Samajik Arth Vyavastha The Socio-Economy of Bharat
Bharat didn’t have a currency based economy till mid-1800s. Yet the History of World Economics says that Bharat was at the top of the economic chart at no.1 position till mid-1700s. We had a very unique, robust, advanced, Socio-Economic structure.
The economy of Bharat did not have Currency till late 1800. Yet the History of World Economics says that Bharat was at the top of the economic chart at no. 1 position till almost late 1700s. Most people feel we had a “Barter” Economy or “Gift” Economy. Barter system is a very primitive system and Gift economy is a very weak system. In Barter people exchanged services and goods for other services and goods in return. A gift economy is a mode of exchange where valuables are not traded or sold, but rather given without an explicit agreement for immediate or future rewards. What we had was called in local terms as Aadan-Pradan ki Arthvyavasta which roughly translated means Proffer and Receive Socio-Economy. When clubbed with 8 forms of wealth this 10hrs workshop takes a participant into a journey into the ancient economy.
Ashtalakshmi the eight folds system of wealth
Till 1835 when the British introduced the common coinage across Bharat, there was no currency based economy in Bharat. The eternal principles of wealth as practiced in Bharath were called as ‘Ashta Lakshmi’ the eight folds wealth. In this context we shall understand who was considered to be Samrridh/Dhanvaan wealthy.
Also I shall deal with the pros and cons of the system in comparison with the modern system which is based on currency, gold reserve or Petro reserve. Bharat did not have Currency system of Economy till the late 1800s. This was the time The British introduced Rupee.
In this workshop I discuss the importance of the “Eight folds wealth system vs the Currency system.” Aadilakshmi, Dhanalakshmi, Dhanyalakshmi, Gajalakshmi, Santanalakshmi, Dhairyalakshmi, Vijayalakshmi and Vidhyalaksmi form the Ashtalakshmi eight Lakshmis. Then we also have the minor forms of Lakshmi Aishwaryalakshmi, Saubhagyalakshmi, Rajalakshmi and Varalakshmi what wealth forms do these represent? Given here is the Ashtalakshmi Mandala in this workshop I shall be explaining more about this unique Mandala. In this one day workshop we will see what this was all about. This workshop takes about 5-6 hours.
Samskaras – The form of culturing the self
In Bharat it was the Samskaras that made a human being. In most of the Indian languages a very cultured person is referred to as “Samskari”. The Samskaras are not initiations into any Religious beliefs or Dogmas. They have Socio-Economic significances also.
In Bharat it was the Samskaras that made a human being. In most of the Indian languages a very cultured person is referred to as “Samskari”. The Samskaras are not initiations into any Religious beliefs or Dogmas. They have Socio-Economic significances also. What are the procedures followed? What time of the child’s/adult’s life should specific Samskaras happen? How are the Samskaras executed? Where are they conducted? Contrary to the usual usage of Shodasha (16) Samskaras there are actually 49 Samskaras. During a lifetime a person had to undergo 23 Samskaras and conduct 21 Yagjnas and 5 daily Mahayagjnas totalling to about 49 Samskaras for men and 52 Samskaras for women. What are these 23 Samskaras?
These 23 Samskaras can be broadly classified into 5 groups according to the age at which these Samskaras have to be conducted. There were 3 major types of Yagjnas that a householder had to conduct and under each category there were 7; so the total number of Yagjnas to be conducted was 21. What is the difference between Samskaras and Festivals? Who had the right to conduct the Samskaras? Do the Samskaras vary from area to area in India? These and many other questions are answered in the program “Samskaras – The form of culturing the self.”
This program takes 8-10 hours. This can be done whole day or 3 hours a day for 3 days or over the weekend on Sat & Sun.
Livelihood Upageevika which is actually Sub-Livelihood
There was no concept called “Livelihood” in Bharat but there was something called Upajeevika which when translated means Sub-Livelihood. People who lived a peaceful and followed their path of Dharma their requirements were taken care of. Like the usage “Yahan kuch karrna nahin padtha hai. Yahan sab ho jaatha hai” meaning “We don’t have to do anything here; things just happen”.
In Bharat there was no concept called “Livelihood” but there was something called Upajeevika which when translated means Sub-Livelihood. People lived a peaceful life following their path of Dharma and their requirements were taken care of. Just like the usage “Yahan kuch karrna nahin padtha hai. Yahan sab ho jaatha hai” meaning “We don’t have to do anything here; things just happen”.
But how was it happening taking place. There was a system of Aadan – Pradaan ki Artha Vyavastha meaning “Profer and Receive Socio-Economy System” in place. The intrecasices of this system are very interesting. There were at least 9 types of Profer and Receive processes in practice in Bharat. The names of these processes that will be dealt in this workshop will be in Hindi. There may be local language equivalents to them. This workshop throws light on this aspect in 2.5 – 3 hrs.
Bharathiya Vanijya Vyapar aur Udhyam – Commerce, Trade Business of Bharat
The world over traders and businessmen were always taken ‘Taken with a pinch of salt’ or always doubted. People always told they will anyways tilt the scale in their favour. But world over Bharathiya Vyapari (Traders) and Vanik (Businessmen) were known for their honesty and ethical ways.
Trade, Commerce and Business had been there mainstream activity in India. The world over traders and businessmen were always taken ‘Taken with a pinch of salt’ or always doubted. People always told they will anyways “tilt the scale in their favour”. But world over Bharathiya Vyapari (Traders) and Vanik (Businessmen) were known for their honesty and ethical ways. They were like the representatives of this civilisation. People all over felt ‘If the traders and businessmen of this country are so honest what a civilisation it must be!!’ It was these people who took to the world sugar in the form of “Candy Sugar” and “Ghee” both of which are considered as super-foods. Along with this the Vaniks took Dharma and Bharathiya Aadhyatma to the world. In this workshop I touch upon the various aspects of Vanijya and Vyapar of Bharat.
Toys
In Bharat the toys for children were rarely bought by the parents. At different times of the growth of the child the toys were brought by different artisans to the house of the child and the artisans were honoured and rewarded for the same by the parents.
There are toymakers in different parts of the country. They make toys using different materials. Mostly these materials were usually local. Most of the toys were made of “Palakhurisha” Wrightia Tinctoria which would be then coated with Lac and organic dyes. What were the toys that were made? Did the toys have any connection with age? What was the kind of toys needed for children? Which are toy-making clusters of artisans which have survived? What are the unique qualities of these toys? This workshop deals with these questions. In Bharat the toys for children were rarely bought by the parents.
At different times of the growth of the child the toys were brought by different artisans to the house of the child and the artisans were honoured and rewarded for the same by the parents. It was a unique system of ‘CSR’ if I would have to explain it in the modern perspective. These toys were made taking into consideration the motor skills and the mental abilities of the child at that age and to help the child grow. Toys were one of the main links by which a child was introduced to the Aadan – Pradan ki Arth Vyavastha. In this 3 hour workshop we delve into this wonderful world of Toys.
Fabrics and Textiles of Bharat
Bharathiya Bunkar (Weaver) would weave textile from Karpas Cotton, Kausheya Silk, Kaushami Flax, Shana Jute, Kausheya–Karpas Silk-Cotton, Shanapattati Hemp, Uurna Wool, Kadalika Tantu Banana Fabric, many more. . Each of these fabrics was woves by different communities.
Bharathiya Bunkar (Weaver) would weave textile from Karpas Cotton, Kausheya Silk, Kaushami Flax, Shana Jute, Kausheya–Karpas Silk-Cotton, Shanapattati Hemp, Uurna Wool, Kadalika Tantu Banana Fabric, many more. Each of these fibers had different ways of cultivation, harvest, processing, converting into yarn and weaving techniques. Each of these fabrics were woves by different communities. How were they harvested? How were they woven? Were there different communities for these different fabrics? The textiles, fabrics and apparels of Bharat were famous across the world.
There was a time when some of the European countries had banned Bharathiya textiles, fabrics and apparels. There is a notion in peoples mind when we talk about textiles of Bharat only few things come to mind for example Silk, Cotton and Muslin. Only these three are talked about when Bharathiya textiles are discussed. But before the advent of petro-fibres Bharat has ventured and prepared fabrics and textile from a large number of natural fibres. Here I shall discuss various fabrics and the textiles produced from them. This 3 hours workshop deals with various fabrics and textiles and the weavers associated with them.
Introductions to various Artha Shastras
Artha Shastra consists of Neethi-Statecraft (not Political Science), Arthvyavastha-Socio-Economic policy, Udhayama-Business, Vanijya-Commerce, Vyapara-Trade, Kararopana Neethi-Taxation Policy, Durga Shilpa-Architecture of Forts and Sainya Rachana Vidhya-Military Strategy economics doesn’t contain all of these.
Other than Chanakya’s Artha Shastra there are many more Artha Shastras. Parallel to these many Smrithis carry chapters on Artha Vyavastha. In this program I will be dealing with Chanakya’s Artha Shastra and also some of the Smrithis which carry chapters on Artha Vyavastha. This word Artha is usually translated as Economics.
Economics is the study or the principles of the way Currency (money), business, trade and industry are organized. Bharat did not have “Currency” (Money) for most part of the history. So what is Artha Shastra? Artha Shastra consists of Neethi-Statecraft (not Political Science), Arthvyavastha-Socio-Economic policy, Udhayama-Business, Vanijya-Commerce, Vyapara-Trade, Kararopana Neethi-Taxation Policy, Durga Shilpa-Architecture of Forts and Sainya Rachana Vidhya-Military Strategy. The English economy doesn’t consider “Socio” aspect of economy; whereas the Samskrith Artha as well as Artha Shastra both deal with Socio-Economy and many more subjects.
