Lecture Notes: Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS)

Introduction to IKS

• Definition: Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) refers to the accumulated body of knowledge over the long history of Indian civilization.
• Historical Context:
  • Indian civilization is estimated to have existed for 5000 to 8000 years by Western scholars; indigenous sources claim it's time immemorial.
  • Long history implies significant accumulation of knowledge across various fields.

Importance of IKS

• Knowledge Accumulation:
  • Examples include the manufacturing of Damascus blades using Indian wood steel.
  • Contributions to number systems, mathematics, and astronomy that influenced the West.
• Oral Tradition:
  • Knowledge was preserved and transmitted orally until educational changes 200 years ago disrupted this continuity.

Misconceptions about IKS

• Common Views:
  • Seen as mythology, religious, or based on blind faith by some educated individuals.
  • Viewed as extinct, incomprehensible, or uninteresting.
• Purpose:
  • Criticized for not providing immediate material gains.

Justification for IKS

• Indirect Benefits:
  • Like scientific advancements (e.g., satellites) that provide indirect societal benefits.
• Rationale for Preservation:
  • Need to preserve knowledge for economic security and national pride.
  • Importance in documenting traditional knowledge for legal protection (e.g., patents).

Case Studies

• Patent Issues:
  • U.S. company patented neem as a pesticide, a traditional Indian use.
  • Successful revocation of a U.S. patent on turmeric for wound healing by CSIR.

Significance of IKS

• Cultural and Economic Value:
  • Provides context for daily living and national identity.
  • Essential for understanding intellectual property rights in a global context.
• Path Dependence Concept:
  • Progress depends on understanding historical paths and knowledge.

Course Approach

• Objectives:
  • Move beyond glorifying or abandoning IKS.
  • Encourage exploration of new paradigms based on ancestral knowledge.

Conclusion

• Understanding and integrating IKS can lead to new opportunities and insights. This course aims to explore these ideas further.

Note: This summary captures the key points discussed about the Indian Knowledge Systems and the rationale for its study and preservation.