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.