Revisiting the purpose of corporate social responsibility from the lens of Dharma

Pages: 340-342
Shweta Gupta (Fellow Programme in Management, Indian Institute of Management, Indore, Madhya Pradesh)
Shivendra K. Kashyap (Department of Agricultural Communication G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand)

Though the modern conceptualization and evolution of corporate social responsibility has spread its roots far and wide in an explicit manner, the Indian scriptures have always called for a consideration of broader social responsibility in individual action. Infact, the concept of Dharma is expansive to an extent that it contemplates the innate characteristics of not only human beings rather all the entities of this universe. With Dharma as the core principle governing the functioning of Indian society in ancient times, the nation never faced any need of explicit rules of corporate social responsibility. All individuals indulged in actions that were deemed appropriate for the individual, organizational, societal, national, and universal well-being. In present context, if the concept of Dharma can be highlighted and brought to practice again, then it will raise new possibilities for business organizations. An integrative and holistic approach would be possible for business organizations which will deem profitability along with prosperity for all stakeholders in a natural way.