Independent Director, Choice International & Author and Nationalist Thinker

I bow down to all of you, both on the stage and in front of the stage. We have all heard about democracy, the Lok Sabha, the public consensus, and the meaning of the people. So, what is Lok Sabha? We understand the meaning of democracy and economics, but do we really understand the essence of Lok and the economics associated with it?

India: The Golden Bird and Its Economic Resilience

Our country has been called the land of golden birds for two reasons: one, we had the ability to generate wealth repeatedly and two, like a bird, whenever someone wanted, they caught and squeezed it for its wealth and left. If this had not been the case, we would have been called the “Golden Eagle.” The question is, why were we so repeatedly looted? We have heard of Takshashila and Nalanda, which were  among the top 126 universities that were destroyed time and again. But despite being looted repeatedly, why could we still generate wealth? The answer lies in the fact that we understood wealth and economics deeply

Lok Vidya and Lok Arth: The Foundation of Indian Economics

Our country has always had “Lok Vidya” (people’s knowledge) and “Lok Arth” (people’s economics). Wherever the British ruled, the countries were financially devastated, except for India. And the  reason was that we had knowledge of both Vidya(education) and Arth (economics). Chanakya, the great scholar, also said that everything that has value is economics. He even mentioned the service industry, which became prevalent only much later but was spoken of in ancient times by him.

Temples: The Economic and Cultural Hubs

Let me give you an example. Temples represent religion, they are carriers of religion and they establish it. If we say that the foundation of happiness lies in temples, it would not be an exaggeration. Our economy has always been linked to temples. To explain this further, I will compare a city known for modern industries-Detroit, USA. It is the birthplace of the automobile industry and the home of the first-ever modern management education system. But over time, the city began to fade as cars became cheaper in other countries. The industries that flourished earlier started dying as new products emerged. In contrast, India’s ancient cities such as Pushkar, Ujjain, Pataliputra and Varanasi are still living cities. These cities have withstood time not because of industries, but due to their deep-rooted culture, tradition and temple-based economy.

Architectural Knowledge and Cultural  Transmission

For instance, temples and their knowledge have given us vast architectural knowledge, evident from the fact that we built massive temples such as the Brihadeeswarar Temple without modern materials like cement or steel. How could this be possible? This knowledge was passed down from generation to generation, which is part of our culture.

Collective Knowledge and Traditional Practices

In India, we never had copyrights on knowledge. For example, every region has its distinct types of sarees, like Banarasi, Kanjivaram, Sambalpuri, etc., and they are all tied to the specific temple or religious rituals of the region. We understood that knowledge was not for individual ownership but for collective good. Our traditional knowledge kept these practices alive.

Temples and Agricultural Preservation

Our temple-based economy extends beyond architecture; it also includes our agriculture, as the temples have preserved certain crop varieties. For instance, in Puri, the Jagannath temple offers specific types of rice as offerings, which has helped preserve these varieties that would otherwise have gone extinct. Similarly, many traditional fruits and vegetables in India have survived because they were part of temple offerings. Our food system, including dals and grains, was once recognised and preserved through these sacred practices.

The Impact of Colonialism on Traditional Food

All these are related to our traditional economy, which has been based on local knowledge and religious practices. However, over time, the introduction of foreign ideas and systems, like the British colonisation and its impact on our food systems, led to many changes. For example, when the British arrived, they dismissed many of our traditional foods, thinking them to be for animals, which altered our entire food ecosystem and practices.

Localised Economies and Social Systems

Today, even in our weddings, the economic benefits ripple through the community. Everyone-from the hairdresser to the dressmaker-benefits from the local economy revolving around traditions and rituals. These customs are localised forms of the economy that contribute to a thriving social system.

Government Intervention and Cultural Disconnection

When the government intervenes in these locally driven economies, it often leads to a shift away from traditions. For instance, government policies on industry control often separate the economy from its cultural roots, leading to disconnection. The temple economy, however, has always kept traditions intact and understanding of this will help us preserve both the economy and culture.

Commercialisation of Festivals and Religious Tourism

When we started commercialising festivals such as Diwali, it became part of the larger economic cycle, influencing GDP calculations. The rise of religious tourism further shows how the temple economy can be commodified. However, if we forget the essence of these local economies, we risk losing not just the culture but also the sustainable and time tested practices that have kept our civilisation alive for thousands of years.

Conclusion: Preserving Lok Arth for Future Generations

We must understand and preserve the concept of Lok Arth-people’s economics-if we are to truly maintain our democracy and the values that have kept our nation thriving. As I work with students, I realise that they understand these concepts far better when taught in the context of our own traditions. The key is to pass this knowledge to the next generation in the right way so that they would truly appreciate and carry forward our cultural legacy.

“India’s development is driven by the ingenuity of its people and its rich cultural heritage.”
– Dr. Sandeep Singh
Author and Nationalist Thinker