Abstract
From Merchant Charity in India and Welfare Capitalism in the West to Corporate Philanthropy to Corporate Social Responsibility to Corporate Citizenship, it has been a long saga of human concern for fellow beings and surroundings. As population grows and as science and technology advances, the social problems and issues proliferate at a faster pace and more concerted and innovative efforts, particularly from the powerful business sector, become imperative.
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Notes
- 1.
The earliest written records of Indian civilisation are contained in the holy Vedas. They are Apourusheya (not of human origin) and said to have been received by sages and saints of yore in their highest states of meditation while in communion with the Supreme Consciousness. They form the basis of the Sanatana Dharma (the Eternal Religion) which was the way of life followed by the ancient Indians for many millennia. The ‘Hindu’ religion received its name and religious status during the British period. Prior to that, it was not known as a religion, but as a way of life that has guided and moulded the Indian culture, traditions and philosophies for thousands of years. Unlike any other religion, it does not have a founder, but is based on the collective wisdom of the Vedas, Upanishads and allied texts. The message of these scriptures is universal and is not limited to any particular religion. The Vedas were divided into four major texts—the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda and the Atharvana Veda by Sage Veda Vyasa. The Rig Veda, the oldest of the four, dates back to 3,500 BC.
- 2.
Quality of darkness and sloth.
- 3.
Quality of passion and activity.
- 4.
Quality of purity and goodness.
- 5.
The tenth chapter of the Taittiriya Aranyaka is known as the Mahanarayana Upanishad of the Yajur Veda.
- 6.
One of the primary religious scriptures of the Hindu religion, it consists of 700 verses delivered by Lord Krishna to Prince Arjuna during the Mahabharata War on the battlefield of Kurukshetra over five millennia ago.
- 7.
He was an adviser and Prime Minister to the first Maurya Emperor Chandragupta (340–293 BC) and was the chief architect of his rise to power. Also known as Chanakya, he has been considered as the pioneer of the field of economics and political science. In the Western world, he has been referred to as the Indian Machiavelli, although Chanakya’s works predate Machiavelli’s work by about 1,800 years.
- 8.
Sivakumar N. (1995), Value Based Management—Historical Roots and Current Practices, Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (Deemed to be University), Prasanthi Nilayam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
- 9.
Majumdar R. C. (1969), Corporate Life in Ancient India, Calcutta: Firma K.L. Mukhopadhyay.
- 10.
Kangle R. P. (1965), Kautiliya Arthashastra—A Study, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.
- 11.
Verma O. P. (1972), ‘Organisation and Function of Some South Indian Guilds’, in Early Indian Trade and Industries, D.C. Sircar (Eds), Calcutta, University of Calcutta.
- 12.
Buhler, George (1979), The Law of Manu, in Sacred books of the East Series, Vol. XXV, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.
- 13.
Ganguli, Kesari Mohan (1981), The Mahabharata of Krishna- DwaipayanaVyasa, Vol. IV and VIII (consisting Udyoga Parva and Shanti Parva), New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers.
- 14.
It is an ancient Indian Hindu treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy which is said to be authored by Kautilya, who was also known as Chanakya and Vishnugupta.
- 15.
Bhagat, G. (1990), ‘Kautilya Revisited and Revisioned’, The Indian Journal of Political Science, Vol. 51(2), pp. 186–212.
- 16.
This is the 12th Parva (book) in the great Indian epic Mahabharata. It consists of the crowning of Yudhisthira as king of Hastinapura and instructions from Bhishma (the grandsire of the Kaurava clan) for the newly anointed king on society, economics and politics. This is the longest book of the Mahabharata. Shanti means peace and the main focus of this text is on how a king can through his righteous policies maintain peace in the kingdom and can ensure the welfare of the subjects.
- 17.
Manusmriti is considered by Hindus to be the law laid down for them and is seen as the most important and earliest metrical work of the Dharmashastra textual tradition of Hinduism. It is also referred to as Manava Dharma Shastra. It owes its origin to Manu. According to various Hindu traditions, Manu is a title accorded to the progenitor of mankind and also the very first king to rule this earth, who saved mankind from the universal flood. He was known to be absolutely honest which was why he was initially known as ‘Satyavrata’ (one with the oath of Truth).
- 18.
Thus Spake Lord Mahavir, Sri Ramakrishna Press, Chennai, 1998.
- 19.
Thus Spake the Buddha, Sri Ramakrishna Math Press, Chennai, 1956.
- 20.
Thus Spake Prophet Muhammad, Sri Ramakrishna Math Press, Chennai, 1962.
- 21.
ibid.
- 22.
Translations from the Quran, Surah 2, Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement, University of South California, USA.
- 23.
Buchholz, Rogene A. (1998), ‘The Ethics of Consumption Activities: A Future Paradigm’, Journal of Business Ethics, Vol. 17, pp. 879.
- 24.
Accessed at http://www.jewfaq.org
- 25.
Shrivastava (1995), ‘Industrial/Environmental Crisis and Corporate Social Responsibility’, Journal of Socio Economics, Spring Issue.
- 26.
Fiser, Ivo (1954), ‘The Problem of Shetti in Buddhist Jataka’, ArchioOrientalni, Vol. XXII (2–3).
- 27.
A text said to be composed by Sage Yagnyavalkya(a very well-known sage of ancient India) during the reign of the Gupta dynasty in India (320–600 AD). Consisting of 1,010 verses, the text is in the form of a story wherein the sages of Mithila (an ancient Indian city) ask Sage Yajnyavalkya to explain to them the dictates of Dharma—righteousness. He expounds it to them through three major branches—righteous conduct, judicial procedures and penance.
- 28.
Vasu, Srisa Chandra (1984), Yajnavalkya’sSmriti, New Delhi: Spirit India Publishers.
- 29.
Authored by Brihaspati, the teacher of the demi-Gods as per the ancient Indian scriptures.
- 30.
Jolly, Julius (1977), The Minor Law Books (Consisting Narada and BrihaspatiSmriti), in Sacredbooks of the East Series, Vol. XXXIII, New Delhi: MotilalBanarsidass.
- 31.
These are said to be composed as part of the ancient Buddhist literature in the third or fourth century BC era and owe their origin to India. The Jataka Tales are stories that teach the values and morals of life and good living. They are said to have inspired further fables and tales like the Arabian Nights, Aesop’s Fables and Adventures of Sindbad.
- 32.
Chalmers, Robert (1973), The Jataka Stories, London: The Pali Text Society.
- 33.
The surviving inscriptions of the script evolved during the Gupta Dynasty in India (320–600 AD). These are mostly found on iron or stone pillars and on gold coins recovered from the Gupta period.
- 34.
Majumdar, R. C. (1969), Corporate Life in Ancient India, Calcutta: Firma K.L. Mukhopadhyay.
- 35.
Inscriptions found on the Stupas (pillars) at Sanchi (an ancient Indian city of the Buddhist era) belonging to the period between third BC and the twelfth century AD. The ‘Great Stupa’ at Sanchi is the oldest stone structure in India and was commissioned in the third century BC by the Emperor Ashoka (304–232 BC) of the Indian Maurya Dynasty.
- 36.
Mookerji, Radha Kumud(1985), Local Government in Ancient India, New Delhi: Daya Publishing House.
- 37.
Junnar is a city in the Indian state of Maharashtra with a history dating back to thousands of years. It has over 200 cave temples and has been influenced by multiple religions including Buddhism to which these inscriptions can be traced.
- 38.
Archaeological Survey of Western India, Vol. IV, p. 94.
- 39.
Majumdar, R. C. (1969), Corporate Life in Ancient India, Calcutta: Firma K.L. Mukhopadhyay.
- 40.
People belonging to the erstwhile princely state of Marwar (currently a part of Rajasthan) in north-west India; speaking the Marwari language and predominantly engaged in the occupation of trading. Notable businessmen from this community include the House of Birlas.
- 41.
Belonging to the Zoroastrian faith from Iran, this community migrated from Persia to India in the tenth century to save themselves from persecution and to avoid conversion from the Arab invaders. Settled in Gujarat for over a millennium and speaking the Gujarati language with a Parsi dialect, this community has been actively involved in trade and commerce for many centuries. Notable Parsis of contemporary times include businessmen like the Tatas and Godrej, army men like Field Marshall Sam Maneckshaw and scientists like Homi Jehangir Bhabha.
- 42.
People belonging to the state of Gujarat on the west coast of India; speaking the Gujarati language and engaged in trade for many centuries due the natural port advantage available to the state of Gujarat. Many notable Indians including Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the political field, Dhirubhai Ambani and Kasturbhai Lalbhai in the commercial field and Vikram Sarabhai and Sam Pitroda in the field of science and technology belong to the Gujarati community.
- 43.
A predominantly mercantile community in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the word literally means—selling merchandise by advertising them loudly. The Chettiars are known in Karnataka as Settigar, Shettar or Setti.
- 44.
‘Giving in India’, Freedom from Economics, The Economic Times, Mumbai, December 1, 2012.
- 45.
Ibid.
- 46.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772–1833) hailed from the state of Bengal. Called as the maker of modern India, he contributed to the social, religious and educational upliftment of the masses. He established the Brahmo Samaj in 1830 for the advancement of the Hindu community and pioneered many educational and social practices for the betterment of the community. He attempted to reform the prevalent ritual-based Hindu practices into a spirituality-focused religion and abolished the Sati and child marriage practices that plagued the social fabric of the time.
- 47.
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati (1824–1883) hailed from the state of Gujarat. He was the foremost socio-spiritual reformer of his times, gave the call of ‘India for Indians’ and also reformed the purely ritual-based Hindu traditions towards the Vedic ideologies. He inspired a number of individuals who subsequently took up the cause of the Indian freedom movement. In 1875, he established the Arya Samaj, a Hindu reform movement in Bombay to further his ideology of social equity by abolishing untouchability and the caste system and promoted the equality of genders as enshrined in the Vedas.
- 48.
Jamsedji Nusserwanji Tata (1839–1904) was an Indian entrepreneur and industrialist, prominent for his pioneering work in Indian industry. He was born to a Parsi family in Navsari, Gujarat, India. He founded what is today known as the Tata Group of companies. J.N. Tata is regarded as the ‘father of Indian industry’.
- 49.
N. M. Wadia (1837–1909) was one of the first Indians, and also among the Parsis, to set up the first full foundation in the form of the NM Wadia Trust. He bequeathed a fortune of Rs. 8.9 million to the Trust to be used for the poor and the needy irrespective of their caste, creed and religion. The Trust, whose trustees were given a lot of discretionary powers by the founder, used the money for education of orphans, building and maintenance of hospitals, relief for the poor and distressed, protection of animals and rehabilitation during natural calamities.
- 50.
Ranchhodlal Chhotalal (1823–1898) was a pioneer of the textile industry in Ahmedabad. In 1861, he founded the first textile mill of Ahmedabad named it the Ahmedabad Spinning and Weaving Company Limited. In 1888, he carried out the underground drainage and water supply work on becoming the first Indian president of the Ahmedabad Municipality.
- 51.
Lalbhai Dalpatbhai was born in the Jain community and in a family of Nagarseths of Ahmedabad. He was a descendent of the famous Jain merchant of Ahmedabad, Shantidas Jhaveri (1590–1659), who established the Anandji Kalyanji Trust that manages a number of Jain temples belonging to the Shwetambara tradition across the country. Lalbhai was the first person to establish a textile mill in 1897—the Saraspur Manufacturing Company, in addition to the traditional business of precious gems. During the intensifying Swadeshi movement, the second company Raipur Mills was established in 1905. The Lalbhai Dalpatbhai College of Engineering and the LalbhaiDalpatbhai Institute of Indology were established in his memory by his son and the reputed nationalist businessman—Kasturbhai Lalbhai.
- 52.
The single seed of the Birla Empire was sown by Raja Baldeo Das Birla (1863–1956). He was an entrepreneur and philanthropist in India. Besides his contribution to the business world, he also contributed to the establishment of the Medical College, Calcutta, and built the Lakshminarayan Temple (also known as Birla Mandir), Delhi, in 1939.
- 53.
Upadhyaya R. A. (1976), Social Responsibilities of Business and the Trusteeship Theory of Mahatma Gandhi, Sterling Publishers, New Delhi.
- 54.
Gopinath, C. (2005), ‘Trusteeship as a moral foundation for business’, Business & Society Review, Vol. 110 (3), pp. 331–344.
- 55.
Ghanshyamdas Birla (1894–1983)—Considered as a doyen of Indian Industry, G.D. Birla was a multifaceted personality. He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and advised him on economic policies. He was the most important pre-Independence contributor to the Indian National Congress. He was the founder of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and also played an important role in the expansion and diversification of the Birla business empire into automobiles, cement, chemicals, rayon and steel tubes. Prominent among the educational institutions that he started is the Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences (BITS), Pilani, in 1964. He also established many temples, planetariums and hospitals.
- 56.
Jamnalal Bajaj (1884–1942) founded the Bajaj Group of companies in 1926 which today has expanded and diversified into 24 companies, the flagship company being Bajaj Auto. A close associate and follower of Mahatma Gandhi, he was also a philanthropist and freedom fighter. Gandhiji is known to have adopted him as his son. He dedicated much of his wealth to the poor as he was a staunch proponent of the philosophy of Trusteeship. Among many institutions that bear his name is the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), one of the premier business schools in India.
- 57.
Lala Shri Ram (1884–1963)—An eminent philanthropist and a visionary industrialist, he set up one of India’s eminent business houses, the DCM (Delhi Cloth & General Mills) Group, manufacturing a vast variety of goods such as textiles, sugar, chemicals, pottery, fans, sewing machines, electric motors and capacitors. He took lead in bringing together the entrepreneurs of his era by forming institutions like CII, FICCI and PHDCCI, which played a key role in the growth of post-independence India. He laid a lot of emphasis on vocational, technical and women’s education. The reputed ‘Shri Ram College of Commerce’ in Delhi was founded by him.
- 58.
Ambalal Sarabhai (1890–1967)—A leading industrialist of Ahmedabad, he was the founder of the Sarabhai group of companies. He was an ardent supporter of Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian independence movement since 1916. The Sabarmati Ashram (Gandhiji’s residence at Ahmedabad) ran from funds received from Sarabhai in its initial years. One of his sons, Vikram Sarabhai, is considered to be the father of the Indian space programme. The Sarabhai family has played an important role in the founding of the premier business school in India—the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
- 59.
The Servants of India Society was founded by the great freedom fighter Gopal Krishna Gokhale in 1905 to unite and train Indians of different ethnicities and religions in welfare work. It was the first secular organisation in India to devote itself to the underprivileged, rural and tribal people, emergency relief work, the increase of literacy and other social causes. The organisation has its headquarters in Pune (Poona). The number of members has dwindled over time, yet the society has been influential in its demonstration of the ideals of social service.
- 60.
The Bengal Social Service League was founded in 1915 by Dr. Dwijendra Nath Maitra, the then resident Surgeon of Mayo Hospital, Calcutta, inspired by Pandit SivanathSastri. It is one of the oldest secular voluntary organisations in India in the field of social service. Great personalities of Bengal like Rabindranath Tagore, P.C. Ray and J.C. Bose were associated with its activities.
- 61.
Known as one of the most influential NGOs in the world, the Rockefeller Foundation was established in 1913 in the USA by John D. Rockefeller. Since then, scientists, scholars, economists and grassroots leaders supported by the Foundation have spearheaded the search for the solutions to some of the world’s most challenging problems. Its mission has been to ‘to promote the well-being of mankind throughout the world’. Among the prominent schools it has helped establishing are the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK) and the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and Harvard School of Public Health (USA). It has funded the work of a number of Nobel laureates including Albert Einstein. Since its inception, the Foundation has given more than US$14 billion to thousands of grantees worldwide. Its endowment fund as in 2009 was US$3.4 billion.
- 62.
Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1905, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching is an independent policy and research centre in the USA, focused on improving teaching and learning. It brings scholars, practitioners, innovators, designers and developers together to solve the practical problems of teaching at various levels.
- 63.
The Ford Foundation was established in 1936, with an initial gift of US$25,000 from Edsel Ford, whose father Henry founded the Ford Motor Company. The founding charter of the Foundation states that resources should be used for scientific, educational and charitable purposes, all for the public welfare. Accordingly, the foundation has made grants to many kinds of organisations and has supported programmes that continue to serve the public welfare by strengthening democratic values, reducing poverty and injustice, promoting international cooperation and advancing human achievement. In 2012, its endowment stood at US$10 billion.
- 64.
Ram NiwasJaju, G.D. Birla: A Biography, p.11, Vikas Publishing House, Delhi, 1985.
- 65.
Formerly known as Child Relief and You, CRY is an NGO that was established in India in 1979 by Mr. Rippan Kapur. It partners grassroots-level NGOs working with children, their parents and communities and helps communities become aware of their rights. It works across levels from direct action to advocacy, mobilising public opinion and policy change. In the three decades since its formation, CRY has enabled communities in villages and slums across 20 states in India to work towards addressing the root causes of issues like deprivation, adult unemployment, exploitation and abuse that constrain the rights of children. In 2011–2012 alone, it reached out to 914,491 children through 200 CRY-supported partner NGOS.
- 66.
Set up in 1991, Concern India Foundation is a registered, non-profit, public charitable trust extending financial and non-financial support to grassroots programmes working in the areas of education, health and community development. It reaches out to over 200 programmes across India including major metros such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Pune.
- 67.
UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) is a UN Programme established in 1946 that provides long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries. It has been working in India since 1949 and is the largest UN organisation in the country. It uses its community-level knowledge to develop innovative interventions to ensure that women and children are able to access basic services such as clean water, health visitors and educational facilities and that these services are of high quality. At the same time, it reaches out directly to families to help them to understand what they must do to ensure that their children thrive. Its programmes in India include health, nutrition, water, environment, sanitation, HIV/AIDS, education and child protection.
- 68.
Set up in 1978, HelpAge India is a secular, not-for-profit organisation raising resources to protect the rights of India’s elderly and providing relief to them through various interventions. It advocates with national and local government to bring about policies that are beneficial to the elderly, makes society aware of the concerns of the aged and promote better understanding of ageing issues and helps the elderly become aware of their own rights so that they get their due and are able to play an active role in society. For this purpose it networks with companies, trusts, governments and various individuals.
- 69.
The Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are twin organisations which form the core of a worldwide spiritual movement (known as the Ramakrishna Movement or Vedanta Movement), which aims at the harmony of religions from the East and the West. The Ramakrishna Math is a monastic organisation for men brought into existence by Sri Ramakrishna (1836–1886), the revered saint of Bengal. The Ramakrishna Mission is a registered society in which monks of the Ramakrishna Math and other householder devotees cooperate in conducting various types of social service activities in healthcare, disaster relief, rural management, tribal welfare, elementary and higher education and culture, mainly in India. It bases its work on the principles of Karma Yoga (selfless service). It was founded in 1897 by Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902), Sri Ramakrishna’s chief apostle, and one of the foremost thinkers and religious leaders who influenced Indian thought and philosophy in the twentieth century. Considered as a youth icon for modern India, Swami Vivekananda is said to be one of the first Indian spiritual leaders who introduced Hinduism, Yoga and Vedanta at the World Parliament of Religions in 1893.
- 70.
Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) is a spiritual and humanitarian Hindu organisation with its roots in the Vedas. It was founded in the late eighteenth century by Shri Swaminarayan, a revered saint believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and formally established in 1907 by Shastriji Maharaj, a successor in the Swaminarayan tradition of Gurus. BAPS, a charitable NGO, is recognised as one that holds General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. It reaches out to address many of the spiritual, moral and social challenges and issues facing the world. It is a prominent organisation in Gujarat and among the NRI Gujarati community spread across the globe. By 2012, its international network had grown into 2,710 Youth, 4,070 Children and 1,320 Women centres, more than 890 Sadhus (monks), 55,000 volunteers and over one million followers, with more than 750 temples and 9,090 centres in 45 countries.
- 71.
The Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation was founded in 1965 by Sri Sathya Sai Baba, revered by millions across the globe as a spiritual master, to enable its members to undertake service activities as a means to spiritual advancement. It derives inspiration, guidance and strength from Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s mission and message of propagating the truth of man’s inherent Divinity, which is proclaimed and preached by all religions of the world. The Organisation has, as its main objective, selfless love and service without any distinction of religion, nationality, race and socio-economic status, either for those who work in the Organisation or for those who are served by them. There is no fee or subscription for membership to this organisation. The Organisation is divided into three main wings—education, service and spiritual. The service activities undertaken by the Organisation include providing values-based education, medical care, rural development and village integration, disaster management, poor feeding, maintaining order during festivals, educating street urchins, skill training to women from weaker sections of society, running skill schools for the rural youth, providing drinking water and sanitation facilities for small rural hamlets among many others. As of 2012, the Organisation is active in 23 states of India with nearly 600,000 active workers. It has as its affiliates 99 Sathya Sai Schools in India and 45 across the globe, 25 Institutes of Sathya Sai Education, many colleges, vocational training centres, hospital and medical units and thousands of Sai Centres in 130 countries of the globe.
- 72.
An association of business organisations in India, FICCI was founded by G.D. Birla and Purushottam Takkur in 1927, on the advice of Mahatma Gandhi. Headquartered in New Delhi, it is one of the main organisations to fund and support many governmental and non-governmental educational institutes. In 2012, it had tie-ups with 150 industry associations and chambers worldwide and represented 44 sectors of the economy.
- 73.
Established in 1920 by promoter chambers, representing all regions of India, ASSOCHAM is one of the apex trade associations of India. It operates through 59 expert committees and represents the interests of trade and commerce in India and acts as an interface between industry, government and other relevant stakeholders on policy issues and initiatives. Its goal is to promote both domestic and international trade and reduce trade barriers while fostering a conducive environment for the growth of trade and industry of India. As of 2012, ASSOCHAM covered a membership of over 400,000 companies and professionals across the country.
- 74.
Established in 1895, and then known as the Engineering and Iron Trades Association (EITA), it was set up with a goal to pressurise the British government to place government orders for iron and steel and engineering goods with companies based in India. In the post-independence period its focus has moved to creating and sustaining an environment conducive to the growth of industry in India, partnering industry and government alike through advisory and consultative processes.
It has a direct membership of over 7,100 organisations from the private as well as public sectors, including SMEs and MNCs, and an indirect membership of over 90,000 companies from around 250 national and regional sectoral associations. Partnerships with over 120 NGOs across the country carry forward its initiatives in integrated and inclusive development, which include health, education, livelihood, diversity management, skill development and water. It has institutional partnerships with 223 counterpart organisations in 90 countries.
- 75.
Rechristened as Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation, the LRSP was set up in 1988, with the objective of providing an alternative, sustainable and replicable model of Holistic Rural Development in India. Over the years, the Lupin Foundation has contributed towards improving the quality of life in 2,200 villages in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.
- 76.
VRTI was established at Mandvi in Western Gujarat in 1975 under the guidance of Mr. Kantisen Shroff (one of the founding fathers of Excel Industries). As of 2011, it was working in 225 villages in the Kutch District with 110 staff members. The main objective of the Institute is to promote sustainable rural development with community participation in areas like rainwater harvesting, creating drinking water distribution resources, watershed development, prevention of salinity ingress, developing salinity-resistant crops, disaster management, livelihood, health and hygiene, education and capacity-building programmes at the village level. Environmentally friendly activities like tree plantation, eco-clubs and smokeless chullas are also being carried out. The vision of the Institute is to develop sustainable economic activities based on agriculture, animal husbandry and rural arts and crafts.
- 77.
Established in 1978, LRDF is the rural CSR arm of the Arvind Mills (A Lalbhai Group Company). The Trust directly intervenes in the development process at the village level. In 2012, the operational area in 16 districts of Gujarat reaches out to a population of about 25,000. LRDF’s strategy has been to link government programmes with the rural poor, thereby increasing the efficiency and the effectiveness of the delivery process. Among the activities undertaken by the Trust are vocational programmes for the rural poor, providing infrastructure to rural schools, training widows for entrepreneurship, promoting biogas and the prevention of AIDS.
- 78.
Details provided in the case study on the Tata Group in Chap. 10.
- 79.
Details provided in the case study on Wipro Ltd. in Chap. 10.
- 80.
Infosys Ltd. established the Infosys Foundation in 1996 to support the underprivileged sections of society by contributing 1 % of its PAT (profit after tax) to the Foundation for its campaign to improve the welfare of people in rural areas of India. The Foundation has implemented programmes in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa and Punjab in a phased manner. A dedicated team at the Foundation identifies programmes in the areas of healthcare, education, culture, destitute care and rural development. Mrs. Sudha Narayan Murthy has been one of the Founder Trustees of the Foundation and has been spearheading the work since its inception.
- 81.
‘Giving in India’, The Economic Times, December 1, 2012.
- 82.
Bowen H R., Social Responsibility of the Business, Harper and Row, New York, 1953.
- 83.
Kasturbhai Lalbhai (1894–1980) Born in a Jain family of Gujarat, Kasturbhai was an Indian industrialist who was widely perceived as a nationalist businessman. In 1952, he started Atul Ltd., India’s first modern dyestuff manufacturer. As a Director of the Reserve Bank of India from 1937 to 1949, he ensured that Indian employees were groomed well to run operations in an Independent India. He started the Ahmedabad Education Society in 1936, which later evolved into the Gujarat University. Along with Mr. Vikram Sarabhai, he was the driving force behind the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) in its initial years.
- 84.
Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata (1904–1993) was the longest serving Chairman of the Tata Group from 1938 to 1988. He was the pioneer of the Indian civil aviation industry, founder of eminent Tata companies such as TCS, Tata Motors, Titan Industries, Tata Communications, Tata Tea and Voltas and the only businessman to be awarded India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.
- 85.
Sorab Pirojsha Godrej (1912–2000) was the son of the founder of the Godrej Group of Companies and was its Chairman from 1972. His interests ranged from environment, population control, education, social welfare, international affairs, mass media, arts and archaeology to heritage conservation. He was a past president of several chambers of commerce and industry and played a key role in the industrialisation of modern India.
- 86.
Bharat Ram (1914–2007) was an Indian industrialist who built the Delhi Cloth Mills (DCM). Mr. Bharat Ram hailed from the renowned business family of Delhi, the owner of the famous Shri Ram Group and DCM with a legacy of more than 100 years beginning from his father Sir Lala Shri Ram. He was the Chairman and Managing Director of DCM from 1958 and also started Shri Ram Fertilizers and Shri Ram Fibres Ltd. (SRF). The Shri Ram Group is known for its contribution in terms of establishing a number of prestigious educational institutions in Delhi.
- 87.
Ramkrishna Bajaj was essentially a product of the Indian freedom movement and was brought up under the personal guidance of Mahatma Gandhi and Acharya Vinoba Bhave since his childhood. He was the Head of the Bajaj Group of companies and was particularly concerned with ethics in business, business self-regulation and consumer welfare. He was the Chairman and Founder of various industry and trade organisations.
- 88.
Vinayak Narahari Bhave (1895–1982) was an advocate of nonviolence and human rights and was best known for the Bhoodan Andolan (Land Gift Movement), a voluntary land reform movement in India started in 1951. The mission of the movement was to persuade the wealthy landowners to voluntarily give a percentage of their land to lower castes. Vinoba Bhave walked across India on foot, to persuade landowners to give up a piece of their land. The Movement created a social atmosphere in India that presaged land reform legislation activity throughout the country. Over five million acres (20,000 km2) were donated through the Movement to the poor, needy and landless.
- 89.
Jayaprakash Narayan (1902–1979) was a freedom fighter and political leader of India. Mahatma Gandhi was his mentor. Popularly called JP, he played a pivotal role in the Quit India Movement and was jailed and tortured by the British forces several times during the war for Independence. In post-independent India he continued to play a dominant role in politics, especially during the Emergency period of 1975–1977. In 1999, he was posthumously awarded the highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, in recognition of his social work.
- 90.
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Shah, S., Ramamoorthy, V.E. (2014). Business Responsibility Through the Ages: A Journey from Scriptural Insights, with Noble Philanthropists, to Committed Institutions and Leaders . In: Soulful Corporations. India Studies in Business and Economics. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1275-1_5
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