Fathering in India ― Images and Realities

This book covers the underexplored subject of ‘fathering’ in India. It delves into the shared aspirations of men in India to nurture their children in sensitively attuned ways within the culturally prescriptive context that governs men’s roles as providers and caregivers. This work is based on over two decades of intensive research in India on how different groups construct and experience fatherhood and fathering under changing circumstances. It unmasks the heterogeneity that exists within fathering in India through conversations with fathers across diverse contexts—in privileged economic situations and those in difficult home and family circumstances, having children with disability, single-parent fathers and fathers in the military. A separate section discusses fathering daughters and shared parenting. Images and role models in fathering are brought alive through analysis of Hindi films, the media, children’s literature and classical literature. The conceptual analysis moves beyond the power and control dimensions commonly used to describe Indian men and fathers, to highlight their resilience, adaptability, positive involvement and developmental trajectories. This volume is for scholars, researchers and practitioners in developmental psychology, human development and family science, sociology, early childhood education and psychiatry, pediatrics, community medicine and allied fields.

Rajalakshmi Sriram, Ph.D is former Professor, and Head of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Maharaja Sayajirao University, a well-known center for advanced studies in Baroda, India. In her tenure as Professor Emeritus, she continues to exercise the academic rigor and professionalism that has been the hallmark of her career. Dr. Sriram has played an active role in advancing cultural perspectives through her commitment to both fundamental and applied research, that has led to the enriching of the discipline, as well as quality of life for people and families. She has published widely, and has been an integral part of course design committees, as well as advisory, advocacy and editorial panels on gender, family, parenting and early childhood at regional, national and international levels.

Significantly, she has recently published a two-volume resource book titled “Engaging in Social Interventions” – one volume each for learners and mentors. She continues to work as a consultant in the field, and volunteers her time to ‘Service Space’, a global endeavor connecting the transformation of the inner self with enabling transformative social change.

Among her many academic honors, Dr. Sriram was awarded the Shastri Indo Canadian Research Fellowship for research in Canada. She was a delegate to the International Fatherhood Summit held at Oxford, UK in 2003 to prepare a Fatherhood Policy document for the United Nations. Her wide ranging international exposure through academic collaborations and conferences enable her to look at the emic in light of global debates and theoretical perspectives, which is also a unique feature of this work.