Village Life
Village life is the oldest and most common form of human social organization. It is typically composed of several families who form a basic agrarian society, characterized by a subsistence lifestyle, reliance on the land, collective farms and a community foundation.
The majority of households in a village are engaged in agriculture. In some cases, other occupations such as fishing and forestry are also practiced. Primarily, these family units produce food—either to feed themselves, or to sell at local markets. Smaller villages may be located in remote areas where access to hospitals, educational institutions and services is limited. Villagers also generally live without access to electricity and other amenities enjoyed by urban centers. They lead a more rustic lifestyle, dependent on the crops and produce they produce for their livelihoods.
In most cases, the village elders serve as the village headmen or decision makers. This group typically consists of the oldest members of the village and is responsible for establishing the rules and regulations that the villagers must abide by. For example, tribal chiefs may decide matters such as land division and marriage alliances, whereas village heads or local councils administer daily matters related to village life, such as medical care, education, and enforcement of labour and taxation regulations. All decisions are based on customary law and can differ from one village to another.
Although inspired by the common goal of farming and providing relief from urban life, village life is not the same in every part of the world. Different cultures and religions, as well as geographic and climatic conditions, influence day-to-day life.
The contribution of village life to society is immense. Providing peasant-workers with fertile and easily-accessible land to farm, along with ample employment opportunities, is essential to the survival of rural communities.
In India, Nepal and much of Africa, village life is also the bedrock of a traditional system of extended-family organization. Elderly people are looked after by their children, grandchildren and other close family members, while villagers of all ages often rely on the arbitrary and wise counsel of the village elders. In such societies, resources and information shared by family members help to work through the daily conflicts and struggles of everyday life in rural areas.
In Europe and North America, the size and importance of village life has been declining sharply over the last few decades. Rural families have been migrating to urban centers in search of better employment opportunities and greater economic and social stability.
However, despite urbanization, village life continues to withstand all odds. With the advancements in technology and the availability of modern amenities, villagers are often able to experience aspects of urban life in their own villages. This, in turn, has helped improve the infrastructure, lifestyle and quality of life in rural areas. While many of the traditional practices remain, traditional lifestyles and values are increasingly being integrated into the way people live, thereby maintaining the unique charm of village life.
