Another situation which is on the
increase is OUTSIDE COMMUNITY
MARRIAGES. Not looking into the
pros and cons of such marriages,
the fact that when such marriages
take place, we have hardly seen
the participation of the partners
or their children in the Samaj
activities. Whether they themselves
feel inferior to join the Samaj, or
they think they don’t need the
Samaj, or they feel that the Samaj
doesn’t accept them or whatever
the reason may be, but it is clear
that the Samaj is losing the talents
of these members. How many
such members have been offered
any posts in the management
committee, or are they barred by
constitution?
When considering the management
of the Samaj, the system adopted
by the founders of the Samaj at
that time has been passed on to
the new generation. The thought
process has hardly changed - to
achieve the objectives set as
per the constitution. Because of
the conditions at that time, as
mentioned earlier, the approach
was more with member contact,
persuasion and love for the society.
This is still visible nowadays, but
changes have crept in, leading to
more PROFESSIONAL WAYS OF
MANAGEMENT, which the senior
members are reluctant to accept,
thus bringing conflict.
Due to the fact that more of the
new generation are well educated
and having the experience from
their day to day work life, their
management skills and working
style are different to those of
the elders. When they join the
management committees, they get
frustrated at the way the elders
have been running the Samaj, and
if they are not accommodated
appropriately, they tend to leave the
Samaj committee and also Samaj
activities.
LEADERS emerge from within
the structure of an organisation.
Their personal qualities, solving
the demands of a situation, or a
combination of these and other
factors attract followers who accept
their leadership. The Samaj needs to
focus on this aspect which will not
46
only create leaders but will attract
more members which, in turn, raise
the standard of Samaj activities.
COMMUNICATION has to be
a versatile part of running the
Samaj. There was the time when
messages, newsletters or minutes
were handwritten or typed. That has
significantly changed. Now is the
time of e-mails and WhatsApp, text
messages and video conferences
and more use of sophisticated
mobiles whereby even computers
are not needed. The youth expects
that more and more communication
is made by these technological
facilities and pleads that the elders
appreciate these changes and
update themselves.
However, a sad situation which
has developed is that the parents
see their children busy with
their mobiles playing games or
text messaging or such activity
which have affected their verbal
communication skills, behaviour
and inter action when present in a
mixed group of family or community
members.
Nowadays, TRANSPORT is not an
issue for most of the youth: hence,
even when living far away from the
Samaj building, they could easily
reach the place, provided they make
an effort. Yet, the participation
of the youth is limited at Samaj
functions. On the other hand,
the elders, living far away due to
modern circumstances, are in dire
need of assistance to bring them to
and take them back from the Samaj.
To ensure that the Samaj activities
continue to function, having enough
FUNDS is a vital necessity. This
problem had been there in the past
also. The difference is that in those
days with simple living and high
thinking, members used to donate
generously as per their means
and that has continued even now
--- the seniors being the biggest
contributors on most occasions.
The new generation holds itself
back most of the time unless they
are motivated through disco, dance,
music and such activities which
most of the seniors do not approve.
DONATIONS to various charities
and people in need have increased,
whether they are in UK, India or
elsewhere. This is reflected in the
reports of various branches in UK.
This is a good sign and need to
be encouraged amongst all the
members, bringing them together.
Reflecting over the past 40 years of
the Samaj in the UK, changes have
taken place and there are going to
be more as time passes. CHANGE is
a part of nature; one has to accept
it. From the tiniest body cell to the
ecological environment, the changes
being experienced have an effect on
the future.
When you look at the religious rites
and rituals or traditional ways of
living in India in the past and now
at present, you see a vast change.
The way in which society works has
also changed. Hence, t he changes
which are happening here have to
be accepted in the general context
of change.
As per Chanakya Neeti,
“a great dynasty is not great if it is
bereft of educated members.”
Let us get these members into our
Samaj, let there be changes where
necessary as per the time and let
the society flourish for the better.
Lord Krishna says to Arjuna on the
battlefield of Kurukshetra:
“You have got the right only of
doing your ordained duty (in this
case, to fight the righteous war
against Kauravas). You have no
right to claim the fruits of your
actions.”
So, let us all strive for the
betterment of our Samaj in
whatever ways we can, and not to
despair on the outcome of our act
which may be success or failure
because it depends upon destiny
besides human effort.
Ambalal Balubhai
Mistry
Birmingham