INDICA is pleased to announce a conference on “IKS Studies through Colonial Encounter: Emergence, Evolution and Effect” at Hyderabad or New Delhi on March 14th & 15th 2025.
Background
The concept of Indic / Indian / Bharatiya Knowledge Systems (IKS), encompassing the knowledge systems rooted in the Vedic, Classical, Folk, and Forest-dwelling traditions of Bharat, has recently gained increased attention. There has been a significant surge in activity and interest across various levels and perspectives, especially following the establishment of the Indian Knowledge Systems Division under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, in 2020.
This recent exponential surge has led some to believe that IKS is a newly emerging concept. Meanwhile, among those who recognize that IKS has existed for millennia, there is a perception that it is the Studies into IKS that is happening recently.
But the fact is that IKS studies—contemporary investigations into IKS—actually began much earlier, around a few centuries ago, as a result of the encounter with colonial rulers, their culture, worldview, and especially their education system.This encounter introduced knowledge systems that have since become mainstream worldwide, causing some aspects of IKS to be relegated to oblivion, others to be dismissed as superstitious or unscientific, and a few to be regarded as alternative systems to the mainstream.
The study of this early stage in the emergence of IKS studies not only provides the historical context for contemporary IKS studies but also highlights a previously overlooked aspect of Bharat’s colonial history. While the colonial history of Bharat has been examined through the lenses of cultural and social movements—such as the reformist renaissance movements of the 19th century, the political movement of the freedom struggle, and the accompanying social and socio-economic movements—attention has not been adequately given to the emergence, evolution, and impact of IKS studies during and beyond this period.
The responses by Indian scholars to colonial rule can be understood at both a broader thematic level and a more specific, discipline-based level:
Broader Responses
The first response came from pro-British and pro-European scholars who had a positive or neutral reception of colonial rule and the knowledge systems it introduced. Some of these scholars sought to highlight the knowledge value of their own texts, which had been overlooked by European scholars of Indian, particularly Sanskrit, texts. While European scholars often focused on linguistic aspects from a comparative and historical perspective, these Indian scholars explained their ancient texts to both Europeans and Europeanized Indians using the language and frameworks of the new European knowledge systems.
Another group of scholars, later recognized as reformationist Indian renaissance scholars, exhibited a mixed response to the advent of European knowledge. Some were supportive of British rule, while others were not, but they all approached the new knowledge with a sense of awe tempered by pride in their ancient heritage. While they felt a sense of shame regarding certain cultural aspects, which they viewed through the colonial lens as superstitious or ignorant, they simultaneously saw their ancient knowledge as valuable and even superior to the European knowledge being introduced. This reformationist renaissance perspective is well captured in Rabindranath Tagore’s words, where he refers to outdated cultural aspects as “dreary desert sands of dead habit,” into which the ancient “stream of pure reason” “dried away.” An example of this type of response can be seen in the work of Swami Dayananda Saraswati, founder of the Arya Samaj. While critical of certain Hindu traditions, he strongly advocated for the Vedic texts as sources of knowledge systems, such as astronomy and Social and Political Sciences, which he considered comparable to, or even greater than, the European knowledge systems. The Brahmo Samaj also reflected a similar mixed approach, combining a colonized understanding of Indian traditions with a respectful projection of certain aspects of ancient Indian knowledge, particularly as found in the Upanishads.
Discipline-Based Responses
Medicine
Faced with the threat posed by colonial rule to mainstream professions like Ayurveda, Siddha, and other traditional medical practices, Ayurvedic scholars began to explain their systems using the language of allopathic medicine. Some went further and established Ayurvedic medicine companies modeled after European medical companies. Manuscript research and the publication of Ayurvedic texts also adopted methods introduced by colonial rule, with Europeans and Europeanized Indians as the target audience.
Craft Traditions
The struggle for survival by craftspeople in fields such as metallurgy, sculpture, architecture, weaving, leather goods production, salt making, and agriculture intensified under the competition posed by the British industrial market, which was promoted by the colonial rulers. This resurgence did not gain momentum until the Swadeshi movement, led by freedom struggle leaders like M.K. Gandhi, became a strategy of economic resistance against colonial rule.
Arts
Other embodied knowledge traditions, such as classical dance and theater, also experienced a resurgence and adaptation under the pressures of colonial rule, leading to the development of new forms.
Historical Study of IKS
Another response was driven by local scholars who were inspired by the new research methods introduced through colonial education, such as manuscript and historical research. These scholars eagerly applied these methods to their ancient texts, drawing parallels between the knowledge contained in them and European classical and contemporary knowledge, which they held in high regard. This led to the formation of a new school of historiography, later termed ‘nationalist historiography,’ which, among other achievements, highlighted ancient India’s contributions to naval technology, trade, and warfare through these new historical methods.
Indian scholars brought out books like Puranic Geography, History in Puranas, and projected historical works like Kashmira Rajatarangini from ancient Indian literature in Sanskrit and other Indian languages.
Law, Dharma Shastras and Political Science
The introduction of British courts along with their judiciary and civil laws prompted a search for Hindu Law Books, which in turn led to a focus on the corpus of Dharma Shastra texts, resulting in projects like the “History of Dharmasastra” by PV Kane. The British court proceedings along with their logic and argumentation inspired traditional scholars to consider the application of Nyaaya and Meemaamsaa shaastras in their legal practice.
In the process of contesting colonial legal and political thinking, Indian ascetics like Karapatre ji and traditional scholars like Rajeswara Shastri Dravid, brought out Bharatiya Raja Niti ( Indian Political Science). Discovery of the manuscript of ArthaShastra and multiple editions of the same were also game changers in this aspect.
IKS in Folk Studies
Colonial influence also sparked an academic interest in folk literature and folklore studies. Inspired by European romanticism combined with nationalism, Indian scholars began to exhibit a similar fascination with their own folklore, collecting and preserving indigenous knowledge, traditions, literature, and technologies with a sense of romanticism mixed with a nationalist spirit.
IKS through Literary works
Literature associated with the freedom struggle, in many Indian languages, glorified ancient India as a remedy for self-doubt, loss of confidence, and diminished self-esteem. This literature, both creative and discursive, underscored the dangers of colonization by highlighting the loss of premodern systems, such as the decentralized, nature-friendly economy, administration, and governance seen in self-sufficient villages and forest hamlets.
INDICA is organizing a conference on the IKS Studies aspect of India’s colonial history, which will encompass, but not be limited to, the themes exemplified above. The conference will be held on March 14th and 15th, 2025, in Hyderabad.
Abstracts are to be submitted by December 31st, 2024, and final papers by February 15th, 2025. Please send your submissions to namaste@indica.org.in with the email subject clearly mentioning the title of the conference.
The conference is curated by Dr Nagaraj Paturi, Senior Director INDICA and Dean IKS Studies.
