The Hindu dharma spells out that you are only a trustee of the wealth you possess indicating that apart from keeping some wealth for one's welfare, one should put back the rest for the welfare of the people at large around one and for the society. Mahathma Gandhi and Rajaji great leaders of India during Freedom struggle, supported this theory vociferously.
To think back, eventhough, this notion appears to be a philanthraphic act of a high order, which it is, it is also on the basis of Law of Nature, where Might is Right. Initially, when civilization was dawning on earth, whoever was mighty robbed the wealth from others and kept it to himself/herself. Over a period, while one section continued to practise this law of 'might is right' and became kings, rulers and chieftons, the rest obtained truce with them, agreed to pay some tax to these people periodically in order to allow them to keep their wealth to themselves and prosper and also to get some security for themselves and their wealth. Thus were borne the States and countries. Over a time democracy set in many countries, where people bacame the rulers. Hereagain, we see that the Democracy dawned in many countries, mainly because, the kings kept most of the wealth to themselves and did not spend any money for the Public welfare. Even after democracy has started functioning, the wealthy ones keep amassing more and more wealth and have started keeping the wealth to themselves, proclaiming that it is the outcome of their hard labour. The divide between the rich and the poor is getting wider and wider.
In King's case, when the policemen were let free by the court of justice, violence was let loose in some towns and cities in USA, during which many malls and super markets were vandalized and looted. The owners of these malls and super markets complained that whatever they had saved over the years putting hard work and serving the local people were all gone. But, the version of the local people was different. They said that the people were supporting these stores all over these years, but the owners did nothing for the development of the locality, and instead went on amassing wealth.
Such will be the cases in future, if the companies concentrate only on profit ignoring the welfare of the people around them. This may result in the extinction of a set of people on either side, and the end result will not be palatable to us.
Nowatimes, the Corporates are becoming more and more socially responsible, atleast some. And you will be amazed to find that their equity value increases because of this. The image and the brand recall are far better for such companies and there are indirect, unforeseeable and unpredictable benefits that accrue to such companies. The Corporates concentrate on bringing healthcare and education to the local people, make the whole place greener, make the people computer savvy, increase the job oppurtunities and serve in so many other ways!
Even the staff of such companies are benevolent. They offer their services as volunteers to NGOs, and are also regular contributors to blood bank and such.
In all, it is a totally welcome outcome!
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