Celebrate past, don't canonise it

The intellectual landscape in India today is marked by a dynamic debate over the place of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) in our contemporary curriculum.

- SHASHI THAROOR

This is not merely an academic skirmish; it is a profound discussion about how a civilisation that gave the world the concept of zero should engage with the universal march of modern science. How can we justly celebrate our intellectual heritage while defending the universalism and sanctity of scientific temper? Our deep-seated pride in our historical contributions is justified. Why shouldn't we credit the land and the thinkers who developed path-breaking concepts, whether it is the calculations of the Kerala School of Mathematics or the meticulously documented surgical procedures of the world's first rhinoplasty, performed by Sushruta? India's intellectual traditions constitute one of the world's oldest continuous streams of inquiry. From the metaphysical reflections of the Upanishads to the logical precision of the Nyaya school; from the holistic medical science of ayurveda to the astronomical and mathematical brilliance of Aryabhata and Bhaskara; from Bharata's Natya Shastra to Panini's extraordinarily sophisticated grammatical system—our civilisation has regarded knowledge as sacred and systematic. Acknowledging this intellectual provenance is an act of historical honesty and cultural preservation. It enriches the global narrative of human progress, ensuring that Indian contributions are not footnotes, but foundation stones.