In an era marked by rapid technological change and increasing cultural homogenization, the need to revisit and reaffirm the depth of India's intellectual traditions has never been more urgent. Indian Knowledge Systems: Heritage, Tradition and Cultural Continuity is a thoughtfully curated edited volume that responds to this need with scholarly rigour and cultural sensitivity. Edited by Dr. Rama Nand Malviya, Dr. Madhavendra Abhinandan, and Prof. (Dr.) Sonal Singh, the volume brings together original research across ten thematic domains that collectively map the vast landscape of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS).
The book does not approach IKS as museum artefacts frozen in antiquity. Rather, it presents them as living, evolving traditions continuously shaping and being shaped by the societies that inherit them. From the philosophical depth of the Vedas and Upanishads to the empirical sophistication of Ayurveda, from the democratic traditions of ancient governance to the ecological wisdom of indigenous communities, the volume demonstrates how India's knowledge heritage cuts across disciplines and defies narrow categorization.
What makes this volume particularly significant is its conscious alignment with the National Education Policy 2020, which has placed the integration of IKS at the heart of educational reform in India. By inviting interdisciplinary perspectives from researchers and practitioners, the editors have created a space where tradition and contemporary relevance converge meaningfully.
The volume is equally attentive to global dimensions exploring how Indian knowledge traditions have travelled across cultures, contributed to global wellness and sustainability discourses, and engaged in cross-civilizational dialogue. It also honestly confronts the challenges of preservation, authenticity, and commercialization that threaten the integrity of these systems in a globalized world.
Taken together, this edited volume stands as both a scholarly resource and a cultural statement asserting that indigenous wisdom is not merely a matter of heritage, but an indispensable guide for building a more just, sustainable, and meaningful future.
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