Resilient Communities: A Way Forward

In this chapter, we discuss the need and importance of self-reliant, equitable, and resilient communities in management research and examine the role of social intermediaries, inspired by the Gandhian philosophy, as a catalyst in this process. We reassert the severity of the grand challenges of poverty, inequality, and climate changes to the human and nonhuman world and apply the Sarvodaya framework to identify and underscore the dynamic processes of building resilient communities. The chapters contributed to this volume provide more insights into these processes and offer a wealth of knowledge and themes to conceptualize, enact, and extend the Sarvodaya framework. Building on the core themes introduced in the book, we discuss the potential of integrating these Gandhian concepts into management research to develop new theories, approaches, and framework. Notably, we demonstrate how the core Gandhian principles, (i.e., Satya (truth), Aparigraha (nonpossession), Ahimsa (nonviolence), and Swaraj (self-rule/constrain)) could extend management theories and practices on various topics, including social intermediation, ethical leadership, responsible innovation and consumption, sustainability, and community resilience. We hope this chapter ignites excitement and meaningful conversations among academics and practitioners on social, environmental, and economic issues.