Csr, Western Ethics & Indian Philosophy

CSR, Western Ethics & Indian Philosophy By Dr. Vijaya Lakshmi Mohanty, Assistant Professor Good Governance and Public Policy & Associate Director (PR & CSO), Sri Sri University Mr. Debjyoti Mohanty, CSR Consultant, International Leadership Trainer , Research Scholar, Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar

CSR- An overview 

CSR is an evolving concept in present day business though the virtue of sharing and caring goes back to genesis of human civilization.

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Synonyms of CSR in modern day of corporate governance.

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Corporate Citizenship

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Triple bottom line

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Corporate conscience

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Corporate citizenship

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Sustainable responsible business, etc., to name a few.

Objectives of the Study 

To highlight that , the CSR behavior originates from religiosity of human being.

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To conceptually establish that, the concept of philanthropy is one of the cornerstone of ethics in Indian and western thoughts and practices.

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To emphasize that, Social responsibility has emanated from the desire to see a healthy, happy and equitable society.

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To reinforce that, scriptures, spirituality, value system, culture have influenced the virtue and motivates of the haves to share their wealth with have-nots.

Deontological and Teleological Ethics 

‘When moral worth is at issue, what counts is not actions, which one sees, but those inner principles of action that one does not see’- Kant

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Deontology relies on an embedded notion of corporate personhood. Doing one’s own duty is central theme.

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Consequentialism, Utilitarianism and Teleology come to the rescue because of their easy applicability, as life is filled with numerous moral choices. Utilitarianism subscribes the greatest good for the greatest number. Directly and indirectly these philosophical thoughts have given impetus to CSR

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Virtue Ethics: Plato & Aristotle 

Virtue ethics persisted as the dominant approach in Western moral philosophy.

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Virtue, practical wisdom and eudaimonia (being in a contented state of healthy, happy and prosperity).

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Virtue ethics agree that living a life in accordance with virtue is necessary for eudaimonia.

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One attains virtue usually by service or sacrifice to others.

Christianity and Charity  

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There are as many as 29 verses which eulogize charity. It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will maintain his cause in judgment. For he will never be shaken; The righteous will be remembered forever. He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. Psalms 112:5-9 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Christianity and Charity 

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When Jesus heard this, He said to him, ‘One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ - Luke 18:22 Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. - Matthew 5:42

Indian Contribution to Corporate Social Responsibility: 

Dana (Charity) is a part of all Indian scriptures which had a mention of use of wealth. This ideology is fed to all Indians from their childhood.

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Ancient and contemporary texts and persons are quoted

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Scriptures like Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavat Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Puranas,

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Indian Kings/ emperors

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Political Treatise like Arthasastra

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Contemporary philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, H.H.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Indian Kings who epitomize Charity 

Bali daata Karna data daata Jeemuta Vahana, Harischandra Shiva daata Mokshyadata Janardana. (Indian scriptures are replete with philanthropic kings and deities viz., Bali, Karna, Jeemuta, Vahana, Harischandra and Lord Shiva.)

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Indians always believe in the theory that ‘wealth increases by charity’ (Dhanam phaleti danena-Brihaspati Smriti).

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Giving is considered as one of the highest virtue worth possessing.

Vedas and Upanishads vouch for Charity 

“Moghmannam vindate aprachetah satyam bravimi vadh itsa tasya.. Narmanyam pushyati no sakhyam kevalagho bhavati kevaladi”-Rig Veda (An individual who consumes money and material all alone without using it for social welfare, he is destined to go to hell)

“Om sarve bhavantu sukhino sarve santu nirramayan Sarve bhadrani pashyantu maa kashichit dukhbhak bhavett. Om Shantih Shantih Shantih” (“May all be prosperous and happy. May all be free from illness. May all see what is spiritually uplifting. May no one suffer. Om peace, peace, peace”.- inspired from Brihadāraṇyaka Upanishad verse 1.4.14.) 

Inspiration from Srimad BhagawatGita Yajna- dana-tapah-karma na tyajyam karyam eva tat Yajno danam tapa caiva pavanani manishinam - Verse 18.5 (Acts of sacrifice, charity and penance are not to be given up; they must be performed. Indeed, sacrifice, charity and penance purify even the great souls).

Vamana Avatara & Srimad Bhagavatam The charitable emperor Bali showed his head for the third pace of Lord Vishnu as he promised him 3 paces. First two paces of Lord Vishnu in Vamana Avatara covered the heaven and earth.  “Danam sva-dharmo niyamo yamah cha srutam cha karmani cha. Sad-vratani sarve mano nigraha-lakshanantah paro hi yogo manasah samadhih.” ---Bhagavatam 11.23.45 (Charity, prescribed duties, observance of major and minor regulative principles, hearing from scripture, pious works and purifying vows all have as their final aim the subduing of the mind). 

Kathoponishad- Nachiketa Story 

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Kathopanishad deals with a story on Nachiketa, the son of Rishi Uddalaka. Uddalaka was a great Rishi, but just one flaw – he was a miser. Once, he performed a great Yagna to please the gods. It is customary to donate cows, money, clothes and food to Brahmins during a yagna, but Uddalaka loathed spending precious money to make the donations. Nachiketa went to Yama to fulfill his father’s promise of Dana. The story depics how, Charity was ingrained in Indian Children.

Arthasastra 

Chanakya has given a lot of importance to charity.

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In his timeless creation Arthasastra, he enunciated that, one must spends wealth in charity rather than spending all wealth on himself. Else the wealth will be useless quite similar to the stale water in a pond which could not be flushed out. (Uparjitanam vittanam tyaga eba hi rakshyanam. Tadagodarasamsthanam paribaha evambhasam).

Theory of trusteeship of Gandhi & Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

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I am not ashamed to own that many capitalists are friendly towards me and do not fear me. They know that I desire to end capitalism, almost, if not quite, as much as the most advanced Socialist or even Communist. But our methods differ, our languages differ. My theory of trusteeship is no make-shift, certainly no camouflage. I am confident that it will survive all other theories. It has the sanction of philosophy and religion behind it. No other theory is compatible with non-violence’ (Gandhi, 1939). Charity purifies wealth. Yoga and Ayurveda purify the body. Seva (service) purifies karma (action) and meditation purifies the soul. Service is that inner state, where you say, ‘You need me, I am here. What is that you want? I am here available for you’. - Sri Sri

Regulatory Act, 2013 

India became the first country in the world to make CSR mandatory through a statutory provision.

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An act or regulation reflects the culture and need of the society. Mandatory CSR is a result of India’s age old belief on charity and philanthropy.

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By making it mandatory, the government tries to bridge the gap of lacunae existing in the system.

Conclusion 

Undoubtedly, CSR has emanated from charity and the innate tendency of human being to share and care.

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Corporate in twentieth century had to face the ethical dilemma of balancing their business between profiteering and social responsibility.

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The people who do business belong to this world with varied faith and culture.

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There might be varied business strategies, but there is one commonality and that is the language of love and the desire to share and care. And that makes us human as well.