|
A Blast
from the Past by Sanjeev Nayyar, courtesy
Economic Times, appeared on Monday 6th June, 2005.
|
What can today’s entrepreneurs learn from India’s past? A lot. About value creation, globalisation and the power of the intellect.
It is well known that the India-China region produced around 60% of the world’s industrial manufactures in 1830. Around 1000 BC Baudhayana discovered the so-called Pythagoras theorem.
Aryabhata dealt with advanced astronomy and progressions. One could cite numerous such examples of India’s prowess. However, every nation has to earn its stripes on an ongoing basis. Yet, nearly 24% live in poverty today and India’s share in world trade has declined continuously (1950: 1.29%, 1990: 0.52%, 2000: 0.67%).
Surely our ancestors did something right. The purpose of this article is to peep into the past and cherry pick some learnings that could be followed by today’s entrepreneurs.
a. We tend to forget that India was among the most globalised nations. She exported spices to Europe, music to Japan, Buddhism to China. At a time when international travel was unthinkable Indians reached distant lands. India prospered through continuous interaction with the world. We need to become global citizens again. On our terms.
While globalising, Indian companies must note that even after hundreds of years people of the Far East and South-East Asia appreciate India’s contribution to their civilisations. The key is to ‘take care of local sensibilities’. Indian firms must be seen as job/wealth creators and emulate the Indian Diaspora who have rarely clashed with the local population.
b. "From time immemorial, the great aims of human endeavor have been classified in India as dharma, artha, kama and moksha roughly translated as moral behavior, wealth, worldly pleasures and salvation". (Kautilya The Arthashastra by LN Rangarajan). Creation of wealth was always encouraged. What mattered was how it was earned and used.
Ironically, making profits/being rich were dirty words for the first 50-odd years of Independence. As a nation we must focus on wealth creation. With time, its benefits would percolate down. The rich should share a larger percentage of their wealth with the poor. That can happen when attitudes changes from ‘What’s in this for Me’ to ‘What’s it that I can do for You’.
c. Indian philosophy relies on direct vision of truths and pure reasoning. It is unique because there are nine schools of philosophy divided into Astika and Nastika. The former includes Nyaya, Vaisheshik, Sakhya, Yoga, Mimamsa and Vedanta. The latter includes Bauddha, Jaina and Carvaka.
Although each school of philosophy is unique, they are bound by certain common characteristics like open mindedness, direct experience, support of logic and reasoning.
|
| |
| |
|
dimakh consultants