REVIVING INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE

Ramadevi University recently conducted a faculty development programme to create awareness about the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

- DV Ramana

More than 200 participants from the fields of Commerce, Arts, and Science participated in the conversation on how traditional knowledge can improve contemporary education. Several academicians and practitioners shared their views on wide range of topics such as the preservation of Indian scripts, ethical teachings from ancient texts, and the relevance of Ayurveda in modern health and wellness. I got the opportunity to contribute to this meaningful dialogue by sharing insights on how IKS can be practically integrated into higher education through innovative models like Local Exchange Trading Systems (LETS).

IKS reflects the knowledge and skills of local communities evolved over the years and passed on from one generation to the next. In India, one can see use of such practice in diverse domains such as agriculture, architecture, medicine, water conservation, craft traditions, and decentralised governance. IKS offers viable strategies even for the present-day challenges across sectors. By using the indigenous knowledge, we may find better solutions to the current problems and also get an opportunity to revive cultural heritage. That explains the NEP’s stress on the use of IKS in higher education.

The NEP 2020 strongly recommends that education be made more holistic, flexible, and multidisciplinary. The NEP recognises IKS as a legitimate and valuable domain of knowledge. It defines IKS as knowledge developed through communities’ sustained interactions with their environments. NEP recommends systematic integration of IKS across educational levels and also advocates for initia-