Comparing Modern Management Education to Ancient Indian Wisdom for Attaining SDGs

Abstract

The author assets that the modern management education is neither suitable for India nor it contributes towards SDGs. The author reviews and compares modern management education with ancient Indian wisdom and suggests that the ancient Indian wisdom should be promoted in order to attain the sustainable development goals. In the pursuit of attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this article critically evaluates the efficacy of modern management education, asserting its inadequacy for India and its failure to contribute to SDGs. The author advocates a shift towards promoting ancient Indian wisdom as a more suitable alternative. Drawing comparisons between modern management education and ancient Indian philosophies such as Sankhya, Jain, and Buddha, the article highlights the divergence between the two systems and the resulting negative impacts on society. The article delves into the impact of modern management education on SDGs, emphasizing its role in contributing to man-made problems such as climate change, pollution, and threats to biodiversity. It argues that the current education system’s focus on material prosperity and wealth maximization is leading humanity towards over-exploitation of resources and an unsustainable developmental approach. Despite some initiatives to introduce sustainable development goals in the curriculum, the author contends that a complete overhaul of management education is necessary. The author explores the discontent among Indian entrepreneurs and executives who find a stark contrast between the ethos of modern education and the age-old Indian philosophies centered around self-realization, self-regulation, and ethical practices. Efforts to integrate Indian philosophy into management education have been insufficient, with the author citing personal experiments that were met with failure.