Swadeshi and Atmanirbharta
After the formation of “Swadeshi Jagaran Manch “I was one of the first speakers from industry in a meet of RSS workers .I remember differing from line of SJM and suggesting that Swadeshi should ideally comprise of policies ,actions,products an solutions that are good for Indians and India .I also recall exhorting all to work hard and smart to beat competition of foreigners and foreign brands with quality offerings to satisfaction of customers .
Over years I have spoken at many other places and have maintained that U S A is the best practitioner of Swadeshi concept and has taken actions that are good for it despite changes in the government .Propping China to wipe out USSR,supporting it from all angles to make it factory of the world and now to diversify manufacturing bases or shift it to U S are all part of Swadeshi strategy of the U S A
Atmanirbhar is a much broader concept than Swadeshi and urges us to become self reliant in all walks of life and domains .It is a term with many shades in the same way as Swachh .I recall delivering the first lecture on “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan “at AMA to explain different elements that will unfold .Now we are seeing launch of SBA+where we are expected to cover whole lot of things other than toilets .In my keynote address in Nagpur on silver jubilee anniversary of Laghu Udyog Bharati on topic “waste to wealth creation”available on YouTube, I covered some of the important facets
Globalisation in it’s current form has failed internationally and has facilitated concentration of wealth in fewer hands .It has also created ground for transfer of wealth from poor and developing nations into hands of rich and powerful by an intricate web of offshore tax havens ,consultants ,perverted laws and vested interests .We are a victim as a large part of wealth of people of India is resting abroad and cannot be brought back despite Herculean efforts of the current government .
Most of us are not aware that Chanakya or Kautilya is the founder of modern economics in the world .Prof B S Sihag in his book “Kautilya -the true founder of economics “has lucidly proved this fact .It is unfortunate that in all our schools of economics and management there’s is no mention or discussion ever on Arthashashtra but we continue to refer to “wealth of nations “by Adam Smith as the bible of modern economics .The form of capitalism as in vogue now is synonymous with pure profit or Shudhh Labh which is devoid of ethics,equity and ecology .Blind pursuit of capitalism in this form by many or championing of communism (Shunya Labh) by some is the source of many ills that we see today .As against it our ethos of “Shubh Labh “or win win profit or Sumangalam combines Dharm (ethical living)and Arth (wealth creation) that spreads “Mangal “to all .”Third way “of Dattopantji Thengadi exhorts us to go beyond capitalism and communism for happiness .
Atmanirbharta or self reliance starts with self and each one of us .From our vast forgotten treasure ,I find great need of practice by each of us of “Yogah karmasu kaushalam “.If all of us imbibe and work with this maxim ,we will be a different nation .Peter Drucker ,management guru used to always say that 90% of things are not in our control .This echoes our wisdom to delink results from efforts .Thus we have to be diligent despite good or bad results .
Health is prerequisite to all Purausharths (Dharmarth Kam Mokshanam Arogyam Mulamuttamam ).COVID19 has confirmed this wisdom .I hence think ,we have to become Atmanirbhar in matter of health .Allopathy limitations are fully exposed and it is time that we gave precedence to AYUSH for promotive and preventive health .If we can increase our immunity (Atmashakti )invaders like virus cannot do any harm Entire paradigm of health demands change from illness to wellness.
We are all enamoured of Western thinking that has shackled our hearts and minds .We need to introspect and blend reductionist Cartesian thinking with our forgotten 360 degrees holistic knowledge .
First step in becoming Atmanirbhar should be to dissect ,discuss and review paradigms in economics ,finance ,education ,health etc and come up with our versions that are India centric and satisfy our needs and aspirations .It is also vital that we get back wealth of our nation and people lying outside through pragmatic policies while checking fresh drainage .
Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan is a great vision and will succeed with hard and smart work done by all of us with redefined paradigms .It is time for us to change frameworks in many areas for us to be and feel “Atmanirbhar “
S B Dangayach
Founder Trustee
Innovative Thought Forum
and
National Vice President
Arogya Bharati
sbdangayach@gmail.com
www.itf-india.com
+919998822680