Concept Of Daan In Shaastra & It’s Role In Course Correction Of Sociology, Economics, Psychology

“ज्ञानविज्ञानयोः स्वाराज्यम्। ज्ञानसंघट्टो विजयते।” Gist of The 121st Academic Karmotsava (अकादमिक कर्मोत्सव) (ज्ञान की संस्कार प्रक्रिया) (11 -07-2026) "YouTube link" -    • Concept Of Daan In Shaastra & It’s Role In...   “Under the Vedavyaas Restructuring Sanskrit Scheme”, A National Webinar cum Open House Dialogue was organized on the topic – “Concept Of Daan In Shaastra & Loka Tradition & It’s Possible Role In Course Correction Of Sociology, Economics, Psychology In 21st Century” “शास्त्र एवं लोक परंपरा में दान की अवधारणा तथा समाजशास्त्र, अर्थशास्त्र और मनोविज्ञान में 21वीं सदी में दिशा-संशोधन की संभावित भूमिका" which brought together 39 scholars from across Bhaarata. Dr. Vijay Kumar Kaul, serving as the resource person, emphasized that the Shaastric understanding of Daan is not merely charity but a structural principle of social circulation, rooted in the ethos of Yajna. He highlighted how texts from the Rigveda, Upanishads, and Bhagavad Gita frame Daan as a conscious act of ego-renunciation, restoring dignity to the receiver and transforming the giver’s sense of ownership. This perspective challenges modern notions of philanthropy and CSR, which often remain transactional or tax-driven, and instead proposes Daan as a civilizational corrective to the crises of accumulation, inequality, and alienation. The dialogue underscored the necessity of introducing this concept into Sociology, Economics, and Psychology. In Sociology, Daan offers a cultural mechanism for social harmony beyond institutional rules, recalling traditions like dharmashalas and community waterworks as living examples of redistribution. In Economics, it contests the dominance of accumulation and market-driven redistribution, proposing instead a flow-based model where wealth circulates for collective health. In Psychology, Daan is seen as a practice of self-transcendence, countering the consumerist pursuit of happiness with a deeper fulfillment rooted in renunciation and contribution. Scholars debated how these dimensions could reframe social sciences to address contemporary challenges of inequality, mental health, and community breakdown. The open house dialogue concluded with a consensus that reviving the Shaastric and Lokika traditions of Daan is not a nostalgic return to the past but a forward-looking academic experiment. By integrating Daan into curricula, policy frameworks, and research in Sociology, Economics, and Psychology, Indian knowledge traditions can provide a viable alternative to the fragmented paradigms of modernity. The participants agreed that this requires academic courage and institutional innovation, but the potential impact reshaping social sciences with indigenous epistemology makes it a necessary step for the 21st century. Regards Ashutosh Angiras 9464558667