Indian Knowledge System (IKS) and Higher Education: An avenue to Intellectual Revival
Indian Knowledge System (IKS) and Higher Education: An avenue to Intellectual Revival
*Sanjay Kumar Sahu **Umesh Chandra Sial
*Post Graduate Teacher in Education, Bhadrak Higher Secondary School, Bhadrak, Odisha
Email- sanjsahu123@gmail.com
**Research Scholar (Ph.D) Regional Institute of Education (NCERT), Bhubaneswar, Odisha
ORCID- 0009-0000-4748-643
Email- umeshchandrasial1@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Indian civilization, one of the oldest and most intellectually profound in the world, has nurtured a rich tradition of knowledge systems that have significantly contributed to global scholarship. Rooted in disciplines such as philosophy, mathematics, medicine, linguistics, and ethics, the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) embodies a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to learning. However, colonial impositions marginalized these indigenous intellectual traditions, replacing them with a Eurocentric framework that disrupted India’s epistemic continuity. In response, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisions the revival of IKS by integrating it into the higher education system, fostering a confluence of traditional wisdom and modern advancements. This paper explores the conceptual foundation of IKS, its contemporary significance, and the role of higher education in safeguarding and advancing its principles. It critically examines NEP-2020’s emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach as a pathway to intellectual resurgence, enabling research, innovation, and global academic contributions rooted in India’s indigenous knowledge traditions. Despite its potential, this transition faces challenges such as institutional inertia, lack of standardized pedagogical frameworks, and epistemic biases. Overcoming these requires robust policy implementation, academic engagement, and structural reforms to ensure the seamless incorporation of IKS into India’s higher education landscape. By reclaiming its intellectual heritage and integrating it with contemporary knowledge paradigms, India can reposition itself as a global knowledge hub, fostering self-reliance, cultural resurgence, and a sustainable, value-driven academic ecosystem in the 21st century.
Keywords: Indian Knowledge System (IKS), Higher Education, National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.