View of ROLE OF INDIAN ETHOS IN SOCIETY TO ACHIEVE ETERNAL ESSENCE OF LIFE

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ACCENT JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS ECOLOGY & ENGINEERING Peer Reviewed and Refereed Journal (International Journal) ISSN-2456-1037

Vol.04,Special Issue 08, (EMDMSCBW-2019) December 2019, Available Online: www.ajeee.co.in/index.php/AJEEE

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ROLE OF INDIAN ETHOS IN SOCIETY TO ACHIEVE ETERNAL ESSENCE OF LIFE Dr. Namrata Kapoor Kohli

Professor at Daly College of Business Management, Indore

Abstract:- Indian Ethos or Philosophy refers to the values & practices rooted by the Sanathan Dharma in the Indian culture, which is also known as Bhartiya Sanskriti. Indian ethics basically consists of morals for a human being & guides the ways to perform the actions, resulting in eternal essence and happiness. Our Education System is an ancient one and aims at personal growth of individual. Hence, Indian Ethos in Management refers to the application of Indian Ethics in the organizations in order to achieve organizational goal with the individual growth. The main focus of this conceptual based research paper is to analyse the impact of Indian ethics in terms of lessons from Vedas, Mahabharata, Gita, Ramayana & Upanishads on organization & society as a whole, where as in this paper only lessons of Vedas & Mahabharata has been highlighted. Indian ethos defines the norms, standards, traditions, thoughts, concepts, beliefs & approaches which needs to be followed in every phase of life to be successful and peaceful. Indian ethos can be of immense help to the existing as well as future managers in adopting the changes coming in their business environment & the ways through which these changes can be canalized for their development.

Keywords:- Indian Ethos, Values and Ethics, Management, Organization.

1. INTRODUCTION

Indian Ethos simply means the deposition of values in a person inorder to build strong character and fundamental values required further for the growth of an individual and society.The role of education is to make an individual knowledgeable nonetheless education in our ancient days not merely focus at intellectual knowledge, but believes in a philosophy that to become a learned fellow one has to be pure in life, thoughts and habits, so that they can be useful and pious member of the society.

Hindu education system works on the concept of developing moral feelings, encouraging self-confidence, fostering self-respect and self-control which transforms the people and make them conscious about their responsibility towards the society. Indian ethos emphasize on inner resources as these resources are more powerful as compared to the outer resources. It considers that in every human the spark of the God is present as a divine power in the form of soul.

This divine power can be used to accomplish anything in life. Indian ethos purifies the soul and transforms the person into good human being and develops understanding towards their (Karma is Dharma) actions and work through which they can bring prosperity for themselves and for the society.

1.1 Objectives

1. To know the need of Indian ethos for management based on principles of Indian Ethos for Management

2. To find out role of Indian ethos in changing structure of organization and society.

3. To understand the lessons from Vedas &Mahabharata & their significance of ethical values.

2. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This research paper identifies the need and impact of the Indian ethos on Management, organization, business, society, education system and personal growth of an individual.

Indian culture is rooted with value system which forms a basis for thoughts, actions, skills and behaviour and eventually lead to formation of a good character, good human being, good manager, good organization ultimately remove all impurities present in them.

3. NEED OF INDIAN ETHOS IN MANAGEMENT

The need of the Indian Ethos for Management is based on principles (Siddhant) of Indian Ethos, which are Each soul is a potential God, Holistic Approach, Equal importance to subjectivity & objectivity, Karma Yoga and Co-operation.

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1. Maintain Holistic Universe: Holistic vision in India has developed work ethos of life and has led the people to live their life at the fullest. This approach helps in maintaining good atmosphere at your work place, which results in improved efficiency.

2. Elucidate Motivation: In India, motivation is considered to be an internal source (ataman) of energy which every human has with immense potentialities. So Indian ethos helps in bringing the best which involves inner beauty and the person is ableto breakdown all the barriers and greed in his actions.

3. Welfare: Indian ethos emphasize upon the welfare of others i.e. personal interest should be achieved but do not forget the interest of others. Welfare of all beings is prime focus, therefore effect of every strategy and move in business should be evaluated well before execution.

4. Unique Work Culture: Indian ethos believes in „Work is Worship‟ according to which there is no difference between Karma (work) and Dharma (religion). Do your job which is your Karma as well as Dharma and be assured as this will be reflected in your success as a result.

5. Evenness of Mind: Indian ethos believed that values should be followed not only in framing the objectives but also in the process of achieving these objectives. Hence, in the state of evenness of mind both means and ends are treated to be equal.

6. Self-development: Manager with higher consciousness develops holistic attitude, and assure best and competent management ofany enterprise, involving collective works and efforts. Such approach helps in bringing peace, prosperity internally as well as externally.

7. Provides Concentration: Indian ethos guides the way to control your mindset under different conditions and situations, so that one can act ethically in a given situation. Such an exercise of mindset helps in increasing the efficiency, productivity and concentration of an individual.

8. Establishes Value System: In such an era, where people are getting deprived of values and getting themselves involved into evil activities, there is an emergent need to imbibe the values in the society in order to bring in peace and harmony in the society.

4. MANAGEMENT LESSONS FROM VEDAS

1. Vasudha-Eva-Kutumbakam- This lesson of Vedas says “Accepting the whole world as one and one’s Family”. Organizations or individualsshould not only work for the betterment of their own people but for the entire world.

2. SamarpanBhaav- This lesson of Vedas emphasis on “Dedication”which says don‟t be rebellious in behaviour when you are depressed or in state of failure, instead you should accept the things the way they are coming into your life & put in your entire efforts & dedication towards further improvement. If the business is not doing good then one should not feel depressed rather it should explore the new ways & gap through which they can capture the market by making further improvements in their existing products.

3. Lokasangraha- This lesson of Vedas stress upon the “Welfare of all Beings” i.e. in stressing upon your own interest, one should also take care of others interest.Business is using the resources from the society to earn profits; in return it should provide better quality products at reasonable cost to the society and other ways by which welfare of the society can be done.

4. ShubhLabh- This lesson of Vedas emphasis on ‘Ethical Profits’ which says that in making profits for your organization, one should not adopt malpractices, which can harm interest of your customers. Therefore, anything which brings pleasure and wealth at the cost of others interest is inappropriate according to Indian Ethics.

5. Nishkaama Karma- This lesson of Vedas says “Deeds without Greed”. Every organization or an individual should perform their actions with virtuous objective, and should remove sense of greediness, lust, anger and haughtiness as it leads to practices which harm others and on long term basis it also harms an organization or individual implementing the same.

6. Ati-Hyaastha-Varjayet- This lesson of Vedas says “Shunning Extremes” i.e.

excess of everything is bad. Doing good for the unworthy people has no worth.

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Therefore, people should shun their extreme goodness and find balance between among the various emotions, actions & sentiments before reacting to any situation.

Organization & individuals should do good but not at the cost where their own interest or goal is being sacrificed.

5. MANAGEMENT LESSONS FROM MAHABHARATA

1. Clutch Every Opportunity: Every opportunitycoming should be explored even if it is out of the scope of work. Invest all your efforts and energies to achieve bigger goals and to add strength & power to your business.

2. Win Associates: Reaching out to more people by maintaining good relations is the key, pays you back in long term. Associations in good number provides not only strength & power but also push you forward when the time comes, like how Pandavas maintain their allies.

3. Division of Work according to their Potential: Efficiency in every task can be achieved if it is distributed among the entire manpower according to their capabilities & interest. One-man leadership is difficult to work where multiple task need to be performed, it even doesn‟t work for Kauravas.

4. Know how to build Team Spirit: Manpower in organizations should work on achieving their organization goal rather than on individual goal. Kaurvas were hundred in number but were not united in terms of their efforts which lead to failure. Every member of organization should be treated equally & important to contribute towards the organization goal.

5. Assurance: Determination & commitment take you a long way. Don‟t feel neglected less equipped in comparison to others. The way Pandavas were determined & didn‟t left the hope even though the resources they had were less with in comparison to Kauravas.

6. INDIAN ETHOS &ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT

The top management of any organization should have holistic approach towards their business and stakeholders i.e. they should spread on value-oriented management of business towards the target of achieving profits. Organizations having holistic attitude can assure team spirit and team work by maintaining peace, harmony, equality, effective communication and the profits earned with this approach will be ethical in nature.

In today‟s epoch where the life is stressful, every individual is rushing towards earning prosperity but at the end looks forward to have at least peace in life. The lessons from Vedas guides the organization to run their business with entire dedication in order to earn ethical profits by doing welfare of the society. Vedas also says that don‟t do deeds with greed and maintain a balance in your actions as sometimes excess of goodness can results a habit of taking undue advantage by unworthy people.

In the same way lessons from Mahabharata guides how to make best use of the resources available in your organization according to their interest & potential and how to win the extreme conditions by having faith on yourself. It also stressed upon exploiting every opportunity coming into your way in order to have better exposure and learning.

Implementation of these lessons into our life can help us in achieving eternal essence of life.

7. CONCLUSION

Indian philosophy emphasizes on the concept of long-term benefits by sacrificing individual desires in favour of social benefits. Due to Holistic in nature Indian ethics have belief on

„Simple Living & High Thinking‟. Lessons from Indian ethos due to its value-added aspects has become indispensable, therefore organizations should follow such practices in order to maintain the goodness of the society.

Learnings from the Indian ethos:-

1. Achievement of organizational goal rather than individual goal.

2. Sacrifice personal interest in favour of social welfare 3. Attain spirituality rather than material affluence

4. Control your inner resources. i.e. self-control rather than outside control 5. Believe in giving and performing duties rather than concept of rights 6. Be adjusting & accommodating rather than being arrogant & dominating 7. Respect all, search for the truth and shun your ego.

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Management system based on Indian Ethos will be of immense help as in today‟s era organizationsare working on the concept of value-oriented approach for the smooth conduct of business.

REFERENCES

1. Chakraborty, S. K (1980), “Management Stylistics in India- The Case for a Countervailing Ethos”, Decision, July, pp. 248-249.

2. Inglehart, R (1982), “Changing Values in Japan and the West”, Comparative Political Studies, 14, pp. 48- 79.

3. Singh, N. K. & Paul, Omita (1985)“Corporate Soul, Dynamics of Effective Management”, Vikas Publishing House, New Delhi.

4. Srinath, M. G. (1986), “Japanese Want Change in Managerial Pattern”, The Hindustan Times, April 16, Page No. 13, Subramaniam.

5. Tatwananda, Swami: “Upanishadic Stories and Their Significance”, 1965, pp. 14-15.

6. Tandan, P. (1989), “Management and Cultural Values in the Indian Context”, Sri Ram Centre Review, 2 (2), pp. 1-2.