Dharmic Education - A Panacea for Social Evils in Emerging Economies

Abstract

Education is a tool of social change. The perceptions of people about the goals of education largely define the pattern of education structure. If the values of the society revolve around materialistic pursuits alone, it naturally promotes unbridled race for money. The products of that education system orient towards materialistic pursuits and the lofty ideals like Corporate Social Responsibility and business ethics that dominate the current managerial thought get lip sympathy in their hands. Realizing the need of ethical values in organizations, many universities of the West and certain prime institutions in India (ex- IIM, Bangalore) have introduced spiritual education in the course curriculum. The traditional Indian mind gave profound importance to 'Dharma' which is basically a moral law combined with spiritual discipline that helps sustain the society , over other ‘purusharthas’ and advised the student to attain all purusharthas in tune with ‘Dharma’. Purusharthas is a term from Hindu way of life that encompasses four things- Dharma (moral laws), Artha (following material pursuits in ethical ways), kama (following and attaining biological and psychological desires in ethical way) and Moksha (liberation from desires which is the ultimate human goal in life). Ancient Indian thought was never against earning money, but it insisted on earning with Dharma. “The Dharmic path can provide the means for attaining own spiritual realizations and experiences” (Stephen Knapp). The literature on ethical leadership and Sanatana Dharma which is eternal values of moral life are abundantly found in our scriptures like Bhagavat Gita, Vidura Neeti, Manu Smriti, Maha Bharata and Ramayana. An attempt is made in this article to study the principles of Sanatana Dharma from the original texts and also commentaries by western thinkers like Annie Besent, Max Muller, Stephen Knapp and the like and try to present how the values are relevant for today’s managerial students towards attaining harmonious personalities.