Indian Heritage & Culture Past Paper PDF 2024

19-12-2024 Indian Heritage & Culture Is Indian Culture Obsolete? Do we need its Knowledge? Dr. Vittal Rangan S 2024 1...

19-12-2024 Indian Heritage & Culture Is Indian Culture Obsolete? Do we need its Knowledge? Dr. Vittal Rangan S 2024 1 Indian Heritage & Culture Prescribed Textbook Prof. B Mahadevan, IIM Bangalore et al. First of its kind in the subject. Recommended by AICTE. Very exhaustive collection. Vittal S/ IIM BG 2 2 1  19-12-2024 Indian Heritage & Culture Additional book (if interested): Not relevant for exam Michel Danino French National, inspired by India, accepted Indian Citizenship. Professor : IIT, Gandhinagar Member of Indian Council of Historical Research, ICHR Conferred Padma Shri for contribution to Literature and Education by the Government of India. Vittal S/ IIM BG 3 3 Indian Heritage & Culture A few introductory questions in mind….. Vittal S/ IIM BG 4 4 2  19-12-2024 Indian Heritage & Culture Questions in mind… 1. India is a land of seers, yogis, mahatmas, maharishis / ‘explorers’, ‘evolvers’, ‘builders’: Why so many took birth in India? Or 2. Is this a land more suitable only for “fulfilment”/ self- exploration? 3. If it is more to do with spirituality, “how is it put into practice and what are the results”? 4. Is India still debating only its golden past? or 5. Does India have anything to offer to the world in the present or future? Vittal S/ IIM BG 5 5 Indian Heritage & Culture How do each of us feel…..about India & West… Vittal S/ OB & HR 6 6 3  19-12-2024 Indian Heritage & Culture The Angry Young Indian - India How does a 20- year-old Indian today, feel about ‘ancient India’s culture’? Pay bribe at every Angry with politicians step (even for your and bureaucrats entitlement) (they diverted resources for personal gain) Job opportunities Angry with not exciting Infrastructure (poor facilities & related inconvenience) We are land of superstitions Education is not (Sati, Child marriage, how does enriching smearing sandal paste/ ashes help us in future?) Vittal S/ IIM BG 7 7 Indian Heritage & Culture The Angry Young Indian – World vs India: One side How does a 20- year-old Indian today, feel about ‘the world’? See the West: Cities are clean; Trains & buses are ontime; There is no corruption; no illiteracy There is discipline; There is civic sense Vittal S/ OB & HR 8 8 4  19-12-2024 Indian Heritage & Culture The Angry Young Indian – World vs India – Other side We vs the World We are lethargic; No courage to fight the system We talk about glorious culture, but dump rubbish on the street May be we were great 1000 years ago, what good is that today? West has conquered the world. They are achievers Vittal S/ OB & HR 9 9 Indian Heritage & Culture The Angry Young Indian – Concludes The Young Indian, Concludes Indian Culture is good for tourists or those Indian Culture is who renunciate good for the elderly To build tomorrow’s India, we need to quickly: Throw these old-fashioned beliefs; Turn to healthy & Progressive thinking India may not be the place for growth This hopeless feeling is nurtured : proof upon daily proof…. There is ignorance in our Angry Young Indian’s criticism. It has: idealized view of the West and distorted Vittal S/ OB & HR notion of India’s heritage 10 10 5  19-12-2024 Indian Heritage & Culture Western Culture – A few questions? If all is good with the West, then? 1. Why does USA hold 25% of World’s prison population? 2. Why is 1/5th of US high-school students go to school carrying a weapon? 3. Why are shoot-outs and serial killers are more common in West than in India? 4. Why is Western economies critical survival model based on arms-sales to Third- world countries. (However, they preach peace and human rights to these Countries); 5. Who caused overheat in planet in just two-centuries, endangering entire biosphere – West or India? 6. Why are Western models of economic growth increasingly questioned by Western Scholars? There is ignorance in our Angry Young Indian’s criticism. Every Vittal S/ IIMnation, BG including India, has own aberrations. 11 11 Indian Heritage & Culture Experts view of the West…. Vittal S/ IIM BG 12 12 6  19-12-2024 Indian Heritage & Culture The future of Western Culture – Experts A wise man who observed West closely said: …..The Western world is governed by a handful of Shylocks…. …All those things that you hear about – constitutional Government, freedom, liberty, and parliaments – are but jokes….. The whole Western civilization will crumble to pieces …if there is no spiritual foundation. SWAMI VIVEKANANDA Vittal S/ IIM BG 13 13 Indian Heritage & Culture What difference will spiritual foundation make Class Q: How do we say, the whole Western civilization will crumble to pieces …if there is no spiritual foundation? Society without Spiritual Foundation: Relevance Today: 1. Places of worship need 1. Moral decay: Crime, Immorality not be empty (video) 2. Risking depression levels; 2. Social fragmentation: isolation & Existential crisis (see: conflict Singapore is extinct) 3. Existential Crisis: questions the Spiritual Foundation gives: need for purpose, lot of anxiety; 1. Shared societal values; 2. Life is beyond material 4. Poor Leadership: Leader’s make possession; destructive decisions. 3. I will do well, if all do well. Vittal S/ IIM BG 14 14 7  19-12-2024 Indian Heritage & Culture The future of Western Culture – Experts Will Durant (1950) said: India has sent us such gifts as grammar and logic, philosophy and fables, hypnotism and chess, and above, all, our numerals and our decimal system. But, these are not the essence of her spirit; they are trifles compared to what we may learn from her in future. Vittal S/ IIM BG 15 15 Indian Heritage & Culture The Tree A huge old tree in our garden Still gives us shade, cool air and fruits Our tree is weighed down by dead branches and overgrown with creepers and thorns Shall we fell it Shall we set it to work (& loose all the by chopping of values it has that deadwood & others do not have) give it a new youth Vittal S/ IIM BG 16 16 8  19-12-2024 Indian Heritage & Culture But, our question continues…. Vittal S/ IIM BG 17 17 Indian Heritage & Culture The question continues…. Is it needed at all….. Isn’t it unsuited to our modern age? The colonial caricature of India is: It is steeped in (Religion and Spirituality) and, also in (misery and squalor (dirty)) Where we always like this, underdeveloped? At the mercy of the West? Does not look like… Vittal S/ IIM BG 18 18 9  19-12-2024 Indian Heritage & Culture India’s Economy through History India’s economy contributed ** % share of world income 1 - 32.9%, largest in the world 1000 - 28.9%, largest in the world 1500 - 24.5%, second largest after China with 25% 1700 - 24.4%, largest in the world 1820 - China is world's largest economy followed by UK and India 1870 - 12.2%, now under British Empire 1913 - 7.6% 1952 - 3.8%, now Independent and divided 1973 - 3.1% Learning Resource: Source:… How the East India Co became world’s powerful business Vittal S/ IIM BG 19 19 Indian Heritage & Culture India’s Economy : Share of World’s GDP (1 A.D. to 2008) We never experienced this affluent India with abundance Your grand parents, Parents, You were born here……we saw only shortage GDP= Total value of all the goods & services produced Source: Data compiled by A. Maddison, University of Groningen. Note: All estimates in 1990 Dollars, purchasing power parity. Vittal S/ IIM BG 20 20 10  19-12-2024 Indian Heritage & Culture India’s Economy : Share of World’s GDP – Changing India to reach: Source: https://www.ey.com/en_in/tax/economy- US$5, 10, 20 and 30 trillion by watch/indian-economy-by-twenty-fifty-in-pursuit- FY27, FY34, FY43 and FY48, respectively. to-achieve-the-thirty-trillion-dollar-mark Vittal S/ IIM BG 21 21 Indian Heritage & Culture So what? What does it mean to me?: 1. There is something RIGHT with us and that get’s us up. 2. We were not West dependent. We have lost our glory. 3. Now we look at the West with an awe!. Earlier, West use to look at us. 4. We were not underdeveloped. We were cheated. What is the risk? 1. We should not repeat our mistakes. Not knowing the past means reinventing the wheel. Hence, we should know our past and our strengths (7th Sense: clip: 15 min) 2. We should not miss the opportunity this growth brings as Managers & Citizens. Hence, we should NOT blindly follow the West, build on their sinking foundation. Vittal S/ IIM BG 22 22 11  19-12-2024 Indian Heritage & Culture Why this course? Vision To be a globally recognized management school for developing socially responsible and mindful business leaders. Mission Our mission is to develop mindful leaders of business and social relevance in the global economy and to enhance academic excellence in learning practices and research. What is this mindfulness? Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or not overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. Vittal S/ IIM BG 23 23 Indian Heritage & Culture How will the course personally benefit us Our course: Indian Heritage and Culture Help us Set us on not slip & High Perf. fall Western Approach: Indian Approach: 1. Gives us comforts 1. Gives us direction 2. Gives us focus 2. Gives us balance 3. Drives 3. Tells how much is enough Quick Class Reading: Clayton Christensen, How will you measure your life Vittal S/ IIM BG 24 24 12  19-12-2024 Indian Heritage & Culture Do we have our own Knowledge? Vittal S/ IIM BG 25 25 Indian Heritage & Culture Do we have our own Knowledge? Myth: All current knowledge, originated from the ‘West’ because West is recent compared to India, China, Egypt civilizations. Truth: Human being are inherently knowledge generating. Civilization with long tradition would have built good knowledge. Example: Indians were extraordinary in steel-making until 17th century. Indian wootz steel was used to manufacture the famous “Damascus blades” Vittal S/ IIM BG 26 26 13  19-12-2024 Indian Heritage & Culture Do we have our own Knowledge? – a sample Vittal S/ IIM BG 27 27 Indian Heritage & Culture Do we have our own Knowledge? Video: Rajeev Malhotra talk in the IIT Alumni Event, Washington DC till 26 minutes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WYZtS_LLog&t=1073s Vittal S/ IIM BG 28 28 14  19-12-2024 Indian Heritage & Culture History & Indian Knowledge Depletion Vittal S/ IIM BG 29 29 Indian Heritage & Culture History & Indian Knowledge Depletion Traditionally, how was knowledge preserved in India? 1. Transmitted ‘orally’ till a few centuries back; 2. Responsibility was with ‘Guru-Sisya’. Often, father-sons/daughters/family; 3. Each people-set formed a clan (e.g. pot making; weaving). Made a living out of it. 4. Some knowledge stored as palm-leaf scripts & temple inscriptions. British came as traders to India : 1608 East India Company gained dominance over Indian territories. Battle of Plassey. In 149 years, British rule began in India (jointly with our kings) : 1757 In 101 years, British started ruling India directly from : 1858 (Known as British Raj) Our forefathers fought for 89 years & got our Independence : 1947 Vittal S/ IIM BG 30 30 15  19-12-2024 Indian Heritage & Culture History & Indian Knowledge Depletion This slide is taken from the IKS deck of Prof. B Mahadevan, IIM Bangalore Vittal S/ IIM BG 31 31 Indian Heritage & Culture History & Indian Knowledge Depletion This slide is taken from the IKS deck of Prof. B Mahadevan, IIM Bangalore Vittal S/ IIM BG 32 32 16  19-12-2024 Indian Heritage & Culture History & Indian Knowledge Depletion Approach 1: Stop our education, still knowledgeable (Knowl is power!) Aligned: New System of Education Given jobs & Salaries British Raj (Society should acquire only Task 1 that knowledge provided through British System Not Aligned: No jobs & No salaries Approach 2: Carried Knowledge Expertise & Lived in community Plenty of Knowledge Expertise Kill the local language: 1. No shared belief buried in Local Language 2. Will become individualistic British Raj Language is career of culture 3. Loose inherited Task 2 (culture = shared belief) knowledge 4. Become ignorant & Because of shared belief, Believe everything that Vittal S/ IIM BG lived as community British say 33 33 Indian Heritage & Culture Ok, We have our Knowledge. Is that knowledge of any monetary use? Vittal S/ IIM BG 34 34 17  19-12-2024 Indian Knowledge System IKSContent : Who is– encashing Ancient Indian Knowledge HR Planning Social Identity - USA Industry: all of do this in this way Yoga is $11.6 mn (e.g. You also use haldi?) Ayurveda $10.21 bn Economic Value Culture of shared Patent / Copyright (e.g. Competitive knowledge, ideas, University of Mississippi Advantage behaviour (e.g. we use patent for Haldi) Haldi in our family in this) Dr. Mashelkar, CSIR had to fight. Received Wisdom Time to gives New Knowledge Wake-Up (e.g. Haldi medicinal benefit) Dr. Vittal Rangan 35 35 Indian Heritage & Culture Vittal S/ IIM BG 36 36 18  19-12-2024 Indian Heritage & Culture Do we need Ancient Indian Knowledge? Looks like!!: (i) emerging patenting regime and (ii) economic power arising from this knowledge, This merits serious attention. Are we missing the opportunity? Example: Turmeric patent granted to 2 researchers: Soman K Das and Harihar Kohli of University of Mississippi Medical Centre. Claimed 6 Patents: US Patent and Trademark Office Covered: Oral & Topical use of turmeric powder to heal ulcer and surgical wounds. Turmeric: Native Indian Plant. Used for centuries on wounds. CSIR contended the case with support of books of Ayurvedic Texts. US Office rejected Das-Kohli claims. Vittal S/ IIM BG 37 37 Indian Heritage & Culture Do we need Ancient Indian Knowledge? Current patent system permit biopiracy. Similar stories exist on: Amla, Neem, Anar, Dudhi, Karela, Chamura. All needs to be revoked. CSIR Director: 1995: highlighted the need to document Indian Patenting of indigenous knowledge by foreign corporations isKnowledge. a cultural & economic threat to India/many countries. Fighting was necessary because: 1. To uphold ‘national pride’ 2. Dispel fear that ‘India is incapable of protecting its traditional knowledge’ Vittal S/ IIM BG 38 38 19  19-12-2024 Indian Heritage & Culture Vittal S/ IIM BG 39 39 Indian Heritage & Culture Our Course Our course: Indian Heritage and Culture Part 1: Part 2: Knowing ourselves – Building ourselves why we do what we do Our alertness Particularly: Indian Culture; Particularly: India’s Future 1. Knowing Our Strengths; 1. Not allow history to repeat: 2. Build on the Ancient Indian 2. Not build on the sinking Wisdom given by our ancestors foundation of West. Have our own foundation. Vittal S/ IIM BG 40 40 20  19-12-2024 Thank You Question & Answers Vittal S [email protected] 41 21