INTERPRETING SHUKRA NITI FOR CONTEMPORARY PRACTICES IN LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
A Call for Contributions to an Edited Volume
Volume Editor:
Margie Parikh (BK School of Business Management, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad)
margie_parikh@yahoo.com
Volume Advisor:
Vinayak B. Buch, IAS (Rtd.)
Chapter Proposals due: March 31, 2016
Tentative publication date: Summer 2017
Introduction
Theory as well as practice of Business Management has acknowledged the importance of ‘Glocalization’ – thinking global, while acting local. It has also remained an eclectic approach to greater effectiveness, where knowledge from diverse fields has been shared in an on-going exercise.
While there are several arguments over whether the Western thought and practices should be transplanted, adapted, merged or made subservient to the local context, the reverse trend also exists. Theories and practices, especially in the areas of leadership, stress management, individual well-being and happiness from a number of origins the world over have been integrated with mainstream thought. From the perspective of paradoxical thinking or organizational ambidexterity, it is possible to conceptualize this challenge as that involving a leader’s and manager’s attempt to balance between the so-called mainstream as well as non-mainstream theory and practice in order to enhance the organizational and individual effectiveness.
Although what constitutes ‘non-mainstream’ represents different contexts and origins, the repository of knowledge within the classical Indian scripture has been globally studied and adapted. Ancient Indian ‘Niti’ or policy directives or guidelines are among the writings that are meant to guide action towards desirable ends and means. These writings are fascinating and many of them are relevant even today.
Traditionally, as the classical Indian texts were rarely dated, scholarly discourse is open to those who wish to debate the period during which those texts might have been written. Niti writings are also subject to similar estimations. Niti writings are available, generally speaking, from the Vedic time (of writing of 'Kalpa' texts) to the epic of Mahabharata - of which Vidura Niti is a part - to Shukra Niti, which was written, according to some, in the post-classical era in around 14th century AD.
For those who are interested in exploring what constituted the principles guiding leadership and managerial practices at a time of transition from mythological age to historical age, Shukra Niti presents a useful reference. It upholds elements of the classical belief system at a time apparently when the people from other continents had already arrived on the Indian shores, and when gunpowder was in use.
However, two major challenges confront those who wish to explore Shukra Niti.
1. Context-appropriate re-interpretation of classical terms such as Niti itself. The other such frequently used terms are Dharma, Tapas and Yagya. These terms may not be taken literally at times, and it is also difficult to decide which of multiple meanings of the term should be applied when one is reading it in the modern context of leadership and management practices. Additionally, the scholars who do understand the language and the text may not have expertise in the field of leadership and management as taught in most degree courses and MBA programs around the world and vice versa.
2. The second and slightly minor challenge is to prepare a thematic presentation of Shukra Niti based on re-organization of more than two thousand shlokas of the text.
In sum, the motivating question here is, “How can interpretation, extension and application of Shukra Niti benefit the current leadership and management theory and practices?”
Recommended Themes
Contributions from scholars and practitioners are invited, addressing but not limiting to the following themes:
· Leaders, Managers and governance: rethinking guidelines meant for the king
· Reinterpreting concepts in the current context: Niti, Shastra, Dharma, Artha, Kama
· Reinterpreting concepts in the current context: Kaala, Gati, karma
· Other concepts (as selected by the contributors)
· Leadership prerequisites: knowledge essential for a king
· Qualities of a good king: what modern leaders and managers can use
· What a king should and should not do: lessons for effective leadership behavior
· Developing the leaders of future: reinterpreting guidelines for princes
· What followers can learn from Shukraniti
· Space and city planning: lessons from Shukraniti
· Story telling in Shukraniti and the morals from those stories
Proposed Timeline
The tentative timeline for the project is as follows:
Sr. No. Activity Expected date of completion
1 Chapter proposal development and final submission April 15, 2016
2 Conveyance of acceptance of proposal April 30, 2016
3 Submission of draft chapter Sept. 30, 2016
4 Review Nov. 30, 2016
5 Final submission after revision Jan. 31, 2017
References
Avolio, B. J., & Gardner, W. L., (2005). Authentic leadership development: Getting to the root of positive forms of leadership. The leadership quarterly, 16(3), 315-338.
Greenleaf, R. K., & Spears, L. C., (2002). Servant leadership: A journey into the nature of legitimate power and greatness. Paulist Press.
Shapiro, S. L., Schwartz, G. E., & Bonner, G., (1998). Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on medical and premedical students. Journal of behavioral medicine, 21(6), 581-599.
Vidyasagar, J., (1890). Shukranitisara (Sanskrit text and commentary), Narayan Press, Kolkata.
Margie Parikh, PhD
B K School of Business Management
Gujarat University, University Road
Ahmedabad - 380 009, India
Tel: (O) +91-79-26304811/ 26300691
https://gujaratuniversity.academia.edu/MargieParikh