RAMA’S MODEL OF GOVERNANCE: NORMATIVE FOUNDATIONS AND LESSONS FOR MODERN ADMINISTRATION

Abstract

Worldwide, the real issue with governance today is that there is an increasing lack of institutions. A range of challenges can be resolved through technical reforms, however real trust can only be rebuilt through normative foundations of governance. The perspectives develop the argument that the governance of Lord Rama is a relevant model of bureaucracy today. The aim of the Study seeks to review Rama’s effective or ineffective leadership and governance according to the ethical and institutional grounding of Dharma and Raja Dharma from the Valmiki Ramayana, to explore Rama’s leadership, justice administration, accountability, and welfare orientation within the idealized political system established under his reign. The study follows an interpretive (qualitative, interpretive normative) research design which is used to analyze Ram’s governance model (philosophical and administrative. The analysis relies on established theories of governance to provide a framework for comparison between ancient norms and modern administrative theories.  Fundamentally based on the idea of dharma, which serves both structurally and morally as a foundation for good governance, this research examines dharma as a normative constitutional principle that establishes guidelines for ethical statecraft. The Conceptual Framework has been explained through different contemporary theories of administration. The vision of Lord Rama as a leader depicts an administration that is imbued with ethical values and is based on dharma as a source of authority. All actions taken are based on righteousness, benevolence and morality.