEVANCE

cheat, and teach children that winning is more important than the feelings of others. There are
many cooperative games on the market that provide enjoyment without conflict. FamilyPastimes
offers an excellent selection of cooperative board games for all ages.13

A reunion can also provide an opportunity to spend time with elderly relatives and to record their
stories and their hard-won knowledge of life. Bring a notebook, family tree chart, camera, tape
recorder or camcorder. Suggest that older family members bring photographs, journals, letters or
diaries.14

If you have been burdened with feelings of resentment from a relative's past actions, it may help
to consider that everyone acts in accordance with their own experiences of life, particularly those
of early infancy and childhood. We cannot change a relative's past or present behavior, but we
can learn to express our own feelings in ways that improve communication without contributing
to the conflict. There are many excellent books on learning to deal with difficult interpersonal
relationships and their past hurts.15

Above all, take the opportunity to spend unrushed time with a child. Go for a walk or sit on the
grass and share your thoughts and dreams. And don't put this off. The single most common
regret by the elderly - especially elderly men - is that they didn't share enough quiet time with
their children and grandchildren when they had the opportunity.

13
Available at https://purpose-family-reunion-52387.html.
14
Caroline B. Cooney, Family Reunion and Gatherings, Library Binding Pvt. Ltd., 2015.
15
Available at https://theindianidiot.com/indian-family-gatherings/.
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 REUNION: CONCEPT AND RELEVANCE

6. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS

Organizing a family reunion has many purposes that are unique to each family. What all families
can agree on, however, is that a family reunion provides an excellent opportunity to leave home
and make memories in a new place – together.

Family reunions have several important benefits. Most importantly, these reunions improve
familial bonds. These bonds need constant work and effort to remain strong through the years,
and reunions are a great way to do this. Without constant contact and time spent together, family
bonds can weaken and leave you feeling isolated. Other benefits for attending reunions include
giving you time to relax and catch up on significant events in family’s lives. They also give
young family members a chance to learn family history and older family members the chance to
see everyone together.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOOKS REFERRED

 T S Eliot, Family Reunion, Amazon Asia-Pacific Holding Private Ltd., 2007.

 Caroline B. Cooney, Family Reunion and Gatherings, Library Binding Pvt. Ltd., 2015.

WEBSITES VISITED

 https://www.ilo.org/global/standards/index-to-reunion/index.htm.
 https://theindianidiot.com/indian-family-gatherings/.
 https://purpose-family-reunion-52387.html.
 https://amazingreunion.com/blog/family-reunion-events.html.
 https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/family-reunion.
 https://amazingreunion.com/blog/family-reunion-events.html.
 https://traveltips.usatoday.com/purpose-family-reunion-52387.html.
 https://www.familytreemagazine.com/premium/10-steps-to-family-reunion-success/.
 https://www.definitions.net/definition/family+reunion.