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.