Session 3

T: Principles Applicable in Management (Indian Companies)

Indian ethos for management means the application of principles of management as revealed
in our ancient wisdom brought forth in our sacred books like our Gita, Upanishads, Bible and
Kuran.

There are 6 basic principles, which come to light in the holy books applicable in today’s
management world. They are :

1. Each soul is a potential God

2. Holistic approach
3. Equal importance to Subjectivity/Objectivity
4. Karma yoga
5. Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam
6. Co – operation

1. Each Soul is a potential God

A human being has a soul, a spark of the Divine. The divine resides in the heart of a person. The
Divine means perfection in knowledge, wisdom and power. Therefore a human being has
immense potential power or energy for self – development.

Thus human efforts can achieve even an apparently impossible goal and convert the impossible
into a reality. The partnership of God and Man can bring about extraordinary or miraculous
results; only if man chooses willingly to collaborate with God and actively participates in the
affairs of the society by right action under his guidance and grace.

He can bring about not only personal development, harmony, happiness but also prosperity of
his own organization and the society without injustice to others. Of course here, also, God helps
those who help themselves.

2. Holistic Approach

Holistic approach in Management is based on spiritual principle of unity, oneness, non-dual or

Advaita concept. Under this principle of unity, the universe in an undivided whole where each
and every particle is connected with every other particle. Thus, entire Humanity is ONE
.
Such an integrated human personality of self-developed manager and worker can assure best
and competent management of any enterprise, involving collective works and efforts.

It will achieve perfection or excellence in whatever sector you work. This is the ideal of Indian
ethos : ‘Atmano Mokshartham Jagat Hitya Cha.’ (For gaining perfection in individual life, as well
as for the welfare of the world.). This is the message for all managers and workers given by the
Indian ethos for management.

3. Equal Importance to Subjectivity / Objectivity

Indian ethos for management distinguishes between subject and object. Subject is subtle and
intangible. Object is concrete and tangible or visible.
We have the concept of the third eye, the eye of wisdom. It can see even that which the normal
two eyes cannot. It can see the intangible i.e. invisible.
Human and ethical values or qualities such as courage, vision, social awareness, fearlessness,
integrity, pure and clear mind, truth, etc. are subjective, subtle and intangible concepts. These
subjective or subtle qualities are as important as money, materials, machines, information or
data as well as human skills. Inner resources of human beings are more powerful than external
resources.

3.1. Creator is subjective. Creation is objective.

Insight i.e., creator is more important than Outsight i.e., creation. Our body, senses, intellect,
mind, etc., are objective, seen, tangible. But our soul atman is unseen, intangible, subtlest and
subjective. Hence, wisdom manager/ worker is much more important and valuable than
knowledge manager/ worker.
Therefore, manager must develop his third eye, ‘Jnana Chakhu’ , the eye of Vision intution,
insight, foresight and such other divine qualities or values. This is the essence of Indian ethos
for management.

4. Karma Yoga

It is yoga of selfless service to others. Karma Yoga is all about identifying your priorities and
trying to achieve them. Also, a person should have accountability i.e. he should always hold
only himself responsible for whatever goes right or wrong. This brings about the union of
human being with the Divine.

Gita says that do your duty without ego and without calculations of gain or loss. One should
believe in Nishkama Karma i.e. fruits of work should not be thought of while performing the
duty.

The memorable words of Gita are “ To work only you have the right and you have no right to
the fruits of work”. However, this does not mean that one should work day and night and the
returns that he gets should be almost negligible. What the Gita tries to say is that let not the
fruits of action motivate you as they might just divert your attention from work. When you are
doing a job, put your heart and soul in to it. One has no control over the future hence never
waste your present in useless dreams of future hopes and fears of present actions.

4.1. WHY DO I WORK?

4.1. 1. For my own salvation and personal growth.
4.1. 2. For the good of the world.

The inner joy of doing something gives the doer a sense of achievement and also helps him in
respecting himself more than he used to. Money is important but running behind money all the
time leads to tension, stress and total loss of peace. Self-motivation can assure self-
development. When work is performed without passion, hatred, arrogance and desire we have
individual development and social good.

4.2. Indians always had two great truths of successful, harmonious and happy life:

4.2.1.Divinity of life can be used through self-development for personal growth and also for
social welfare.

4.2.2. I cannot cheat you and nature without cheating myself. Working for harmony and peace
results in a sense of fulfillment.

It is becoming clear that a chapter, which had a Western beginning in business management,
will have to have an Indian ending. Karma Yoga is not just meant for the common man but also
for leaders and managers who if act responsibly will in turn influence the behavior of a number
of people.

4..3. Karma Yoga thus is a good pathway for:

4.3. 1. Self-purification and Self-development.

4.3. 2. Individual growth and welfare.
4.3. 3. Collective growth and welfare.
4.3. 4. Minimum play of passion, jealousy, hatred.
4.3.5. Team spirit and Teamwork.
4.3. 6. Autonomous management, minimum control and supervision.
4.3. 7. Manager acts as a Mentor.
4.3.. 8. Self-motivation.
4.3.. 9. Perfection.
4.3. 10. All round happiness and prosperity.
4.3. 11. Skills and values united.
4.3. 12. Conflicts resolved by integration.

5. Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam

Yoga means excellence at work. Seek to perform your assigned duty or work in an excellent
manner. Kaushalam denotes doing work with devotion and without attachment i.e. without
being a work-a-holic. Such detatched attitude enhances its values and improves the
concentration and skill of the worker. You work with smartness, determination and ability. Your
head, heart and soul co-operate with your hands. You do not hanker over the fruits of action.
You have no anticipation of reward, or personal gain. You become a tool of God to perform the
work.

Any work carried out with full concentration, dedication and with all abilities that a person has,
becomes valuable and the person also becomes valuable to others as well as to society. In total
quality management(TQM) Karma Yoga and Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam provide valuable
contributions. Under this slogan we have one hundred percent concentration coming from
within. The extrinsic incentives e.g., money, other perks, etc. play a very minor role as
motivators.

6. Co – Operation

Healthy competition is a powerful motivator for excellence and success, especially business
success. The idea of cut-throat competition is founded on the concept of ‘struggle for existence’
and survival of the fittest.

Indian ethos says that for human beings the royal road is co-operation as a powerful motive for
team work. We are human beings having mind and power of discrimination.

The Gita says : “ By co – operation and mutual help all shall achieve the highest human
welfare.” Unity is strength. Even in the holistic approach, we stress the co-operation
integration, synthesis and team – spirit for extraordinary performance, for enduring harmony
and peace, because in our hearts chamber is living the pure consciousness of the Divine, i.e.,
Purnatman. Peaceful co-existence, harmony, not struggle is the rule. Indian insight endorses
this in the management of any enterprise.

Excessive competition at work can destroy many young people and our social life. Co-operation,
united efforts and striving for success leads to all round prosperity and success leads to all
round prosperity and success in any field of human enterprise.