Prof K S Chandrasekar
vc@clujammu.ac.in
Indian Knowledge System is just not about merely knowing about some ancestral knowledge. It must be our endeavour to protect received wisdom, economic security, and national pride. There is a need for documenting traditional knowledge and to provide evidence of prior knowledge to the world. The traditional knowledge stems from spiritual expressions, agricultural, medicinal and environmental knowledge. Traditional knowledge is obtained through recognition of prior skills in music, handicrafts, dance, stories and poetry. This traditional knowledge is always evolving and most of the time, as were transferred from generations sometimes through oral renditions to the next generation, we tend to lose the essence of it. Sometimes when the next generation pursues different avocation, the very element of the traditional knowledge is lost.
The four Vedas, Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, Atharva Veda has given us great lessons, and each Veda is divided into four parts viz., Mantras, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads. Aranyakas and Upanishads are the philosophical portions of the Vedas. Veda is derived from the root word vid which means “to know”. Aranya means “forest” and Aranyaka means “forest writing”. Upanishad is a combination of three Sanskrit words: upa, ni, shad whose translation approximates: “near”, “below” and “sit”. Documentation becomes important which many of our generations missed. Infact, a US company was awarded a patent for neem as a pesticide which we have been using for generations. However, CSIR successfully forced the USPTO to revoke a patent it granted on use of powdered turmeric (Curcuma longa) for wound healing.
IKS can be further divided into literary and non-literary. In the case of literary, it encompasses Sanatan Dharma, other Dharmic traditions and Wealth of religious and other literature in all major Indian Languages. In the case of non-literary, it is oral traditions. India was the first to introduce Zinc to the rest of the world between 600 and 200 BCE. Further all the golden ornaments worn by the kings and queens are the testament to the early presence of Gold, Silver etc., Geometry is an ancient Science in India. Mathematics was at the high just with a pole anchored on the ground and a thread attached to it, Indians were able to generate complex geometrical shapes.
India’s contributions in the field of astronomy are very well known and well documented. The earliest references to astronomy are found in the Rig Veda, which are dated 2000 BC. During next 2500 years ancient Indian astronomy has emerged as an important part of Indian studies and its effect is also seen in several treatises of that period. In some instances, astronomical principles were borrowed to explain matters, pertaining to astrology, like casting of a horoscope mainly. Aryabhata added to the heliocentric theory, proposing the idea that the moon reflects the light of the sun, a theory also proposed by some Greeks but not widely adopted. He also proposed that the earth rotates rather than the skies, although this theory lay undiscovered until the European Renaissance and the finding of the Copernicus. Varamihira and Brahmagupta later worked on the same. Varahamihira’s Brhatsamhita (5th century CE), Chapter 77, titled Gandha-yukti, addresses the issue of preparation of perfumes in 37 verses.
Only those disruptions that has a possibility for long term survival alone can test the waters otherwise they will have an early exit. Few would recognize quantum science and the future of medicine in this ancient phrase thundered forth by the Chandogya Upanishad almost 1,500 years ago. Tat tvam asi indicates the equivalence of Tat, the ultimate reality, and Tvam, you and I as individuals. Great Adi Sankara from Kerala in 8th Century quoted that the meaning of Shiva linga is the symbol of nothingness, the universe is the cosmic manifestation of the nothingness and the ancient Indian sages symbolised nothingness or Shiva as the form of universe. The reason why Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of linga is a great example which indicates there are scientific reasons behind the same even though he has a life form.
Several modern thinkers have commented on the Vedas, finding parallels with scientific discoveries. Werner Heisenberg noted that ideas from Quantum Physics made more sense after discussing Indian philosophy. Albert Einstein credited Indians for teaching the world how to count, which was essential for scientific discovery. Wheeler Wilcox described the Vedas as containing not only religious ideas but also facts science has proven, mentioning electricity, radium, electronics, and airships as being known to the seers.
India needs to focus on the research and development to ensure that they are on top in innovation and the same needs to align with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals by resurrecting Indian Knowledge systems. There is a need to increase both public and private spending on research and development. Existing industrial technology needs to be developed with a focus on green and clean energy solutions. There is a need to support domestic technology development and industrial diversification in developing nations. Over a period, some of the S & T practices still in use have been branded as rural, tribal, and folk practices. Indian society relied substantially on an oral tradition for the preservation, and dissemination of knowledge across generations.
Large parts of India were subjected to foreign rule for over 700 years since the beginning of 13th century CE. There was large-scale burning of over six million manuscripts kept in Nalanda University by the invaders. The priorities of what needs to be encouraged and in what manner were left entirely to the ruling class. Waning away of indigenous skills, practices, and know-how continuously happened. Example being that of mining ban and production taxes for metal working by the British Raj. The modern governance and social systems introduced by the British Raj ensured that many skills and practices went off the mainstream swiftly, thereby making these structures weaker and perhaps irrelevant. It is time that India understands its own glory of Indian Knowledge Systems and usher in the new era which created the golden period for India. With this understanding, Cluster University of Jammu has embarked on setting up a Department of Vedic Studies which will focus on Sanantan Dharma and Indian Knowledge systems.
(The author is Vice Chancellor, Cluster University of Jammu)
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