EVERYTHING – BUT LIVING LIFE IS RELATED TO THE ECONOMICAL, FINANCIAL AND THE MIND FACTORS

Abstract

Profound socio-economic transformations have reshaped the structure of rural and urban life in India over the past two decades, with economic, financial, and psychological factors increasingly dictating patterns of living, occupation, and family systems. This paper investigates how these factors influence demographic transitions, cultural shifts, and the erosion of traditional agricultural livelihoods. While regional variations persist in language, customs, and lifestyle, the underlying trend reveals a growing prioritization of income, employment, and material well-being over cultural continuity and rural sustainability. Drawing on field-level observations, historical trends, and population studies, the research highlights the decline of the joint family system, increasing rural-to-urban migration, the collapse of agrarian-based social structures, and a shift in marital practices shaped by economic considerations. The study further warns of a future where rural regions face depopulation, land consolidation among the wealthy, and weakening intergenerational ties. The paper calls for comprehensive and timely policy interventions to ensure economic development does not come at the cost of social and cultural disintegration.