257: Temples as Financial Hubs? The Shocking Truth About Their Role in History | Sriram Balasubramanian (Author)

In this episode of the Bharatvaarta podcast, we sit down with Dr. Sriram Balasubramanian, a renowned economist and author, to discuss his latest book, 'Dharmanomics.' Dr. Balasubramanian delves into the historical role of temples as economic instruments and their impact on village ecosystems in India. He further explores ancient principles of Dharma and how they can guide modern economics towards sustainable growth. The conversation includes insights into the temple-based economies, the role of culture and norms in economic decision-making, and the influence of ancient economic models on contemporary policy. This discussion is a must-watch for anyone interested in understanding the intersection of India's rich cultural heritage and its economic framework. 00:00 Introduction 01:12 Exploring Dharmanomics 02:10 The Concept of Dharmic Capitalism 03:48 Historical Economic Frameworks 09:28 The Importance of Scholarly Research 13:57 Temple Economy in Bharat 17:38 Temple-Based Economic Models in Southeast Asia 19:27 The Role of Temples as Financial Institutions 20:07 Redistributive Functions of Temples 21:52 Liberating Temple Economies from State Control 24:26 Sustainability in a Dharmic Economy 25:05 Sustainability and Dharmic Economics 25:36 Prime Minister's Vision and Policies 26:51 Dharmic Responsibilities and Cleanliness 28:51 Historical Economic Interactions 30:14 Role of Corporate Guilds 31:56 Chola Dynasty's Geopolitical Influence 37:18 Policy and Dharmic Economic Model 46:17 Future Projects and Dharmic Nudges 50:01 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Buy his book "Dharmanomics" here: https://amzn.in/d/4CAZTEB