Published as part of the celebrations of the 2001 Golden Jubilee of the Indian Sociological Society these 12 articles originally appeared in its Bulletin 1952-2002. A general introduction is on the sociological approach to the family in general and in India. Papers in Section 2 sets out empirical studies of families, caste and family process and discusses whether the joint family is giving way to a nuclear pattern. Section 3 is made up of case studies including a Tarawad clan pattern in South-western India, the Khatris of Delhi and a Thakor village in North Gujarat. With glossary, bibliography and index.