Contribution Of Hinduism To Modern Day Management

Faith Mysticism

oi-Priya Devi

By Priya Devi

Tuesday, April 13, 2010, 16:43

The popular definition of management - art of getting things done through collective effort; asks the managers to bring about group dynamism and with the help of that dynamic group carry out the work. The science of management, therefore deals as to how to bring about harmony between individuals in the group and accomplish the job through their collective efforts.

Hinduism being the outcome of thousands and thousands of years of subjective investigation by the Hindu saints to establish the same harmony at mental level has immensely contributed to the modern-day management and serving as an encyclopaedia for the management scientists.

Vedanta and Social Responsibilities of Business

All that exist in the universe is the abode of Almighty. No one has the exclusive right over it. Not even the riches have their right over their wealth and economic possessions. Declaring this scared truth, the very- first verse of Ishavsashya Upanishad says:

“Teena tyaktena bhunjeetah
Ma gridah kasyasvidhanam"

Mahatma Gandhi has drawn convincing conclusion from this Vedantic verse and incorporated in his theory- of 'Trusteeship' which suggest that the rich must realise that they are the trustee of the wealth and it is their duty to part with a portion of their money to ameliorate the poor.

The corporate houses are positively responding to it and discharging their responsibility towards the society by progressively engaging themselves in employee welfare, customer service, community service and other philanthropic activities. Thus the social responsibility has assumed added importance in the management philosophy.

Theory of Participative Management in Rig Veda

Unity ushers prosperity. So the saying goes 'United we stand. divided we fall' The same principle is equally applicable to industry.

Without unity and integrity amongst labour and management how can harmony at work be brought about? Production and productivity be improved? The Hindu sages therefore called upon the citizen in Rig Veda - 'O citizen of the world! make progress together in harmony; talk together in mutual harmony and understanding; and let your minds move in accord in the manner as the wise men of old times accepted their rewards in their selfless sacrifices' In vedic script it goes

“Sangachadhwam. samvadadhwam samwo manasi janatam
Deva bhagam tatha purve sanjanana upasyate"

This dynamism of togetherness. what the management scientist calls 'Participative Management' has taken practical shape under different nomenclature across the world. Thus the urge for moving together is universally accepted and the principle, by now has almost crossed all the national boundaries.