Contribution of Gandhian Thought to Corporate Responsibility

Abstract

Mahatma Gandhiji transformed contemporary capitalists amidst the criticism from leftist quarters that he was working for a compromise in the interests of the Indian bourgeoisie. The purpose of this paper is to present a forerunner of today’s conversations in the world about corporate social responsibility (CSR). Gandhiji not only befriended a number of businesspersons but also advised them to consider their role as a steward of their wealth and businesses that they held. We intend to substantiate his pious intentions derived from his understanding of Bhagavad Gita, which suggested to him that one could enjoy one’s acquired wealth by renouncing it. Persuaded by such moral disposition, Gandhiji argued that it is the surest method to evolve a new order of life of universal benefit of all people in the society as opposed to the order in which most of us live for ourselves without regard to what happens to our neighbour. The paper is based on archival materials representing his conceptualisation and acceptance of trusteeship and the collaborations of the capitalists that lived in his times.

Combining profit and purpose: Paradoxical leadership skills and social–business tensions during the formation and sustenance of a social enterprise

“…Just distribution meant equitable distribution of wealth according to one's needs. Last, in case of surplus wealth, Gandhian principles suggested that the individual retain only what was needed and use the rest for society's benefit in a judicious manner (Chakrabarty, 2015; Gopinath, 2005; Pulla et al, 2017).…”