Introduction to IKS

Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) - Introduction

1. Why Study IKS?

• Long History: IKS has a very long history, tied to the enduring Indian civilization (estimated 5,000 - 8,000 years or even "time immemorial" by some indigenous sources).
• Accumulated Knowledge: A long civilization naturally accumulates a vast body of knowledge. This is a straightforward idea.
• Examples of Accumulated Knowledge:
  • Wootz Steel: Used in Damascus blades. Its exact composition and properties couldn't be replicated by later metallurgists.
  • Number Systems, Mathematics, Astronomy: Indian contributions in these areas percolated into the West through the Arabic region in the first millennium CE.
• Oral Transmission: Ancient knowledge was primarily preserved and transmitted orally until relatively recent centuries (before widespread paper and printing).
• Disruption in Transmission: Introduction of major changes in education (~200 years ago) led to an abrupt end to this oral knowledge transmission; continuity was almost lost.

2. Common Perceptions of IKS

• Diverse Interpretations: IKS is often seen in many ways: mythology, religion, blind faith, science, or meta-science.
• Dominant View: A prevalent view is that IKS is largely extinct, incomprehensible, uninteresting, or too difficult to understand.
• Perceived Uses: Some see it as useful only for chanting mantras/rituals, or as mere glorification of the past, with no material benefits.
• Skepticism: Questions are raised about its relevance to modern problems, e.g., "Will it feed the poor?".
• Translation: Some believe translating IKS into other languages is sufficient, obviating the need to study the original texts.

3. Addressing Skepticism & Relevance of IKS

• Indirect Benefits: IKS (like technology) can have indirect benefits.
  • Example: A satellite for climate observation can indirectly improve food production through improved agriculture.
• IKS's Potential: IKS can also offer ideas that indirectly lead to solving modern problems.
• Avoiding the extremes: The goal isn't to just glorify the past, abandon it completely, or use it only religiously.

4. The Importance of Understanding IKS

• Solving Old Problems
  • The problems we see today (business, government, societal issues) existed in the past.
  • Our ancestors found ways to solve problems, and there is value in understanding their methods.
• Path Dependence: Progress is built on what has come before. Knowing what happened before is necessary to understand where to go.
• Economic Security & National Pride: Protecting traditional knowledge is crucial for economic security and national pride.
• Documentation: Documenting traditional knowledge provides evidence of prior knowledge and is important for intellectual property claims.

5. Examples of the need to study IKS

• Neem Patent: An US company patented neem as a pesticide, despite its long-standing traditional use in India. India failed to get the patent cancelled because of lack of documentation.
• Turmeric Patent: The US Patent Technology Office initially granted a patent for turmeric powder for wound healing, which the CSIR had to actively fight. This demonstrated that such knowledge existed before this patent.

6. Why Studying IKS is essential

• Defining Context: IKS defines the context for various aspects of daily life.
• Manifestation of Intellectual Achievement: It reflects the intellectual achievements of past generations.
• Continuity of Thought: Continuity with these thoughts is necessary to make further progress.
• Avoiding Reinventing the Wheel: It helps in avoiding unnecessary repetition of past efforts.
• Global Intellectual Property: It is crucial for intellectual property, regulation, and patent laws, especially in a global context.
• Identity & Culture: IKS provides a sense of identity and culture.
• Economic Value: It preserves received wisdom and can have economic value (like patents).

7. Course Approach

• First-Hand Understanding: The course aims to understand IKS by first looking into the primary texts.
• Exploring New Paradigms: The goal is to explore new paradigms based on the knowledge that our ancestors accumulated.

Key Takeaways:

• IKS is not just about the past; it has relevance to present and future.
• It is vital to study the original sources of IKS.
• It is more important to critically understand IKS than to simply accept or reject it.