51-member family remains united 80yrs

At a time when the bonds of joint families are gradually weakening, an exceptional family in Juri, Moulvibazar, has upheld that strong foundation of tradition.

For nearly eight decades, fifty-one family members have lived under one roof and shared meals cooked in a single kitchen-a story that now serves as a source of wonder and inspiration throughout the region. Joint families were once a familiar sight in rural Bengal, characterized by multiple generations living together in the same courtyard, sharing meals from a common kitchen, and living in harmony.

It was an integral part of social life. However, due to modernity urbanization, and changing lifestyles, that tradition has now all but vanished. Families are becoming smaller, and mutual interdependence is declining.

Against this backdrop, a rare exception still endures in Binandapur village, located in the Purba Juri Union of Juri Upazila. About 80 years ago, Bhim Rudrapal, a tea garden worker, arrived in this country from the Purulia district of West Bengal, India, in search of a livelihood.

During the British era He began working at the local Dhamai Tea Estate alongside his family members. Later, prior to the Partition of 1947, he purchased land in Binandapur and settled there permanently, establishing the family homestead.

That marked the beginning of a tradition of living together-a bond that has remained unbroken ever since. The descendants of Bhim Rudrapal’s two sons-Murari Rudrapal and Keshab Rudrapal-now carry forward the legacy of this large family. Comprising nine sons, their wives, children, and grandchildren, the family has grown into a massive unit of fifty-one members. Generation after generation For generations, they have lived under the same roof; the communal cooking pot has never been divided, nor have family bonds been broken.