Indian Knowledge System: An Overview

By Md Farid

New Delhi: Knowledge is a set of facts, information and skills accumulated through day-to-day life or from education. One can acquire knowledge through formal and informal processes. In contemporary time, the definition of knowledge has expanded and its relevance can be traced to the ancient time. This article encapsulates the concept of Indian Knowledge System from the ancient period to the contemporary time. It also touches on the different types of Indian Knowledge System, their relevance and future scope from the education point of view.

Prof Raghuvendra Tanwar (Chairman, ICHR) opines that Indian Knowledge Systems can be viewed as a process of decolonization which is just economic and political rather than socio-cultural. Indian systems have been existing from the time of immemorial, but were predominant by the western thoughts, therefore there is need to change the existing mindset. The Indian Knowledge System is not just based on scientific principles but also linked with ethics.

Now there is a question, how can Indian Knowledge Systems be rooted in school education for an effective integration of Indian systems and contemporary knowledge systems? The foundation of rootedness initially begins at home and then gets further touches at schools, which requires experiences to engage all the senses of the child, especially at the foundational stage and preparatory stage. The children can be engaged in other activities like reading Indian stories, learning music, exploring different characters, learning about food, etc.

Next stage involves exploration, that is followed by reflection and discovery that need to be stimulated at every stage through Indian history, rich culture, local stories and characters, etc. Teachers play a vital role to bring a change in children’s life, to inculcate good ethical values and make them knowledgeable.

For this teacher has to be provided Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) based content material, adequate training and orientation also. Apart from this, holistic development can be done by integrating Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) in their curriculum. This will also give them the sense of culture; they can connect this in their real-life experiences and can make a strong sense of connection towards their heritage.

Role of Mughal Period in Spreading the Indian Knowledge System:

Mughal rulers were new to Indian land. They brought a new culture with them, that was the fusion of Indo-Persian culture. During the Mughal period certain changes happened in educational practice. Maktabs (schools) were opened, to provide the elementary education to everyone and were open to all. During the time of Akbar, the education system transformed and gained new momentum.

Akbar introduced some significant reforms in the field of education. He educated himself through involving discussions with religious leaders and other intellectual people of different fields. He emphasized that the child understands everything by himself and the teacher has to play the role of facilitator, when this is required.

During his time, he introduced the study of practical subjects such as agriculture, accountancy and public administration, as well as the theoretical subjects such as arithmetic, geometry, and logic into the general course of study.

Akbar’s greatest contribution was to change the bias of education from theological to secular interest and to extend these facilities without any discrimination to members of communities. Impact of the new education policy of Akbar was that a large number of Hindu students began to study in maktabs and madrasas, and soon some of them were appointed to teaching posts even in schools of higher learning (madrasas).

Role of Buddhism & Vedic Philosophy in spreading the Indian Knowledge System:

Buddhism is the integral part of the Indian Knowledge System, which covers a wide range of subjects like philosophical, spiritual, and practical teachings that have developed within the span of over thousands of years in the Indian subcontinent.

Buddhism also contributed to the development of Indian ethical systems, emphasizing the importance of compassion, nonviolence, and detachment to materialistic things. The teachings of Buddha were focused around the Four Noble Truths, which emphasized the nature of sufferings, it causes and the path to liberation from suffering through the Eightfold Path. In the contemporary time, Buddhism remains an important part of the Indian Knowledge System, with significant impact on Indian Culture, Philosophy and spirituality. The teachings of the Buddha continue to inspire millions of people around the world, and the legacy of Buddhism in India remains an integral part of the country’s rich intellectual and spiritual heritage.

Vedic ethics promotes the idea of duty and obligation towards family, society and the universe. Vedic philosophy emphasized the importance of mindfulness and meditation as the tools for self-improvement and enlightenment.

The New Education Policy describes the concept of Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability. NEP aims to make both school and college education more holistic, multidisciplinary and flexible, which aligns with the 2020 goal for sustainable development.

Another type of knowledge, the Traditional Knowledge System, is about skills, practices that are developed, sustained and the knowledge that is passed from generation to generation inside a community and this also forms the part of cultural identity.

NEP also claims that educational practices combined with indigenous traditional knowledge and languages play a vital role in maintaining and in preserving indigenous cultural identities. This also helps in reducing literacy, school’s dropouts, in enhancing the learning, in protecting the environment and in promoting the concept of wellbeing also. Indian knowledge Systems will be introduced in the schools with scientific approach and in higher curricula. The Indian Knowledge System will also cover tribal knowledge, as well as the indigenous knowledge also.

The NEP 2020 also emphasized the rich heritage of ancient and eternal knowledge systems. The tradition of Indian Knowledge systems has significantly impacted our education, administration, law, justice, health, manufacturing and commerce areas. This has impacted India’s classical and other indigenous languages, which have been passed through textual, oral and through artistic mode. In this context “Knowledge of India” is wisdom from the ancient period, its success and challenges and an understanding of India’s future ambition for education, health, environment and different aspects of life. The main types of Indian Knowledge Systems are: Vedas and Upanishads, Ayurveda, Yoga and Meditation, Artha Shastra, and Natya Shastra.

Indian Knowledge Systems is an interesting and vast area. Many steps can be taken in this area and that can be helpful in expanding this area, with paving the way for future scope in educational field:

• Increasing learning opportunities for students through mandatory credit components, by formulating regional courses and online courses also.
• Providing hands- on experience like Indian Knowledge Systems internships and workshops.
• Translation of academic context in vernacular dialects.
• Doing the capacity building of teachers on Indian Knowledge Systems and establishing the teacher training center related to IKS.
• Encouraging the employment opportunities for youth through skill-based program IKS programs such as beautician and cosmetician training.

Wrapping-Up:

Indian Knowledge Systems is the emerging field. Indian Knowledge Systems aims to integrate the ancient traditional Knowledge of India with the contemporary knowledge systems. This area is also providing opportunities for scholars and educational institutes for interdisciplinary research in the area.

This concept is not only also trying to highlight the importance of traditional and indigenous knowledge System and how this can be integrated in the present curriculum. There is not one paradigm and a defined lens, in that we can label the definition of Indian Knowledge Systems. This concept also describes the concept of Indian Knowledge systems as per the policy documents and also tries to revive the older notion of knowledge system.

In the future there is a scope of research for this area and this can be integrated in different fields, with the help of a multidisciplinary approach. This topic also touches on the different ways, from which knowledge can be transacted in the communities. Like oral method, through storytelling, through life experience, etc. This article tries to peep in the past and highlight the importance of the Indian Knowledge System, by the contribution of different cultures and of community. There is not one paradigm in which we can fit the Indian Knowledge system. Everyone’s contribution is important from the holistic point of view and that has to be highlighted. This area is vast and in the coming future, there is a scope for the researchers, scholars and academicians to explore the Indian Knowledge System on a large scale with implication and its relevance with the contemporary time.

[Md Farid is a Research Assistant at Markazi Taleemi Board, New Delhi]

Also published in Radiance Viewsweekly. https://radiancenews.com/indian-knowledge-system-an-overview/

References:

1. Aishwarya Singh, P. U. (n.d.). Indian Knowledge, Tradition & NEP 2020. Agra: Genic Books Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
2. Mukund Shriram Bhandari, A. o. (n.d.). The Place of Indian Knowledge System in National Education Policy. Nampur, Nashik, Maharashtra.
3. Thematic Session 15 – Indian Knowledge Systems. (2023). New Delhi: Ministry of Education, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
4. https://www.education.gov.in/nep/indian-knowledge-systems
5. Kabir, Humayun. “Continuity of Tradition in Indian Educational Thought.” Source: Philosophy East and West , Apr., 1956, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Apr., 1956), pp. 13-33, Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1396768.
6. Oza, Dr Preeti. “Buddhist Ethics as Reflection of Indian Knowledge System.