Kartavya: Understanding Selfless Acts

Kartavya is an important Indian cultural concept which governs social relationships in India. Kartavya expresses itself as a selfless act in the service of attainment of larger societal good. This article, at first, attempts to locate the concept of kartavya in the Indian religio-philosophical text and follows it up by examining how it is understood by lay people through three life narratives. Finally, an attempt is made to understand its nuanced meaning in relationship with the concepts of anÄsakti and duty.