Title: **Foundation of Indian Knowledge Systems: A Perspective on Indian Society in Light

of the New Education Policy**

1. **Introduction**
- Brief overview of the significance of Indian knowledge systems in shaping society.
- Introduction to the New Education Policy (NEP) and its goals regarding the integration of
traditional knowledge into the education system.

2. **Ancient Philosophies and Spiritual Traditions**

- Exploration of foundational philosophies such as Vedanta, Samkhya, and their impact on
Indian society.
- Discussion on spiritual concepts like Dharma, Karma, and Moksha, and their role in
shaping moral and ethical values.

3. **Scientific Contributions and Innovations**

- Examination of India's historical contributions to mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and
metallurgy.
- Highlighting specific achievements such as the concept of zero, the decimal system, and
Ayurveda.

4. **Cultural Heritage and Artistic Expressions**

- Analysis of the role of literature, arts, music, dance, and architecture in preserving and
propagating Indian knowledge systems.
- Showcase of diverse cultural expressions that reflect the richness of Indian heritage.

5. **Social Structures and Traditional Knowledge Transmission**

- Examination of the caste system, societal hierarchy, and gender roles in the transmission
of knowledge.
- Discussion on the challenges and opportunities for inclusive knowledge dissemination in
the context of social structures.

6. **Language, Script, and Heritage Preservation**

 - Importance of languages like Sanskrit, Tamil, and Pali in preserving traditional
knowledge.
- Role of scripts such as Brahmi and Devanagari in safeguarding cultural heritage.

7. **Integration into Modern Education: The Role of the New Education Policy**
- Overview of the key provisions of the NEP related to the integration of traditional
knowledge into the education system.
- Discussion on the implementation challenges and potential benefits of incorporating
Indian knowledge systems into modern education.

8. **Conclusion**
- Summary of the importance of Indian knowledge systems in shaping Indian society.
- Reflection on the potential impact of the NEP in revitalizing and preserving traditional
knowledge for future generations.

Introduction
India has been advancing in mostly all the sectors be it health, global economic standing or
infrastructure, we have been exerting to cope up with the plunge of colonization ever since it
had ended. As for education, it is about time that we realize the importance for us to regain
the comprehensive knowledge system of our heritage and demonstrate the ‘Indian way’ of
doing things to the world. Honouring the diversity of Indian culture, we must demonstrate to
the world a way of life exceptional to our great civilization.
The national education policy,2020 acknowledges the rich heritage of ancient and eternal
Indian knowledge and thought as a guiding principle. Through the training of generations of
scholars, it contends to bring the vast change of re-connecting to the rich roots of the indian
knowledge system.

2. Ancient philosophies
The classic literature of India which is usually described as chaturdaśa-vidyā-sthānas
consists of:-
• the 4 Vedas - Ṛigveda, Yajurveda, Sāmaveda, Atharvaṇaveda
• the 6 Vedāṅgas - Śikṣā, Kalpa, Vyākaraṇa, Chhandas, Niruktam and Jyotiṣa
• Itihāsa - Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata and Purāṇa - Viṣṇupurāṇa, Bhāgavata etc.
• Dharmaśāstra -Manusmṛti, Yājñavalkya-smṛti, Parāśara-smṛti etc.
• Darśana - Six orthodox (Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa, Vedanta)and six
heterodox systems(Buddhism, Jainism, Chārvāka, Ājīvika, Ajñana, etc)
• Nyāya – philosophy of logic, as per nyaya sutra of aksapada gautam, there are two sorts of
knowledge, valid and invalid. Valid knowledge is further divided into four:- perception, inference,
comparison, and verbal testimony whereas, invalid knowledge comprises:- memory, doubt, error, and
tarka.

The above reflect that the Indian Knowledge Systems comprise of Jnan, Vignan, and Jeevan
Darshan that have developed from experience, observation, experimentation, and rigorous
analysis.

Under Chanakya’s Arthaśāstra

Dating back to 4th century BCE, Chanakya, in his arthshahtra, has put the knowledge need in
statecraft into the following 4 categories:-

• ānvīkṣikī – it roughly translates to the science of inquiry. Kautilya recognizes

anvikshiki as the basis for all other branches of knowledge or the one which lights up all
other branches of knowledge through objective reality, these branches could be vedas ,
economics and political science. Since it reasons as to what is spritual good and evil in vedas,
then upon the material loss and gain in economics and thereafter what is good policy and bad
policy in politics.
Anvikshiki had supreme role in dealing with the matter of dispute. A matter of dispute could
be dealt with through four ways namely:- law which is based on truth, customs which is the
common view of men, transaction which is based on the witnesses and the command of the
king. Hereby that command of the king that is made based upon the rationalising tool or
anvikshiki is considered supreme.
• trayī – The first three Vedas, namely rigveda, yajurveda and samveda, are also known as
trayī vidyā, which means “the triple science”. Thus refering science of reciting hymns
(Rigveda), performing sacrifices (Yajurveda), and chanting songs (Samaveda). Vedas are said
to be the foundational unit of indian philosophy and spritual knowledge. Chanakya has
thereby kept it at one of the four pedestals of knowledge to run a state.
• vārttā – Vārttā represents wealth creation through agriculture and commerce. The Bhāgavata
Purāṇa, classifies Vārttā or the souce of livelihood into four categories namely:- agriculture,
trade, cattle raising and money lending.
• daṇḍanīti – used to represent politics and public administration. It is to control the unwanted
forces in society. The word ‘dand’ literally means ‘rod’ or ‘stick’ which refers to it being a
state power. Dandniti should be the basis of purushartha of the goals of life- dharma, artha,
kama and moksha. The four puposes of the dandniti as identified by kautilya are- acquisition
of the un- acquired, preservation of the preserved, increasing the preserved and fair
distribution of the preserved.

Spritual concepts of dharma, artha, kama and moksa and its influence
Dharma is the nature, artha is the means, kāma is the desire and moksha is the release from
the desire.
i) Dharma
An individual’s purpose on Earth is to fulfill certain responsibilities. The soul inhabits a
physical body best suited for carrying out these responsibilities, which are known as one’s
Dharma. Dharma, though challenging to translate precisely, roughly denotes the rightful
duties of an individual—their true vocation. While sometimes Dharma is determined by birth,
it can also evolve over time and encompass various roles and purposes as life progresses.
Listening to one’s inner guidance helps in discerning one’s Dharma, their genuine calling.
ii) Artha
Artha involves the pursuit of material wealth, which provides worldly comforts. Some may
believe that spiritual growth and material wealth are incompatible, or that spiritual seekers
must live in poverty. However, this is not accurate. The Universe reflects abundance, and
poverty is merely a state of consciousness. If abundance is a divine quality, how does seeking
it differ from pursuing the Divine? When one is preoccupied with worries about survival, it’s
challenging to focus on spirituality. Only when free from worries can attention turn towards
spiritual goals.
The key is to not be attached to wealth. It can be transcended or pursued with detachment and
awareness. When approached in this manner, seeking wealth is akin to seeking the Divine, as
wealth is seen as a manifestation of the Divine. In a state of detachment, one recognizes when
financial goals are met, and the desire to pursue wealth naturally diminishes, making way for
spiritual liberation (Moksha).
iii) Kama
Kama involves fulfilling one's desires, which can manifest in various forms such as wealth,
power, sexual needs, recognition, and service. The concept of Kama purushartha suggests that
fulfilling one's desires in this lifetime is essential, but it should be done with awareness and
without causing harm to others.
To spiritually evolve and reach the ultimate destination, one must overcome the barrier of
desires. This can be achieved by either fulfilling, sublimating, or transcending them.
Suppressing desires is discouraged as it can lead to unpredictable consequences, akin to
holding down a tightly coiled spring that may erupt unexpectedly. By becoming aware of
desires and fulfilling them without judgment, individuals can progress towards the stage of
sublimating them, with the assistance of the Divine or the Universe.
iv) Moksha
Moksha signifies liberation and the realization of the Self, serving as the ultimate goal of
human existence. It represents the inner understanding that the individual self is identical to
the Supreme Self, experiencing the cosmos within oneself, along with the harmonious
interplay of Shiva and Shakti energies. Moksha entails a sense of union, oneness, and unity
with the Universe.
Just as rivers inevitably flow into the sea, various spiritual paths lead to the same destination
of Moksha.
The four objectives are interdependent and should not be considered in isolation. They
mutually shape and enhance each other, facilitating the holistic development of an individual.
Striving towards one objective should complement the pursuit of others, fostering a
harmonious evolution of the self. Imbalance arises when one exclusively pursues a single
objective, hindering the attainment of life’s ultimate purpose.
In today’s rapidly changing Indian society, the importance of Purusharthas remains as vital as
ever. In the midst of modernization and globalization, these timeless principles act as guiding
pillars, reconnecting individuals with their cultural roots and moral obligations. While
pursuing prosperity and fulfilling desires are natural pursuits, they must be grounded in
principles of righteousness and spiritual development.

3. Scientific contribution
In mathematics
Aryabhata has had a pivotal role in the development of mathematics in ancient india. He was
the man who gave the world ‘zero’, the one who contributed to the decimal system, the one
responsible for the growth of algebra and geometry making a base for modern day
mathematics, he was the one who had calculated the value of pi=62832/20000=3.1416 which
was considered most accurate in ancient times. His prominent work, aryabhatiya served as a
classic. This commendable work was read in verse format, this was mostly to memorize
better because at that time written records were rare. People often comment on the greek
influence on aryabhatta but in reality aryabhatta actually emphasized calculations over mere
concept-based models.
Following Aryabhata, matematicians like Brahmagupta furthered mathematical inquiry,
offering more sophisticated algorithms. However, Brahmagupta’s interpretations often
clashed with Aryabhata’s rational views. Although, Bhaskara II expanded on Aryabhata’s
algebraic groundwork, presenting problems in poetic forms, such as the famous ‘Lilavati
conundrum’ involving pearls.
Indian mathematics extended beyond numbers and algebra, with trigonometric functions
defined by the sixth century and early insights into calculus-like concepts. Even geometry,
quite evident in Sulva-Sutra written by baudhayana, demonstrated a pragmatic, constructive
approach, reminiscent of Aryabhata’s algorithmic methodology. It is to be noted, the Sulva-
Sutra predates Pythagoras, showcasing a pre-existing geometric tradition in India that
prioritized practical application over deductive proofs.
This is how rich our indian knowledge system is, and we don’t seem to credit it enough.
Therefore, now there is a need to realize and feel proud about the fact that our country has
been the source of brilliant knowledge.
In medicine
In early India, medicine emerged as a highly developed science, notably through works like
the Caraka Samhita, dating back to the first century C.E. or earlier. This text emphasized
rational approaches to diagnosis, prioritizing cause and effect over divine intervention.
Ayurveda, still prevalent in India, relied heavily on herbal remedies, with around 600 drugs
identified for specific diseases, including minerals and animal derivatives. The abundance of
tropical vegetation likely facilitated extensive research into natural substances for medicinal
use. Today, ongoing scientific exploration continues to validate the efficacy of traditional
remedies like neem and turmeric, alongside multinational drug companies’ extensive
investigations into Indian bio-resources.
Indian achievements in surgery were equally remarkable, as evidenced by the treatise of
Sus’ruta, believed to have existed in some form much earlier than its fourth-century C.E.
written record. Indian surgical practices, including vaccination, rhinoplasty, and eye surgery,
were well-established long before their introduction in the West. Even today, some of these
ancient medical techniques persist in Indian villages, underscoring the enduring legacy of
early Indian medical innovation.

In Ayurveda, astronomy, architecture

Ayurveda, a traditional Indian healthcare system, is recognized as a soft power tool alongside
Yoga, especially in today’s era of globalization where lifestyle and dietary patterns are rapidly
evolving, leading to new health challenges. Given this scenario, there’s a crucial need to
explore and establish connections among various Indian traditional sciences to provide
comprehensive, non-reductionist, and holistic healthcare solutions. Ayurveda encompasses
physical, mental, spiritual, and social well-being, offering personalized, preventive,
protective, promotive, predictive, and participatory healthcare approaches. Integrating
Ayurveda with other Indian traditional sciences can significantly enhance healthcare
effectiveness.
The scientific literature of Ayurveda demonstrates its association with parallel ancient
sciences, such as astronomy and astrology. Astronomy, studying celestial objects, influences
the foundational structure of Ayurveda, while astrology, examining their impact on human
life, aids in predicting chronicity and future prognostics of disorders. Integrating Ayurvedic
and astrological knowledge can help in preventive healthcare planning.
Vastu Shastra, the science of Indian architecture, is another ancient Indian teaching that
harmonizes with Ayurveda. The pioneers of ‘Vastu Shastra’ are Brahma, Narad, Bruhaspati,
Bhrugu, Vasishtha and Vishwakarma. Vastu Shastra is originated from Stapatya Veda, a part
of Atharva Veda and was followed acutely during the Mahabharat Era. Based on directional
impact and the five elements, Vastu architecture channels positive energy, promoting mental
and physical health. Ayurvedic physicians historically utilized Vastu principles in healthcare
delivery, including constructing structures for treatments like Swedan and Panchakarma
procedures. This integration highlights the effectiveness of Vedic architecture in supporting
Ayurvedic healthcare practices.

3. Language
The presentation provided a thorough depiction of Bharatiya Gyan Parampara, emphasizing
its foundation within Indian languages rather than languages like English. It highlighted
various modes of knowledge transmission in India since ancient times, including textual, oral
(maukhik), and kulachar paddhati (learning through everyday activities).
The challenge of translating certain concepts from Indian languages to English was
addressed, citing examples like ‘punya’, ‘prasad’, and ‘teertha’ which lack direct equivalents
in English, underscoring the importance of understanding Indian languages to appreciate the
nuances of Indian culture and tradition.
The Indian Knowledge System (IKS) was portrayed as a living entity dependent on active
engagement and participation. Advocacy for developing the parameters of the system from an
Indian perspective was accompanied by an emphasis on integrating dharma and vyavastha
into daily life through experiential learning.
The concept of ashram vyavastha was discussed, along with a suggestion to incorporate
sections on context into textbooks. Additionally, the introduction of components like tantra
yukti (research methodology) and gyan anveshan paddhati highlighted their applications in
fields such as ayurveda and shastra gantha for seeking answers to fundamental questions.
The presentation underscored the importance of integrating traditional practices into the
current learning system to enrich educational experiences and deepen understanding of Indian
culture and knowledge systems.

Integrating Traditional Indian Knowledge Systems in Higher

Education
Incorporating Traditional Indian Knowledge Systems into secondary education can
significantly enhance the Indian education system. This integration aims to establish a
meaningful connection between students and their ancient cultural heritage. The primary goal
is to preserve and pass on our ancient knowledge systems to future generations, instilling
pride in the nation’s rich intellectual traditions. By including these systems in the curriculum,
students can gain a deeper understanding of their history, culture, and the wisdom of their
ancestors. Additionally, this integration is expected to foster skills and insights essential for
addressing modern societal challenges.
When designing teaching methodologies for Traditional Indian Knowledge Systems, it’s
essential to draw inspiration from historical methods of knowledge dissemination in India.
For example, the ‘gurukula’ system emphasized a strong bond between teacher and student,
facilitating effective learning and personal growth. Implementing such methodologies can
promote critical thinking, creativity, and holistic understanding in students, better equipping
them to tackle contemporary challenges. To successfully integrate these teaching
methodologies, it’s crucial to:
Develop structured courses highlighting key aspects of traditional Indian knowledge systems.
Provide educators with training in these systems’ principles and techniques to ensure
effective teaching.
Encourage interdisciplinary learning by connecting traditional Indian knowledge with
modern subjects.
Incorporating Traditional Indian Knowledge Systems into higher education is vital for the
nation’s holistic development. This approach revitalizes the education system while
preserving and promoting Indian languages, arts, and culture. The National Education Policy
of 2020 underscores the importance of these systems and advocates for their integration into
higher education institutions. By doing so, India can nurture a new generation of students
with a deep understanding of their cultural heritage. These students can then apply this
knowledge to address contemporary challenges effectively, contributing to the nation’s
progress and development.

Benefits of Integrating Traditional Indian Knowledge Systems

Integrating Traditional Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) into the mainstream education
system offers numerous advantages. It enhances appreciation for India’s rich cultural heritage
and provides innovative solutions to contemporary challenges. The primary goal is to
preserve and promote ancient knowledge systems like Ayurveda, Yoga, and traditional arts for
future generations. By revitalizing the education system with IKS, students can develop a
deeper understanding of their country’s unique history and cultural identity.
Despite its potential benefits, incorporating IKS into mainstream education presents
challenges that need addressing. One key challenge is the lack of resources and infrastructure
to support its integration into the curriculum. Additionally, resistance from educators and
policymakers skeptical about the relevance of traditional knowledge poses a significant
barrier. Concerns also arise about losing the cultural context and practices associated with
traditional knowledge systems.
To overcome these challenges, raising awareness about the importance of IKS among
educators, policymakers, and the public is crucial. Seminars, workshops, and conferences
focused on its value in addressing contemporary issues can help garner support. Establishing
partnerships between educational institutions and traditional knowledge holders, such as
indigenous communities, can facilitate knowledge sharing. Developing culturally responsive
curricula that blend traditional and contemporary knowledge systems ensures students gain a
comprehensive understanding of India’s cultural heritage while acquiring skills relevant to
the modern world.

Conclusion
Implementing the Indian Knowledge System is poised to not only revolutionize education but
also reinvigorate the Indian mind-set and lifestyle. By integrating core Indian philosophy,
knowledge, traditions, arts, skills, craftsmanship, and management across different sectors,
India stands to undergo a significant metamorphosis. The IKS sector is anticipated to create
more than 5 million jobs in the foreseeable future, bolstering India’s sense of pride and
dignity.