Bapu's Corporate Code of Conduct

[Guest guest]

Bapu's Corporate Code of Conduct

 

All religions are unanimous in denouncing the amassing of wealth. The Bible

declares: Easier indeed it is for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle

than for a rich man to enter heaven. “Wealth undoes a man” — artham anartham ,

said Adi Sankaracharya. Fakiri , meaning voluntary poverty, is a way of life

highly commended by the Sufi saints. Aparigraha, non-possession, is a value

emphasised by the Bhagavad Gita.

Mahatma Gandhi understood that it was futile to strive for a world order which

eliminates commerce altogether. He knew also that business and industry cannot

be conducted without involving ownership of property.

Gandhi was equally concerned about social justice. Even today there are millions

of households where parents have to send their children to sleep on empty or

half-fed bellies. Gandhi believed that there never is any ‘absolute’ shortage

of food. God creates food for all; and it is the unjust, man-made patterns of

possession that have created social inequality. He said: “Nature provides for

mankind’s need, not for his greed.”

Socialists came up with a solution: Forcefully dispossess the rich and

distribute their wealth among the poor. Such a solution, based on violence,

could never be acceptable to Gandhi for whom means were as important as ends.

He felt that any good wrought through violence cannot be stable.

The opening verse of the Isa Upanishad provided Gandhi with the first

breakthrough: Tyakten bhunjita — ‘renounce and enjoy!’ Don’t cling to your

wealth. Possess wealth, but don’t be possessive towards your possessions.

Narrow-minded possessiveness leads to fear of many sorts. Fear turns enjoyment

sour. In time, your riches become the very cause for your sorrow and moral

misery.

In respect of trade and industry, how can one renounce and enjoy? Can one simply

let go of all that one has raised through years of hard work and labour? Should

one simply abdicate the seat of power and move to the woods? Supposing you do

so, will not someone else grab your position, create chaos and possibly

jeopardise the livelihood of all who may be employed in your industry?

Gandhi’s doctrine of trusteeship does not propose abdication. He only seeks an

attitudinal change in the captains of commerce. “Not all of your wealth belongs

to you; it belongs to the community: understand this”, says Gandhi. Give up the

binding thought of proprietorship. Transform your position of ownership into

that of a managing trustee.

This will give rise to a ‘disinterested commitment’. This is not the same as

dilution of interest; to have a ‘disinterested commitment’ only implies a

transmutation of self-interest into corporate interest; of selfish concern into

social concern.

You continue to retain stewardship over the business you have raised — but for

serving also the larger social interest. You become a leader in the truest

sense. Gandhi believed that when the doctrine of trusteeship begins to be

practiced, philanthropy as a separate activity will become redundant.

Under the doctrine of trusteeship does the managing director of a concern earn

the same as, say, his peon? No. Gandhi does not propose a flat form of

equality. His principle is: From each according to his calibre; to each

according to his true need. He, therefore, emphasises equity rather than

equality.

Regarding succession, Gandhi is in favour of a member of the family succeeding

the managing trustee, but he stipulates that this must be subject to the

employees accepting the successor; else the new trustee must come to office

through election.

 

This Owner of this article is shir K S RAM garu. source :indiatimes.com

Arun Reddy Nukala

+44-7946-595063

+44-2085-695116

Messenger - Communicate instantly..."Ping" your friends today! Download Messenger Now