Interesting Battle for Sanskrit

Couldn't resist myself writing about a book Battle for Sanskrit by an Indian American friend Rajiv Malhotra. The book is to be launched tomorrow in Ahmedabad. I have seen the book from an entrepreneur's perspective and found out it to be an interesting read on understanding Indian cultural ethos and philosophy. Read more

Kayastha Leadership Challenge: From Social to Political

In an interview to a national news channel on the sidelines of Rashtriya Kayastha  Samagam at Kanpur, the tallest of Kayastha leaders and Rajya Sabha MP Mr R K Sinha was candid in saying that Kayasthas are ready to take the leadership challenge. They are eager to play a larger role in Uttar Pradesh where elections are due in 2017.

Kayasthas have produced many a leaders in Indian politics. On the one side of spectrum leaders like Dr Rajendra Prasad, Lal Bhadur Shastri and Jayapraksh Narayan are seen who with their sheer commitment and personality stand tallest among their peers. To say that they represented Kayasthas alone would be an understatement. They were nationalist leaders who rose from the ranks to give decisive directions to Indian polity.

On the other side of spectrum, there are leaders who made their way to national and state politics often courting Greater Kayastha Family (GKF) support and also many times, without it. Such politicians too do not represent the Kayasthas sentiments either. To say that they are Kayastha leaders would be a travesty of truth.

There has been a galaxy of leaders who committed themselves to Kayastha cause, often not nurturing any political ambitions. They work to create awareness among Kayasthas on socio-political issues. They are, however, active for those who seek the GKF support in politics from time to time.

On the spectrum, there seem to be emerging another kind of leadership who want to make their way to the top with active support of the GKF. They have shown commitment to Kayastha cause as well. Many such leaders have won political battles both at State and Panchayat levels in the last few years. Perhaps, such winners hold for us the future. Apparently, the GKF looks up to such leaders with high hopes.

Effective political leadership has always been at the heart of healthy democracy. Indian political landscape is changing at a tremendous rate. Current and future socio-economic conditions are placing an immense strain on leaders. It is expected of them to work with more efficiency and effectiveness and to take the lead and help shape the future. In order to do this, leaders need to be able to understand difference and diversity; work more effectively with senior community leaders and form local partnerships. Equally important is to get their message across with as much impact as possible.

Kayastha leadership needs to prepare for such challenges. The young winning leaders must learn from the political legacy we have and carve out a path which can lead us to greater good. Mature Kayastha social leaders must provide the necessary guidance and support to these winners. It is for us to ensure that these nimble-footed leaders firm up their presence and win decisive political battles at all levels.

As they say, leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal. Sooner we realize this, the better.

Message from Kanpur Junction

As part of the series of events towards unity of Great Kayastha Family (GKF), Rashtriya Kayastha Samagam was held in Kanpur on December 20, 2015. Enthusiastic Kayastha brothers and sisters from across the country joined the meet. Though local Kanpur Kayastha members did not join in large numbers, it was heartening to see that Kayastha organizations were represented in large numbers.  

Speakers waxed eloquence about the glorious past of Kayasthas and lamented on the present condition of Kayasthas that crave for unity. Some chose to go overboard to the extent of taking up arms should there be “injustice” to any Kayastha brethren.

The meet however was remarkable in more than one sense.

A renewed vigour is visible in recent months especially after the series of Sangat and Pangat by great patron of Kayastha Family Rajya Sabha MP Mr Ravindra Kishore Sinha. Progressive and constructive agenda was set at Sangat and Pangat. Clear message was put across by veterans like Mr Ashok Srivastava to the GKF that now is the time to unite and work together for greater good. The results are clearly visible in recent months—be it initiatives like setting up of an International Library at Jiradei, the birthplace of Kayastha icon and first President Dr Rajendra Prasad or incidents like Hamirpur. Kayastha community showed solidarity and stood with the cause.

Buoyed with recent successes Kayastha leaders have now started coming forward to take the call of unity and further the constructive agenda set by Sangat and Pangat. Kanpur Meet should be seen in such context.

Another remarkable point witnessed at the Kanpur Meet was the semblance of an emergence of young, enthusiastic and dynamic leadership from under the shadows of elders. This young leadership is eager to engage with other communities both politically and socially. As is the case with such young ones, such leadership is often ruthless, undisciplined and faltering at the very beginning. In their eagerness to achieve anything and everything by whatever means, they often forget that the path set by elders must be honoured and followed and not trampled under their impudent feet.  Dr Rajendra Prasad once said: “In attaining our ideals, our means should be as pure as the end.”

This, however, throws greater responsibilities on elders to strengthen the faltering steps of young ones and lead them to the right path. The younger ones must realize that only when raw energy gets shaped by mature leadership, it does miracles. Sampoorna Kranti led by Kayastha stalwart Dr Jaiprakash Narayan was one such example.   

Critics say, such meets were organized in the past too and they failed to make any distinct mark among GKF for obvious reasons. Most of such efforts were neck-deep in corruption and often furthered personal agenda. There may be some elements of truth in such allegations.

At this crucial juncture when GKF is looking at the leadership with much optimism, extra caution needs to be taken. People furthering personal agenda and with selective goals must not be allowed to malign the good efforts made by selfless leaders. During Bardoli Satyagraha addressing a group of villagers Sardar Patel said: The negligence of a few could easily send a ship to the bottom, but it required the whole-hearted co-operation of all on board; she could be safely brought to port.

May we see light in such wisdom and march ahead with full might.