Gandhi believed that businesses should act as trustees or stewards of society, holding surplus wealth in trust for the common good and welfare of others. As trustees, business owners should consciously work to uphold and protect whatever they possess or acquire, while being aware of and committed to meeting the needs of others. Gandhi saw seven "sins" as contradicting this trusteeship concept, including pursuing wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, or business without ethics. Gandhi's philosophy emphasized sustainable consumption, equitable distribution of wealth, and sustainable livelihoods rather than charity.

1. Gandhian
concept of
Trusteeship
Amit Tripathi
Anshuman Accanoor
Pushkar Choudhary

2. What is the
ROLE
Of business ?

3. Is it profit maximization ?
OR
Is it contribution to society ?

4. Gandhiji had the answer…
Trusteesh
ip

5.  Gandhiji’s ideas focused around the
concept of Dharma – duty to the
society
 The role of business as being that of a
trustee or steward of what you hold
 Surplus wealth needs to be kept in
trust for common good and the welfare
of others

6. Trusteeship is about
Common
Good

7. Trusteeship is about
Welfare of others

8. Trusteeship is about
Non violence

9. Trusteeship is about
Economic Equity

10. Trusteeship is about
Kindness

11. Who is a Trustee?
 Self-consciously assumes responsibility for
upholding, protecting and putting to good use
whatever he possesses, acquires or earns
 Self-governing and morally sensitive
 Aware of the unmet needs of others
 Deeply committed to cultivating his most generous
feelings for others
 Consciously and patiently frees himself from
exploitative attitudes and relationships

12. Dharma or ethical & moral values contrasted by
“seven sins”:
1. Wealth without work
2. Pleasure without conscience
3. Knowledge without character
4. Business without Ethics or Commerce without
Morality
5. Science without humanity
6. Worship without sacrifice
7. Politics without principle

13.  Inherent in this philosophy are entrenched
solutions to many of the challenges of the 21st
century:
 Sustainable consumption – consume what is
enough for your needs without doing harm to
others
 Utilization of natural resources in a sustainable
way – you are a trustee and you need to take
care of what has been freely provided by nature
 Dignity of labor and equitable distribution of
wealth – wealth alone is not the answer, to feel
happy you need to ensure that the people who
work for you and society at large is taken care of
 Sustainable livelihoods – and not charity – are a

14. “The act of renunciation of everything is not a
mere physical renunciation, but represents a
second or new birth. It is a deliberate act, not
done in ignorance. It is, therefore, a
regeneration.” – M. K. Gandhi

15. Thank You !!!