World Hindu Economic Forum
World Hindu Economic Forum
Introduction
The World Hindu Economic Forum (WHEF) brings together executives, entrepreneurs, and industrialists alongside economists and business strategists to share real world experiences and knowledge about surplus wealth creation for widespread prosperity. The Hindu contribution to the world economy until the 18th century was between 25 to 35% of the global GDP. This changed under colonial rule. This conference also seeks to explore avenues for generating inclusive prosperity ethically, and inspiring Hindus to reemerge as agents for global prosperity and happiness.
Today, while some economies are passing through a turbulent phase, many emerging economies are providing us great opportunities. The issue is how to leverage the global situation for collective growth. Hindus should cooperate and collaborate globally so that market access is facilitated amongst them. We need to create market access across geographic zones and countries, spreading from Auckland to Alaska and Oslo to Johannesburg, cutting across the entire globe. Similar cooperation can be envisaged in the area of capital, enabling availability of appropriately priced capital. Also, technologically savvy Hindus should be matched with those who can convert technical innovation into business with ideas, funds and market access.
VISION
Making Society Prosperous
MISSION
Creating and Sharing surplus Wealth
ACTION
Promoting Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
PHILOSOPHY
Dharmasya Moolam Arthah (Economy is the Strength) ~ Acharya Chanakya
Foundation
We Hindus know how to create wealth, and also freely share this knowledge. Our ancestors have expressed their wisdom in the Vedas “Sat Hasta Samahara, Sahastra Hasta Sankira”. It literally means “Create wealth with 100 hands and share it with 1000 hands”. Hindus contributed 35-49% of the world economy from the 1st to 15th century CE.
Hindu civilization was wealthy and prosperous. The magnificent monuments of past and present such as Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro, Lothal, Nalanda & Takshila University, Ayutthaya in Thailand, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Prambanan & Borobudur in Indonesia, Wat Phu in Laos, My-son in Vietnam, Rameshwaram, Brihadeshwara and Meenakshi temples in Bharat etc, are ample evidence of the wealthy times. This prosperity was lost during the period of Islamic invasion, colonial rule and post Industrial Revolution.
Way Forward
The 21 st century economy is driven by knowledge and youth. With larger part of the Hindu population being youth, there is an inherent potential waiting to be unlocked. WHEF is that platform which will utilize this available potential to trigger the creation of surplus wealth.
The Economic boom of previous two decades followed by a recession of major economies has placed the entire world into turmoil. The responses to these challenges are complex and needs to be addressed outside the current institutional framework and mindsets. The world economic leadership is only researching and acting according to traditional wisdom, i.e. cost-cutting and protectionism. The endeavors designed for relative stability do not work in adverse times. It requires a new and creative response, which can propel creation of surplus wealth to rescue the world economy from its current crisis. WHEF’s present approach is based on the foundational wisdom in the Bhagwad Gita: “Think in future, for the future”.
The basic problems of the world today are hunger, poverty and illiteracy. These problems cannot be solved just by donations and charity. A growing population has growing needs, and these can be overcome only by creating surplus wealth and sharing this wealth to empower the masses, i.e. those at the bottom of the pyramid. WHEF is that step towards creating “That, which sustains” and eradicating hunger, poverty and illiteracy in the world.
The WHEF journey began in 2012 at Hong Kong, followed by successful annual forums in Bangkok 2013, New Delhi 2014, London 2015, and several regional forums along the way.
