The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi, has sanctioned a major research project with a grant of ₹16 lakh to a faculty member of the Central University of Karnataka for a study on indigenous management principles rooted in Vachana literature.

The project has been awarded to Associate Professor of Management at Central University Ganapati B. Sinnoor who will work in collaboration with Assistant Professor at IIM Nagpur Ranjitha G.P.

The research proposal, titled “Reigniting Management Thought through Indian Knowledge System: A Study of Vachana Literature and Indian Organizations”, received formal approval from ICSSR on March 20 this year.

The study aims to explore management concepts embedded in 12th century Vachana literature and examine their relevance in contemporary organisational contexts.

Researchers will identify principles related to leadership, motivation, human resource development, communication, organisational structure, ethics and inclusiveness within the teachings of Vachanakaras associated with the Anubhava Mantapa.

Speaking about the project, Prof. Sinnoor said that Indian knowledge systems offer a rich repository of management thought but remain underutilised in modern practice.

“There is a tendency to rely heavily on Western models, even when they may not fully suit local contexts. This study seeks to revisit indigenous wisdom and assess its applicability in today’s organisational environment,” he said.

The research will involve a comparative analysis of Vachana-based management concepts and Western management theories. It will also study organisations that follow these principles and evaluate their impact on employee behaviour, workplace culture and institutional outcomes.

As part of the methodology, select organisations in Karnataka will be studied and experimental training based on Vachana principles will be conducted to assess changes in employee behaviour and organisational effectiveness. Preliminary pilot studies have indicated positive outcomes, the researchers said.

The project is expected to be completed within two years and will result in academic publications and the development of a Vachana-based training model that can be adopted by organisations. The study also aims to contribute to the development of an Indian management curriculum rooted in indigenous knowledge systems.

Prof. Sinnoor acknowledged the support given by Central University Vice-Chancellor Battu Satyanarayana and Registrar R.R. Biradar along with others associated with Vachana research initiatives.