Essence of Traditional Knowledge

[Link]
Associate Professor, SSL
Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai

Hello Learners, in the last video we discussed on the Course Contents of Essence of Traditional
Knowledge, in this video, let us try to understand the Definition and meaning of Traditional
Knowledge.

• Traditional knowledge refers to the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous

and local communities around the world.
• Developed from experience gained over the centuries and adapted to the local culture and
environment.
• It tends to be collectively owned and takes the form of stories, songs, folklore, proverbs,
cultural values, beliefs, rituals, community laws, local language, and agricultural
practices, including the development of plant species and animal breeds.
• Traditional knowledge is transmitted from generation to generation orally.
• “Traditional knowledge” is an open-ended way to refer to tradition-based literary, artistic
or scientific works; performances; inventions; scientific discoveries; designs; marks,
names and symbols; undisclosed information; and all other tradition-based innovations
and creations resulting from intellectual activity.
Definition
• The definition of traditional knowledge used by the World Intellectual Property Office
(WIPO) includes indigenous knowledge relating to categories such as agricultural
knowledge, medicinal knowledge, biodiversity- related knowledge, and expressions of
folklore in the form of music, dance, song, handicraft, designs, stories and artwork.

What is Traditional Knowledge?

Medicinal, Agricultural Music & Dance,
& Ecological Knowledge Stories & Poetry

Artesanat Spiritual Expression

(Handicrafts)

Transmitted Collective
orally across responsibility &
generations ownership

Constantly evolving
How do Native people define traditional knowledge?
• It is practical common sense based on teachings and experiences passed on from
generation to generation.
• It is knowing the country. It covers knowledge of the environment - snow, ice, weather,
resources - and the relationships between things.
• It is holistic. It cannot be compartmentalized and cannot be separated from the people
who hold it. It is rooted in the spiritual health, culture and language of the people. It is a
way of life.
• Traditional knowledge is an authority system. It sets out the rules governing the use of
resources - respect, an obligation to share. It is dynamic, cumulative and stable. It is
truth.
• Traditional knowledge is a way of life -wisdom is using traditional knowledge in good
ways. It is using the heart and the head together. It comes from the spirit in order to
survive.
• It gives credibility to the people.

Comparisons between indigenous and scientific knowledge

• The interest to compare scientific and traditional knowledge comes from collecting
traditional knowledge without the contextual elements.
• For example, Native people have a far richer and more subtle understanding of the
characteristics of ice and snow than do non-indigenous people. In fact, some Native
classification is available only by virtue of its relationship to human activities and
feelings. These comparisons sometimes incorrectly lead science practitioners to trivialize
traditional understanding.
• For many indigenous people today, the communication of traditional knowledge is
hampered by competition from other cultures that capture the imagination of the young.
They are bombarded by technology that teaches them non-indigenous ways and limits the
capacity of elders to pass on traditional knowledge to the young. As the elders die, the
full richness of tradition is diminished, because some of it has not been passed on and so
is lost. It is important therefore to find ways of preserving this knowledge.

In this video, we understood the meaning and definition of Traditional knowledge and the
comparison between indigenous knowledge and scientific knowledge and in the next video, let
us understand the Comparisons between traditional and scientific knowledge with respect to its
style and with respect to its use.

Thank you Learners

 Essence of Traditional Knowledge
[Link] Sahayam D
Assistant Professor, SSL
Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai

Hello learners.

Welcome to the Indigenous Knowledge session. In this session, we will talk about
indigenous knowledge and its definition, characteristics of indigenous knowledge, the
significance of indigenous knowledge, the importance of indigenous knowledge,
challenges faced, and the difference between indigenous knowledge and western
knowledge. Indigenous knowledge or IK refers to the skills, knowledge, and beliefs
utilized by native people to survive in a given geographic region. The knowledge
accumulated by indigenous or local communities over generations living in a specific
environment can also be broadly construed as indigenous knowledge or IK. The term
encompasses all forms of knowledge, technologies, skills, practices, and beliefs that
assist the community in creating stable livelihoods within their respective
environments.

Let’s see the definition of indigenous knowledge.

Indigenous knowledge can be defined as "A body of knowledge built up by a group of
people through generations of living in close contact with nature" (Johnson, 1992). As
per UN, the term "Indigenous" is defined as "Groups of people whose social, cultural
and economic conditions distinguish them from other sections of the national
communities, and whose status is regulated wholly or partially by their own customs or
traditions or by special laws or regulations. People in independent countries who are
regarded as indigenous are considered as descent people who inhabited geographical
region to which belongs, at the time of colonization or the establishment of present state
boundaries".
Most people think of indigenous knowledge as outdated, backwards, static, or
'unchanging.' Indigenous people are the first settlers in a specific location, who have a
different culture and belief system example, the local Tribal, Native, First, or
Aboriginal populations.
It has led to widespread use of the term local knowledge, which refers to any
knowledge possessed by a group that lived off the land for a long period in a particular
area.
In this approach, it is not necessary to understand whether the people in question
are the original inhabitants of an area. What is important is to identify how people -
aboriginal or non-aboriginal - in a particular region view and interact with their
 environment, so that their knowledge can be mobilized for the design of effective
interventions.
So, what are the characteristics of indigenous knowledge?
Its fundamental principles are dynamic, methodical, and universal.
The transmission occurs verbally rather than in writing.
It is based on teachings and knowledge experience that are passed down from
generation to generation.
It is holistic in nature.
It can give people credibility.
It is based on observational experience and may be beneficial for decision
making.
It governs the use of resources.
It is a way of living for their survival.
It is associated with the sustainable use of native resources.
Examines the holistic understanding of biological and human systems.
Let’s now look at the significance of indigenous knowledge.
 The survival of every human being depends on the wholeness of nature and the
elements it contains.
 It describes the specific circumstances of communities in connection to the
environment and offers practical solutions to people's issues.
 It explains how cultural behaviours resulted from human adaptation to their
environment
 Knowledge about 'Indigenous or Traditional knowledge' is a mix of simple but
applied education, economics, politics, religion, sciences, and technologies found
in indigenous societies.
 It is fundamental knowledge, but it provides a rich foundation for the
development of modern society.
So, why indigenous knowledge is important?
Indigenous knowledge is given for local empowerment and development, increasing
self-sufficiency and strengthening self-determination.
 The indigenous population can also contribute valuable information regarding
how to manage the local environment.
 Indigenous knowledge offers local communities, particularly the marginalized,
with problem-solving solutions.
 Indigenous knowledge on development challenges is an important component of
global knowledge.
 Indigenous knowledge is a valuable resource that is less utilized in the
development process.
 Using indigenous wisdom to obtain a deeper understanding of your surroundings
might be beneficial.
Let’s look at the challenges faced in using indigenous knowledge.
 Lack of adequate management
 Lack of documentation
 Understanding their knowledge is eroding
 Less importance is given to indigenous knowledge

Commercialisation and economic instability can destroy indigenous knowledge

So, how indigenous knowledge is different from western knowledge. Let’s see.

 Indigenous knowledge is a visual representation of oral knowledge whereas, western

knowledge is based on written words.
 Indigenous knowledge is learning by doing and experiencing whereas, western
knowledge is through formal education.
 Indigenous knowledge has a holistic approach whereas, western knowledge has a
reductionist approach.
 Indigenous knowledge is subjective and western knowledge is objective.
 Indigenous knowledge sharing is through storytelling whereas, western knowledge is
through a didactic approach.

With this, we come towards the end of our session. In today’s session, we discussed
about indigenous knowledge and its definition, characteristics of indigenous knowledge,
the significance of indigenous knowledge, the importance of indigenous knowledge,
challenges faced, and the difference between indigenous knowledge and western
knowledge.
I hope you would have got a fair understanding of the essence of indigenous knowledge
Thank you and Happy Learning!

Thank you Learners

 Essence of Traditional Knowledge
[Link]
Associate Professor, SSL
Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai

In the last video, we learnt about the definition and meaning of traditional knowledge and in this
video, we will learn the comparison between Traditional Knowledge and Scientific Knowledge

Let us compare traditional and scientific knowledge with respect to its styles

Indigenous Knowledge Scientific Knowledge

assumed to be the truth assumed to be a best approximation
sacred and secular together secular only
teaching through storytelling didactic
learning by doing and learning by formal education
experiencing
oral or visual written
integrated, based on a whole analytical, based on subsets of the
system whole
intuitive model- or hypothesis-based
holistic reductionist
subjective objective
experiential positivist
Similarly let us learn the comparison between traditional and scientific knowledge in use

Indigenous Knowledge Scientific Knowledge

lengthy acquisition rapid acquisition
long-term wisdom short-term prediction
powerful prediction in local areas powerful predictability in natural
principles
weak in predictive principles in weak in local areas of knowledge
distant areas
models based on cycles linear modeling as first
approximation
explanations based on examples, explanations bases on hypothesis,
anecdotes, parables theories, laws
Classification: Classification:

 a mix of ecological and  based on phylogenic

use relationships
 non-hierachical  hierarchical differentiation
differentiation  excludes the supernatural
 includes everything
natural and supernatural

I hope in this video, you were able to understand the comparison between Traditional Knowledge and
Scientific Knowledge.

Thank you Learners.

 Essence of Traditional Knowledge
[Link]
Associate Professor, SSL
Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai

Hello learners
 In the last video, we discussed on the Concept of traditional knowledge, its
significance, comparision between tk& SK, understanding of Indegenious knowledge
and comparisons between Tk&WK
 Today in this video, we are going to discuss about Introduction to Culture, Culture
and heritage of India and Characteristics

Culture
• Culture refers to the patterns of thought and behaviour of people. It includes values,
beliefs, rules of conduct, and patterns of social, political and economic organisation.
These are passed on from one generation to the next by formal as well as informal
processes.
• Culture consists of the ways in which we think and act as members of a society. Thus,
all the achievements of group life are collectively called culture.
• Indian culture is the oldest of all the cultures of the world. Culture is the soul of
nation. On the basis of culture, we can experience the prosperity of its past and
present.
• Culture is collection of values of human life, which establishes it specifically and
ideally separate from other groups.

Culture – what it means

• The English word ‘Culture’ is derived from the Latin term ‘cult or cultus’ meaning
tilling, or cultivating or refining and worship.
• In sum it means cultivating and refining a thing to such an extent that its end product
evokes our admiration and respect.
• This is practically the same as ‘Sanskriti’ of the Sanskrit language.

Definition
• A common anthropological definition of culture is that of pioneer English
anthropologist
• Edward B. Tylor (Primitive Culture, 1871):
Culture “is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals,
custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of
society.”
• Culture has two distinctive components, namely, material and non-material.
• Material culture consists of objects that are related to the material aspect of our life
such as our dress, food, and household goods. MC includes technologies, instruments,
material goods, consumer goods, household design and architecture, modes of
production, trade, commerce, welfare and other social activities.
• Non-material culture refers to ideas, ideals, thoughts and belief. It includes norms,
values, beliefs, myths, legends, literature, ritual, art forms and other intellectual-
literary activities. The material and non-material aspects of any culture are usually
interdependent on each other.
• Sometimes, however, material culture may change quickly but the non-material may
take longer time to change. This process of lagging behind of Non material culture
from Material culture is referred by William F Ogburn in his work Social Change
with Respect to Culture and Original Nature.

Cultural Lag
• Cultural lag according to Ogburn refers to the imbalance in the rate and speed of
change between these two parts of culture. Changes are quick to take place in the
material culture. These in turn stimulate changes in the non-material culture. But the
non-
material culture may be slow to respond giving rise to a gap or a lag between the
material and non-material culture. This lag is called cultural lag. For example, a
good number of Indians have adopted western technology but they have not changes
their traditional beliefs, customs etc.
• In popular parlance, the material aspects of culture, such as scientific and
technological achievements are seen as distinct from culture which is left with the
non-material, higher achievements of group life (art, music, literature, philosophy,
religion and science).
• Culture is the product of such an organization and expresses itself through language
and art, philosophy and religion. It also expresses itself through social habits,
customs, economic organisations and political institutions.
• “Culture” encompasses objects and symbols, the meaning given to those objects and
symbols, and the norms, values, and beliefs that pervade social life.

The main elements of culture

The main elements of culture are:
1. Cognitive Elements
2. Beliefs
3. Values
4. Symbols
5. Language
Elements
• Cognitive Elements- culture of all societies whether pre-literate or literate include a
vast amount of knowledge about the physical and social world. The possession of this
knowledge is referred to as the cognitive elements.
• Beliefs-Every sect within a culture having some beliefs for cultural refuge. These
beliefs are responsible for the spiritual fulfilment of needs and wants. Beliefs in
empirical terms are neither true nor false for example-Sikh wear bangle in one hand,
keeping a dagger. The water of Ganga is sacred for Hindus.
• Values and norms – Values may be defined as measures of goodness or desirability.
Anything getting importance in our daily life becomes our values. The origin of
values is not biological but it is social production while living in society and values
develop.
• Symbols-Culture is system of symbols. Symbols are anything used to represent
express and stand for and event situation. Sign direct to guide our behaviour. It is
used to show an event of past, present or future. A number of invented or artificial
symbols are used in social life which assumes importance. Bowing head, whistling,
winkling of eyes situational are the symbols, which express a specific object idea
about other. For example flag, anthem, picture, statues are symbols.
• Language- A group of words or ideas having common meaning and is shared to a
social situation Is called language. Language is the entrance to a culture. Language is
a source of communication and to transmit message from one person to another.
Language differs from culture to culture. Language is like vehicle through which we
can carry out our complex social activities.

Characteristics of culture
• Culture is social: culture does not exist in isolation neither it is an individual
phenomenon. It is product of society. It originates and develops through social
interaction. It is shared by the member of society. Man becomes man only among
men.
• Culture is learned behaviour: Culture is not inherited biologically but it is learnt
socially by a man in a society. It is not an in born tendency but acquired by man from
the association of other, e.g., drinking, eating, dressing, walking, behaving, reading
are all learnt by man.
• Culture is transmitted: Culture is capable of transmitted from one generation to next.
Parents pass on culture traits to their children and they in turn to their children and so
on. Culture is transmitted not through genes but by means of language. Language is
the main vehicle of culture.
• Culture gratifying: Culture provides proper opportunities and prescribes means for the
satisfaction of our needs and desires. These needs may be biological or social in
nature but it is responsible for satisfy it. Our need for food, shelter and clothing and
 desires are status, fame, money etc. are all for the examples which fulfilled according
to the cultural ways
• Culture varies from society to society: Every society has its own culture and way of
behaving. It is not uniform. Every culture is unique in itself is a specific society. For
example values, customs, tradition, religion, belief are not uniform everywhere.
• Culture is continuous and cumulative: Culture exists as a continuous process. Culture
is the memory of human race. Culture is not a matter of month or year. It is
continuous process and adding new cultural traits.
• Culture is dynamic: It remains changing but not static. Cultural process undergoes
changes but with different speed from society to society and generation to generation.

Thank you Learners.

 Essence of Traditional Knowledge
[Link]
Associate Professor, SSL
Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai

Hello Learners, in this video let us discuss about the functions and elements of culture and
significance of culture in Human life.
Functions of Culture
Culture-
1. Treasury of knowledge
2. Defines situation
3. Defines attitude, value and goals
4. Decides our career
5. Provides behavior pattern
6. Moulds personality
Elements of Culture – by [Link]
1. Cognitive Element: Possession of knowledge is also cognitive element. e.g., how to
travel and transport
2. Beliefs: Tested empirical knowledge and untested beliefs. e.g., Passing the beliefs to
the succeeding generation
3. Values and Norms: Denoted the measure of goodness and standards of behavior
4. Sign: Includes symbols. E.g.: Dove represents peace
Civilization
Etymology
Civilization is derived from Latin word ‘Civitas’ which means a city.
Introduction
 It is referred as device and instrument by which nature is controlled
 It includes technical, material equipment, apparatus of economy and political
background. Eg. radio, school, currency
Meaning
It means having better ways of living and sometimes making nature bend to fulfil their needs.
It also includes organizing societies into politically well-defines groups working collectively
for improved conditions of life in matters of food, dress, communication, and so on.
Definition
Goldenweiser used the term civilization identically with culture to refer to all the human
achievements. Maclver and page civilization is the whole apparatus of life.
Distinction between culture and civilization
 Civilization has a precise standard of measurement but not culture
Example for civilization: Banking system is better than barter system
Example for culture: work of Kalidas is better than Shakespeare- cannot be compared
 Civilization is always advancing but not culture
Example for civilization: Every technical achievement is the improvement of the past
Example for culture: In field of religious and spirituality the Gautham buddha is not
reached by the followers
 The product of civilization is more easily communicated than the product of culture.
Example for civilization: Product of civilization – like Radio
Example for culture: Product of culture – poetic talent
 Civilization is borrowed without loss or change but not culture
Example for civilization: Product of civilization – technical devices
Example for culture: Product of culture – foreigner following Indian culture is
difficult
 Civilization is external, but culture is internal
Example for civilization: material wealth of mankind
Example for culture: refers to intrinsic values

Culture and Heritage

Cultural development is a historical process. Our ancestors learnt many things from
their predecessors. With the passage of time they also added to it from their own
experience and gave up those which they did not consider useful.

 The culture inherited from our predecessors is called our cultural heritage. This
heritage exists at various levels.
 Humanity as a whole has inherited a culture which may be called human cultural
heritage
 A nation also includes a culture which may be termed as national cultural heritage.
Cultural heritage includes all those aspects or values of culture transmitted to human
beings by their ancestors from generation to generation. They are cherished, protected
and maintained by them with unbroken continuity and they feel proud of it. A few
examples would be helpful in clarifying the concept of heritage- Taj Mahal.

How important is this culture for the Human life

 Culture is closely linked with life, without culture, there would be no humans.
 Culture is made up of traditions, beliefs, and way of life, from the most spiritual to
the most material.
 A fundamental element of culture is the issue of religious belief and its symbolic
expression.
 Valuing religious identity and be aware of current efforts to make progress in terms of
interfaith dialogue, which is actually an intercultural dialogue.
 The need for coexistence makes the coexistence of cultures and beliefs necessary.
 The three eternal and universal values of truth, beauty and goodness is closely
linked with culture.
 It is culture that brings us closer to truth through philosophy and religion; it
brings beauty in our lives through the arts and makes us aesthetic beings.
 It is culture that makes us ethical beings by bringing us closer to other human beings
and teaching us the values of love, tolerance and peace.

Where all we can find the conservation and promotion of our Indian cultural heritage
 The Ministry of Culture operates plan scheme of Government of India for
preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the country, besides developing
creativity as a social force.
 It has a network of six attached offices:
1. National Museum,
2. National Gallery of Modem Art
3. National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property
4. National Library
5. Central Reference Library

Anthropological Survey of India

It also has two subordinate offices:
1. Archaeological Survey of India
2. National Archives of India
There are thirty – three autonomous organizations under the Ministry of
Culture, Viz. Museums, Academies, Memorials, Libraries, Buddhist &
Tibetan Orgainsation, Science Cities, Zonal Cultural Center, etc. which in
their own ways are preserving, promoting and disseminating India’s vast
cultural heritage.

Thank you Learners