Across the Indian subcontinent, the term gharjamai refers to a resident son-in-law who lives in a house of his wife's family.
Etymology
The word Gharjamai is a compound of two words : Ghar and Jamai. The word Ghar is derived from Sanskrit word Gr̥ha (गृह)[1] meaning house and Jamai is derived from Sanskrit word jāmātr̥[2] (जामातृ) meaning son in law. Thus Gharjamai refers to resident son in law.
Definition
A man who lives in a house of his wife is known as Gharjamai. He usually lives with his wife's family or depends on his wife's family for support.[3][4][5] The term carries a social stigma in Indian society, as husband is traditionally considered responsible for running the household and depending on the wife's family for support is held in a negative view. In more modern usage, the overall financial position of the son-in-law is considered and taken into account when using this label; if, for example, the son-in-law possesses land or other property, he is not considered a Gharjamai. Varying definitions exist, however. Films and TV serials both with a serious and light hearted view have been made about this phenomenon.[6]
In popular culture
Movies
TV Series
Year | TV series | Actor |
---|---|---|
1997-98 | Ghar Jamai | R. Madhavan |
1999–2009 | Yes Boss | Rakesh Bedi |
1995–2006 | Hum Paanch | Ali Asgar |
2001–04 | Khichdi | Kamlesh Oza |
2005 | Instant Khichdi | |
2005–09 | Saat Phere: Saloni Ka Safar | Ashish Kapoor |
2010–11 | Baat Hamari Pakki Hai | Vivek Mushran |
2012–13 | Jhilmil Sitaaron Ka Aangan Hoga | Jitendra Trehan/Saurabh Dubey |
Rakesh Paul | ||
Praveen Hingonia | ||
Pankaj Tiwari | ||
2014–17 | Jamai Raja | Ravi Dubey |
2015 | Dil Ki Baatein Dil Hi Jaane | Sailesh Gulabani |
Books
Year | Book | Author |
---|---|---|
1961 | A House for Mr. Biswas | V. S. Naipaul |
References
- ^ Platts, John T. (John Thompson) (1884). "A Dictionary of Urdu, Classical Hindi, and English". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
- ^ McGregor, R. S. (Ronald Stuart) (1993). "The Oxford Hindi-English dictionary". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
- ^ Mayer, Adrian C. (1998). Caste and Kinship in Central India. Psychology Press. pp. 221–222. ISBN 9780415175678.
- ^ Sengupta, Nirmal (1979). "Destitutes and Development: A Study of the Bauri Community in the Bokaro Region".
- ^ Commissioner, India Census (1933). Census of India, 1931. Manager of Publications. p. 113.
- ^ Ghar Jamai: 1935 at IMDb