This document discusses the concept of Bharatiya Management, which refers to management principles and practices derived from ancient Indian wisdom and contemporary Indian contexts. Some key points: - India had a significant share (1/3 to 1/2) of the world's GDP in the 1st millennium CE during its Golden Age under the Gupta dynasty. - Bharatiya Management draws from ancient Indian texts like the Vedas, Mahabharata, and Arthashastra, as well as contemporary case studies of uniquely Indian businesses and concepts like jugaad innovation. - It emphasizes developing good managers over just providing tools, and uses fieldwork, reflection and Indian research methods focusing on

1. BHARATIYA
MANAGEMENT

2. • Angus Maddison’s (2003) work shows that by the 1st millennia CE, India’s GDP had
acquired about 1/3rd to ½ of the total world GDP. The Golden Age of India had
reached its peak during the Gupta dynasty circa 6th century.
• Many thousands of years of economic activity/experience
• Today - Unorganized sector is 3-4 times the size of organized sector in value and maybe
10 times in employment.
• We have a huge reservoir of knowledge, case studies, best practices

3. •Bharatiya – In it’s broadest sense – Geographic
•Management – In it’s broadest sense- not
restricted to Business Management

4. WORKING DEFINITION
Bharatiya Management has at least the following three components for now:
• 1. Management concepts/ ideas/ constructs based on India’s ancient wisdom i.e. from
texts such as the Vedas, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Vidura Neeti etc.
• 2. Management concepts/ practices/ case studies which are uniquely Indian and
contemporary.
• 3. Research methodology that is uniquely Indian

5. 1. Management concepts/ ideas/ constructs based on India’s ancient wisdom i.e. from
texts such as the Vedas, Mahabharata, Ramayana, etc.
• Most important texts used in Management Schools appear to be Vedas, Upanishads,
Ramayana, Mahabharata, Arthasashtra by Chanakya/Kauthilya, Panchatantra, Tirukural
etc.
• More recent material from Vivekananda, Gandhi, Shankara
• Did ancient Indians have experience in Management?
Water/Kingdoms/Temples/ International trade

6. STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

7. ANOTHER EXAMPLE
• What can we learn about leadership from Ramayana?

8. MOTIVATION
• This situation is explained by the theory of self‐transcendence propounded in the Gita.
Self transcendence involves renouncing egoism, putting others before oneself,
emphasizing team work, dignity, co‐operation, harmony and trust – and, indeed
potentially sacrificing lower needs for higher goals, the opposite of Maslow. "Work must
be done with detachment." It is the ego that spoils work and the ego is the centerpiece
of most theories of motivation. We need not merely a theory of motivation but a theory
of inspiration. M.P. Bhattathiri,
• Jambhavat?

9. 2. Management concepts/ practices/ case studies which are uniquely Indian
• Contemporary
• This is a great opportunity area for research. Many cases, concepts unique to India are not well
documented
• Case studies like – Arvind Eye, Kumbh Mela, Mithalismitha – IPR or not
• Business Practices of Marwari’s, Chettier’s, Parsi’s
• Jagath Seth ( banker to the world) and the Battle of Plassey/ Lender to the East India Company
• Concepts such as
• Jugaad, frugal innovation
• Bottom of the pyramid opportunity – CKP – pioneers MNC - HLL/Nirma/Wheel

10. 3. Research methodology that is uniquely Indian.
• Differences in concept of time ( linear/ cyclical) – Start with Goal/ Self
• Western research is aimed at proving with scientific data analysis
• nyAya includes information perceived by sense organs, and is empirical. Indian methodology
uses both empirical evidence and experience (for direct experience of truth or self or
brahman).
• Indian research is aimed at proving and ‘realizing’ the truth by oneself for oneself
• Direct experience alone is the basis for all proofs.... [2.19-20] Yoga-V¯asis.t.ha

11. SYLLABUS OR CURRICULUM?
• Pedagogy is a critical differentiator in Bharatiya Management
• Field trips, Discussion, Reflection, Yoga, Chanting, Meditation (dyaNa)

12. •Creating Good Managers rather than
providing Management tools is the focus of
Bharatiya Management.
• Subjective to objective / Objective to Subjective
• Concept of time, space and causality

13. INDIAN CONTEXT /ENVIRONMENT
• Demographic – Road Design – Average number of car sized vehicles
• Geographic
• Economic – pyramid – Velvette sachets
• Cultural – Airport Design/
• Religion - religious influences are embedded in all dimensions of culture as opposed to
the assumption that religions function in discrete, isolated, “private” contexts
.

14. THE PURPOSE OF BUSINESS
• Purusharthas - Artha (economic values), Kama (pleasure), Dharma (righteousness), and
Moksha (liberation)
• Business is seen as a legitimate, integral part of society. Its core function is to create
wealth for society
• ‘Sarva Loka Hitam’

15. SECONDARY RESEARCH
• Reveals that a number of books have been written in this domain
• A number of articles have been published in journals
• Most good journals do not accept articles that do not fit the western structure of articles
• Ancient texts popular among management professors are Mahabharatha, Ramayana, Kauthilya’s
Athasashtra, Vedas, Vivekananda, Thirukural
• Contemporary literature consists mainly of case studies, books describing the evolution of
various corporate houses, Business communities ( though details of specific business practices
and their impact are not provided)

16. THE MANY RISKS
• Interpretation of texts
• Nostalgic research
• Variations
• Absence of structured text books

17. • Not a substitute for western management thoughts, complementary to it.
• Offers a different paradigm
• It is useful to understand different perspectives on any domain
Presently courses in these area’s are offered based on Bharatiya Management
MBA – Ancient Wisdom methods, MBA- Yoga, Innovation, Leadership, ethics and values,
Indian ethos, Self development, economics,

18. Why Bharatiya Management ?
A different perspective or additional way of looking at things
Based on stories, facts, you have heard and connect to
Indian Context is different and so material built for this context is better
Brings a sense of pride
Easier to learn and apply - for eg: case studies from India vs case studies from the West
How many of you are interested to understand more about this topic???

19. gpsudhakar@gmail.com