The 21st century business environment demands more than just technical skill and financial acumen — it calls for resilient, ethical, and reflective leaders. As India reclaims its voice in the global knowledge economy, there is a renewed urgency to revisit our indigenous frameworks and rediscover how ancient wisdom can guide modern leadership.
Indian Knowledge Systems: Leadership Lessons from the Gita, Shivaji Maharaj, and Indigenous Traditions is a response to that call. This book aims to integrate India’s civilisational heritage with contemporary themes in leadership, governance, innovation, and ethics. Drawing primarily from the Bhagavad Gita, the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and community-rooted business practices, this work offers not only philosophical insights but also actionable frameworks for students, managers, and educators.
This book is structured to align with the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) course offered under the MBA programme at Savitribai Phule Pune University and other Indian institutions. Each chapter provides a balance of theory, real-world examples, and practical reflection points. The content is suitable for classroom learning, case discussions, leadership development workshops, and self-study. In order to maintain formal and academic tone throughout the book, contents of this book were refined using AI-based writing assistance tools, under the author’s full supervision.
Our goal is not to offer a nostalgic or idealised view of Indian traditions, but to demonstrate how timeless principles — like dharma, karma yoga, svadharma, servant leadership, and community trust — can serve as enduring tools for navigating complexity, building resilient teams, and making ethical decisions in a turbulent world.
Contents –
1. Leadership and Organisational Behaviour from Bhagavad Gita
1.1 Overview of the Bhagavad Gita
1.2 Historical and Cultural Context
1.3 Key Themes and Teachings
1.4 Role of Values, Ethics and Spirituality in Leadership and Organisational Culture
1.5 Motivation, Self-awareness and Self-management Principles
1.6 Developing Resilience and Emotional Intelligence
1.7 Inspiring and Motivating Teams
1.8 Team Dynamics and Conflict Resolution in Indian Traditions
1.9 Gita-based Decision-making Frameworks
1.10 Conflict Resolution Strategies
1.11 Servant Leadership Principles
1.12 Building High-performance Teams
1.13 Ethical Dilemmas and Decision-making
Caselet 1: Fraud at Punjab National Bank
Summary
References
Assessment Questions
2. Leadership and Governance Lessons from the Life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
2.1 Historical Context
2.2 The Indian Knowledge System Triad
2.3 Leadership in Adversity
2.4 Leadership Styles and Effectiveness in Different Contexts
2.5 Shivaji Maharaj’s Strategic Vision and Planning
2.6 Innovation in Warfare and Governance
2.7 Principles of Governance in Shivaji’s Kingdom
2.8 Administrative Structures and Decision-making Processes
2.9 Efficient and Ethical Governance
2.10 Shivaji Maharaj as an Entrepreneur and Nation-builder
2.11 Economic Policies and Trade Strategies
2.12 Cultural values in Shivaji’s leadership
2.13 Balancing Tradition with Modernity in Leadership
2.14 Relevance of Shivaji Maharaj’s Leadership in Contemporary Management and Leadership
Summary
References
Assessment Questions
3. Comparative Analysis of Indian Knowledge Systems and Western Management Theories
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Overview of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS)
3.3 Overview of Western Management Theories (WMT)
3.4 Philosophical Foundations and Cultural Contexts: IKS Vs WMT
3.5 Synergies and Integration of IKS and WMT
Case Study 1: Infosys
Case Study 2: Zomato
3.6 Life lessons by preachers — Gautam Buddha, Mahavir Jain, Sant Kabir
Summary
References
Assessment Questions
4. Indigenous Management Practices and Frameworks — Jugaad
4.1 Jugaad — Definition
4.2 Key Principles of Frugal Innovation
4.3 Historical Context and Cultural Significance in India
4.4 The Jugaad Mindset
4.5 Characteristics of a Jugaad Innovator
4.6 Comparison with Conventional Innovation Models
4.7 Importance of Resourcefulness and Creativity
4.8 Impact on Communities and Industries
4.9 Scaling Jugaad Innovations
4.10 Sustaining Jugaad Innovations
4.11 Frugal Innovation in Other Countries
4.12 Emerging Trends and Technologies in Frugal Innovation
4.13 Applications of Jugaad Innovation
Summary
References
Assessment Questions
5. Indian Knowledge Systems: Leadership Lessons from the Gita, Shivaji Maharaj, and Indigenous Traditions
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Historical Context of Family and Community Roles in Indian Business
5.3 Joint Family Systems
5.4 Community Networks and Business Ecosystems
5.5 Characteristics of Family-Owned Businesses in India
5.6 Leadership Styles in Indian Family Enterprises
5.7 Cooperative Movements in India
5.8 Social Enterprises and their Impact on Local Communities
5.9 Cultural Values and their Influence on Business Ethics
5.10 Role of Traditional Values in Contemporary Business Practices
5.11 Ethical Decision-making Influenced by Family and Community
5.12 Corporate Social Responsibility in the Indian Context
5.13 Community Engagement Strategies
5.14 Challenges Faced by Family and Community Businesses
5.15 Succession Planning, Leadership Transition, Conflict Resolution
5.16 Opportunities for Growth and Innovation
5.17 Adapting Traditional Practices to Modern Business Environments
5.18 Emerging Trends and their Impact on Family and Community Roles
5.19 Technology and Globalisation’s Influence on Traditional Practices
Summary
References
Assessment Questions
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION QUESTION PAPERS