In India, there is a relatively small, close-knit community that has managed to produce a disproportionate number of successful business leaders. The Kapol community, a largely Vaishnav community from the Gujarati region, has lived in Gujarat for hundreds of years; throughout the 20th century, many of them have migrated to Mumbai and other countries such as the US and Canada. Although a small community, it has exerted an unprecedented impact on Indian economic, cultural, and social life. Kapol magazines – such as Kapol Mitra and Kapol Samaj Darpan – are carefully read and analyzed by senior business leaders. They represent an important section of India’s most wealthy and industrious community.
Although the Kapol culture is known for its business acumen, it’s also a way of life that includes communit facilitated approaches to marriages, for example.
Many youngsters born and raised outside India or India’s urban metropolis, sometimes find it difficult to understand the concept of this community approach, or Kapol Samaj.
Here’s an attempt to translate these ideas for modern readers:
“Samaj” just means anything that connects a group of people with each other. It’s derived from the Sanskrit word “Samaja,” which is a combination of sam and ajati (“All” and “Together”). You can think of it as a rough equivalent of the word ‘community.’ For example, people who use Apple iPhones, the Apple user community, are part of a Samaj. They’re connected by a common set of preferences and interests.
Instead of a technology brand, however, the Kapol Samaj is one that’s united by a common set of values, interests, and beliefs going back thousands of years. Most of them share a common set of values, including:
Apple users know that they share an interest in user-friendly, innovative and reliable products. When they meet each other, they have a pretty good idea of what the latest Apple devices and system updates are; they might share notes about their experiences and respective devices. They have something in common.
Similarly, the majority of Kapol individuals have a great deal in common – most of them grow up in an environment and culture that values education, career, family, and community; they tend to pursue debt-free, violence-free lives. If you choose a life-partner from the Kapol Community, you will most likely find people who share these common values.
One of the features common to the Kapol community is what’s called ‘community facilitated marriage.’ They recognize that marriage is a community affair, and work to arrange matches that provide the most compatible pairings and best chances for success within the framework of the community. The common set of principles by which most Kapols live provides an excellent common ground for most, and is attractive to others who wish to become connected to this community.
There are approximately 100,000 Kapol individuals on the planet – almost 85 % live in Mumbai and Gujarat; the rest have emigrated elsewhere. Depending on your preference, interest and area, you can explore the possibility of meeting Kapol candidates online and understand whether they share your values, aspirations and interests. People’s income and assets will vary, but most Kapols live within their financial means. Individual educational levels vary also, but most Kapols have significant respect for educational success and excellence.
In any long-term partnership – whether in business, friendship or even marriage – it is important to understand whether the potential partners have a common set of values, goals, and interests. In the Kapol community, you will most commonly find the values listed above. Of course, as in any long-term project, successful marriage involves hard-work, persistence, tolerance, the ability to face unexpected challenges, and above all a strong commitment to make it work.
Communities survive and thrive for thousands of years because people see benefit in preserving a core set of life-values and remaining true to their communities. Certainly most Kapol parents everywhere in the world would encourage their kids to give first preference to Kapol individuals when considering a matrimonial alliance. Parents know that their marriage may not be perfect, but most marriages have worked well enough because of common life-values.
Does this mean that the community is isolated and never-changing? Of course not. No company, no individual or group is perfect. Everyone evolves, changes and adapts with the time. Modern communities in India, including the Kapol community, have evolved and adapted to a modern lifestyle. Kapol Samaj rules, norms and values have changed along with the rest of the country. Most modern Kapols now share similar aspirations and a commitment to freedom, mutual respect and a responsible way of life.
And people do marry out of and into the community. To borrow the analogy from above, even if your parents are lifelong Apple users, you always have the choice to go with an Android or Nokia phone. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. There are of course great individuals outside the Kapol community; and in the end what matters most is not which community you select, but the strength of your commitment to create a peaceful, happy marriage based on mutual trust and respect.
If you’re interested in meeting someone in the Kapol community, for business or matrimonial purposes, we hope you can successfully use online resources, network, referrals and opportunities provided through Kapol Whatsapp-Telegram-Facebook Groups and Zoom meetings to connect with each other. It is our honor and privilege to support Kapol Families.
For more information about the Kapol impact on India’s business and financial community, please visit the following articles:
https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-communities-that-shaped-india-s-financial-hub-1571125
