As I put the finishing touches on my sixth book, I pause to reflect on the nature and meaning of research and scholarship in a world overwhelmed by pragmatism. Writing and reading are themselves meditative acts, which have long nourished my soul.
Modernity has diminished its importance and value, and researchers inspired by public interest have an increasingly narrow audience. If instead I chose to write about ‘Get-Rich-Quick’ finance, there will be lots takers, but the suffering caused by scientific greed and materialism should not be made invisible. Dharma and its traditions have a significant influence on my soul and my pen. Unfortunately, I cannot sell my conscience to the market and am empowered to write about a caring and compassionate ethic.
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The subject of my latest book is Finance, the science which is so powerful and complex yet so damaging to society too, with rising inequality leaving social and environmental devastation in its wake. I am a Professor in the field and very upset by this scientific hubris and abuse of power. This motivates me to research and write, and when I speak or teach, I share the findings of this ethical enquiry. The method of research is invisible to the public as we have no laboratories or white coats to demonstrate how we improve lives or save people from death. It involves lots of reading, critical debate, reflection and writing and re-writing. So much of the effects of finance are subtle and shrouded in complexity making it very difficult for ordinary people to challenge the systems or equations. Research is prolonged and requires focus and perseverance, and there is very little funding available for it too.
The book title is ‘Organic Finance – Building a new Sustainable Model from the Ground Up’ and will be published by Routledge in 2025, who specialise in academic research books. It has been the hardest book I have written so far but also aims to be creative and empowering for people who come from indigenous cultures and traditions. It places their wisdom on the nature and limits of money central and shows how all this can help us want to protect nature and society once we understand the beauty and power of interdependence.
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Culture and belief have been removed from modern day teaching in Accounting, Finance and Economics. Ethics are taught in a secular philosophical manner, and rarely connected to personal beliefs and character. As a result, they become subjects to pass exams, and then as quickly forget, rather than tools for life and purpose which can provide meaning and resilience. For those students who already have culture and belief, the modern educational and professional factory diminishes their wisdom through ignorance and prejudice.
I am hoping that when it comes out, the book will be read and will inspire more PhDs and research papers on the links between culture, faith and finance. I hope that it will empower young people keen to protect animals, forests and communities to actively write about their Dharmic wisdom and speak openly about its relevance to modern day challenges. Future dissertations and articles may be inspired by the findings of my research. This will mean that their degrees will not only give them a paper qualification but also a renewed sense of meaning and purpose, enabling them to become truly sustainable finance leaders and role models.
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Professor Atul K. Shah [@atulkshah] teaches and writes about Indian wisdom on business, culture and community at various UK universities and is a renowned international author, speaker and broadcaster.