Structure of Rabindrik human values

Pages:368-375
Hardik Shah (Department of Management, Indian Institute of Management, Shillong)
D. Dutta Roy (Psychology Research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata)

Values are conceived of as guiding principles in life. It is the most striking fact about human life and as the core concept of human existence. Values are expressions of worth, likes or dislikes concerning things, persons, principles etc. It is hierarchical in nature. Therefore, one’s behaviour is directed by relative preference of values. In existing research, preference to value is culture specific as value researchers intuitively thought of values and their approach was criticized. Reverend Rabindranath Tagore, Nobel laureate in literature composed several songs observing changes in nature, air, light, temperature etc. By analysis of his songs, Dutta Roy and Bandopadhyay (2010) explored 14 path and 14 goal oriented human values. These values are universal in nature. The values reflect the inner (Raag layer) and inner core (Saraswat layer) layers of consciousness. Some path oriented values are Self-awakening (Imagining positive power), Non-self-insulting (Not offending to self), Cleanliness (Neat and tidy), No work-family conflict (Maintaining balance between family and work demand), Niskam principle (Working without expectation of reward), Resolute (Determined in purpose and action), Active (Avoidance of laziness). And some Goal values are Peace (Free from conflicts with others), Universalization (Thinking for everyone), Enlightenment (Having true understanding), Positive Feeling (Feeling of happiness), Salvation (Saving self from bad effect), Self-Empowerment (Enabling power to self), Security (Protection from attack), Significance in Life (Finding meaning in life), Altruism (Considering good of others before own). This study aims at exploring latent relations among both path and goal oriented values. Data were collected from adolescent male (n=308) and female (n=211) students (N=519) of one of the reputed management institution in India. They had diverse backgrounds in terms of religion, castes, language, and native places. Value questionnaire was administered to them. Principal component analysis with Varimax rotation extracted four components of path oriented values accounted for 70% variances and two components of goal oriented values accounted for 80% variances. Extracted values are important for Rabindrik psychotherapy and human resource management.