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Importance of associations in the modern world.

Importance of associations in the modern world.
Prabhudas Damjibhai Pattni- Nairobi(Kenya)
(Secretary General Hindu Council of Africa)

Associations of various types will always exist but the natures of those associations always change. This is made evident from one of your other articles that states that only 30% of the second generation of goldsmiths have gone into the trade. They have opted out for other careers and professions. So where then is the importance of
the community as Pattnis? Is it still relevant when such a large number of
marriages are inter-community marriages? What is so very important for the
people of same roots to stay together? These are some of the questions that
arise in the mind.

Personally, I think that it is a pity that the community as a whole has not
taken the cognisance of the changing times. I am sure that there could have
been ways to bring modern business practices in the traditional field of
goldsmith. There is also a case for modernising the whole trade so that
on one hand, we would maintain the high quality of our craftsmanship and on
the other, we would use modern manufacturing methods and tools. There are
craft training schools in India but a similar guild could have been created
in UK as well.

It is also worth considering that even if we address the above, we are still
not anywhere near in answering what is the relevance of GNATI. If we look
at this aspect carefully, we would find that really the gnati is for the
preservation of special traits in a group of people, who have same roots,
culture and traditions. Is this preservation necessary? I would think so
because that is what makes life very interesting. But of course, others can
carry the debate forward. However, the social significance of gnati can be
a subject of some sociological research and I think that such studies could
be taken up by some of our own people in the universities. Several such
studies would definitely clarify our thinking and will help in building our
common vision for our community for next few decades. We all should ask
ourselves as to where we want be in fifty years' time. The answers may
astonish many of us.

Sincerely Yours,
Prabhudas Pattni