The Meitei, a compound of nine major clans with some other minor clans, are the product of a long historical process of unification and consolidation. So the emergence of Meitei family is evolutionary in nature, evolved out of a process effusion and integration of the various clans. Again such a family is dynamic in character and is in the process of transformation from traditional to modern. In the traditional setup the family was more close to the administration. The lineages were given by the king considering the various background of the Pukok (progenitor). In the past, the assignment of a particular job to a particular lineage was the only means to run the administration. But with the replacement of autocracy by democracy coupled by the introduction of money economy the traditional closeness with the administration disappeared from the scene.
A house in a Meitei family is a temple with various household deities including the principal deity 'Sanamahi' placed at various secluded places. And a family was and is an institution imparting social and cultural education to the children. Hinduism was a potent force which brought social and cultural change in the society. But it had little impact on the family institution and the household deities. Now what is more challenging is the forces of modernization which has brought considerable damages to the institution of family. In fact this rapid modernisation has become an issue which needs a critical scrutiny.
