CHANGES OVER 40 YEARS
IN THE
PRAJAPATI SAMAJ
When a person reaches the age of 40 or 50 or any of the later age groups, one surely
thinks of the past and thinks of what has gone by - ups and downs, gains and losses, and
so on. At times one feels like going back in time and wants to experience those wonderful
(or, at times, painful) feelings, but one knows that one cannot turn the clock back. One has
to accept the present and can only think of the future. This is the same feeling the workers
of the Samaj experience now and then, when they look back at the working and progress
of the Samaj before and now.
‘‘This article tries to look at the changes which have taken place during the
last 40 years in the Prajapati Samaj as a whole in UK...’’
This article tries to look at the
changes which have taken place
during the last 40 years in the
Prajapati Samaj as a whole in UK.
The Samaj, being a community,
is affected by the way of life and
progress made by individual
members. If the individual member’s
input in the working of the Samaj
diminishes, the working environment
of the Samaj suffers. This article
also tries to make the senior citizens
realise the circumstances the new
generation is going through and
their expectations and limitations.
The Samaj Values are still strong and
elders are the highest participants,
but unfortunately, the participation
from younger generation born after
1990s is diminishing. Some of the
points have been expressed by a
number of branches in their reports.
This is only an attempt to show the
present situation in the UK and to
think collectively as well as by the
individual branch of the Samaj to
tackle the issues.
Migration of people or a community
has been a natural phenomenon
since the beginning from one
environmental condition to another.
One may ask the reason for it. There
can be many. However, there has
always been an urge to “develop”,
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to “improve”, to “raise one’s status”
and so on at an individual, family
or community level; thus, bringing
“CHANGES” in the mode and style
of living, social and cultural thinking
and behaviour. Members of Prajapati
Samaj are no exception to these
changes which are sweeping across
UK, India or elsewhere.
When going back to 40 years
ago, or even more, one has to
visualise where we or our parents
or grandparents were; the lifestyle,
social and cultural patterns being
followed and the thoughts of the
future at that time. Those who have
come from East Africa are fully
aware that in the fifties and sixties,
there was hardly any thought of
migrating to UK, except due to
the political changes which were
taking place in Africa as a whole. In
fact, the Prajapati community had
been well established by that time
with an accepted style of living
and following traditional cultural
and social behaviour patterns.
Prajapati Samaj as a whole was well
organised with proper constitution
and procedures. That wealth of
knowledge and experience was
brought to the UK and in spite of
various initial difficulties - a common
feature seen when the community
members had moved from India
to East Africa in the early phase
of settlement – a strong footing of
Samaj ideals were established.
In those days one bread winner
was enough for a family to survive
happily, having the satisfaction of
living within one’s means. There was
enough time to think and participate
in the improvement of not only
the family but the community as a
whole. The Samaj thrived in those
days due to large participation and
dedication. There was a feeling of
“pride” in being a Prajapati.
Slowly the tide started to change.
Improved education facilities, more
mixing with other communities and
a desire for a “better” life started
having effects on the family and the
community. The parents, in spite of
their displeasure, started to accept
the ways of their children in order to
maintain peace in the family. Some
of the values of social and cultural
norms started to erode, whether
during the marriage ceremonies or
death rituals, whether in the way of
living as a family or as an individual,
and so on. This had the effect on the
running of the Samaj. And that is
exactly the same at the moment.
Let us take one example - the NEED