Introductory Chapter – Traditional Values in India’s Business
विषय-प्रवेश
भारतीय व्यवसाय में पारंपरिक मूल्य
Traditional Values in India’s Business
व्यवसाय में पारंपरिक चिंतन
शुभ लाभ
“सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः”
व्यक्तिगत लाभ समाज का लाभ सब लोगों का लाभ
सब प्राणियों का लाभ पर्यावरण का लाभ
पुरुषार्थ
धर्म अर्थ काम मोक्ष
पहला पुरुषार्थ धर्म शेष तीनों अर्थ काम और मोक्ष का आधार है ।
कबीर का दोहा
साँई इतना दीजिए जामें कुटुंब समाय ।
मैं भी भूखा ना रहूँ साधु न भूखा जाय॥
उपयोगी शब्दार्थ
( shabdkosh.com is a link for an onine H-E and E-H dictionary for additional help)
| व्यवसाय m
परंपरागत चिंतन m शुभ लाभ m व्यक्तिगत समाज m प्राणी m पर्यावरण m पुरुषार्थ m धर्म m अर्थ m काम m मोक्ष m आधार m साईं (religious) जामें (dialectal) कुटुंब m समाना भूखा साधु m |
business
traditional deep level thinking auspicious profit individual society creature environment human beings’ goal of life righteousness money sensual enjoyment spiritual liberation basis स्वामी, lord जिसमें, in which family to accommodate hungry holy person |
Linguistic and Cultural Notes
1. Business dealings are as old as human societies. Paired with the onset of business dealings was business ethics, which helped ensure fairness in business. In India, direct and indirect references to trade go back to before the advent of Christian era. There is a reference to the Vaisya caste (traders) in the Rigveda and there is evidence of coins for trading in the Harappan civilization. British macroeconomic historian Angus Maddison states in his book The World Economy: Historical Statistics that India was the richest country in the world and was the world’s largest economy until the 17th century.
2. Traditionally, businessmen in Hindu society belonged to the Vaishya class. Vaishyas are part of the varnaashram system consisting of four classes – brahmanas (priestly class), kshatriyas (warriors), vaishyas (farmers and businessmen), and shudras (service providers). All four were governed by ethics defined by seers and social engineers. Vaishyas were responsible for generation of wealth and sharing of the wealth in their society. However, occupations are no longer distributed this way in modern India.
3. There are extensive Western influences in every walk of life in modern India. As a consequence, there is a cross-current between Western and traditional ways of doing business. In some circles, traditional ideals diluted whereas in others they are discussed, planned, and implemented aggressively.
Language Development
The two following vocabulary categories are designed for you to enlarge and strengthen your vocabulary. Extensive vocabulary knowledge sharpens all three modes of communication, With the help of dictionaries, the internet and other resources to which you have access, explore the meanings and contextual uses of as many words as you can in order to understand their many connotations.
Semantically Related Words
Here are words with similar meanings but not often with the same connotation.
| व्यक्तिगत
लाभ अर्थ कुटुंब |
वैयक्तिक
फ़ायदा धन परिवार |
Words with more than one meaning depending on the context:
| अर्थ | money, meaning, for (in compound words like धर्मार्थ) |
Structurally Related Words (Derivatives)
व्यक्ति, व्यक्तिगत, वैयक्तिक, व्यक्तित्व
लाभ, लाभांश, लाभदायक,लाभप्रद, लाभकारी
अर्थ, आर्थिक, अर्थशास्त्र, अर्थशास्त्री
समाज, सामाजिक
धर्म, अधर्म, धार्मिक
Comprehension Questions
1. What is the key to collective happiness?
a. individual growth
b. collective growth
c. universal growth
d. all of above
2. Which of the following is fundamental to the remaining three?
a. moksha
b. kaama
c. artha
d. dharma
Supplementary Materials – Traditional Values
Reading
1. स्वस्तिक – विकीपीडिया से
2.बही-खाता
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-27/varanasi/30327788_1_accounting-method-subject
3. खाता बही अब भी कंप्यूटर को दिखा रही ठेंगा
http://www.deshbandhu.co.in/newsdetail/24697/2/0
4. क्यों पूजे जाते हैं दिवाली पर लक्ष्मी और गणेश एक साथ ?
http://hindi.oneindia.in/art-culture/2011/laxmi-ganesh-worshipped-together-aid0204.html
5. धनतेरस पर बरसेगी महालक्ष्मी की कृपा
http://www.jagran.com/spiritual/mukhye-dharmik-sthal-dntres-pour-grace-of-mahalakshmi-10833625.html
6. Book Review: The Difficulty of Being Good by Gurcharan Das
by MANSHU on FEBRUARY 15, 2010
http://www.onemint.com/2010/02/15/book-review-the-difficulty-of-being-good-by-gurcharan-das/
Listening
1. shubhlabh with kundan Rangoli,swastik with kundan rangoli
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVOWlRvBbfg
2. Meaning and Benefits of Shubh Laabh
http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-slideshow/seekers/faith-and-rituals/meaning-and-benefits-of-shubh-labh?utm_source=Referral&utm_medium=Mailer &utm_campaign=ST 23 OCT?track=188&uid=938881&date=20141023
Discussion Ideas – Traditional Values
1. India is a land of many immigrants who have settled there over the centuries. Two prominent communities are the Parsis (Zoroastrians) from Iran, and Muslims from the Middle East. They brought with them their business ethics. Explore their ethics from a historical point of view and review how these have been adopted by Indian business.
2. On the Internet and through personal interviews explore the development of indigenous ideas for starting and developing a business.
3. As the world becomes more materialistic, discuss the realistic place of traditional business values in today’s India.
4. Review the book ‘The Difficulty of Being Good” by Gurcharan Das and comment on your views about the concept of dharma and its relevance in today’s business world.
5. Create a roadmap of a business world in which greed is minimal and human good is in abundance.
