(1) It is through kinship that a person earns his livelihood. Traditional occupational knowledge is given through this organization. It is kin who make all efforts for the welfare and of the person.
(2) The career of the individual is planned and executed by kinsmen. It is very common to find in India the Marwaris settled in different parts of country, are running their business through kinship ties. If one member of a kin group goes to Mumbai, the migrant group would grow in big size in a couple of years. The tribals are also drawn through kinship ties to different cities.
(3) It is through kinship that matrimonial arrangements are made. It is common to find the bio-data of the prospective groom and bride contain details about the final and agnate kin. This clearly shows the importance of kinship in the settlement of marriage.
(4) On the death of a person the mourning period is observed according to the degree of relationship with the deceased. Birth, marriage and death are the three basic occasions when there is a serious and careful reckoning of kin.
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(5) Kinship is related to all the other aspects of society such as economy, celebration of festivals, worship and folkways.
(6) The social organization of a society revolves round kinship. If we examine the organization of a particular society we see that kinship is its integral part.
(7) I.P. Desai, the noted sociologist, has empirically established that the institution of family is nothing but a part of wider social relations. According to him, kinship has its origin in biology but its legitimacy extends to relationship.
In the west, on the other hand, some anthropologists such as Schneider have argued that kinship is related to biology and blood ties. However, anthropological research generally analyzes it as cultural classification of people. And, as aspects of group formation.
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The importance of kinship is very great in social anthropology. It is the kin group which takes care of one’s livelihood, career, marriage, protection and social identity. The importance becomes all the stronger among the tribals as they reside in unfriendly and inhospitable environment in the hills and forests.
We have enough empirical evidence to suggest that the survival of a tribal in poverty and deprivation is almost impossible without the support of the kin group.
For instance, on occasion of marriage, among the Bhils, the relative’s cany maize bread for the guests; on occasion of death the kinsmen also provide meals to the bereaved family. From cradle to grave, the strength of succor lies in kinship.