Author: Barsha Bhattacharya
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.70798/PP/030210008
Abstract: Globalization has significantly transformed knowledge systems by enabling the rapid exchange of ideas, technology, and scientific progress across the world. Modern science-based knowledge has improved economic growth, healthcare, education, and communication. However, it has also created challenges for indigenous and traditional knowledge systems, particularly in India. The dominance of Western knowledge often creates a hierarchy that labels indigenous practices as unscientific or inferior. India’s traditional wisdom, as seen in practices such as Ayurveda, Yoga, sustainable agriculture, environmental management, and communitybased resource sharing, is rooted in centuries of experience and cultural heritage. These systems offer eco-friendly, socially inclusive, and locally relevant solutions. Yet the growing influence of standardized global knowledge systems frequently marginalizes such traditions, leading to cultural erosion and the loss of valuable sustainable practices. Issues like intellectual property rights and bio-piracy further threaten the custodians of indigenous knowledge. For holistic development, modern scientific knowledge and traditional Indian wisdom must be harmonized rather than viewed as opposites. Indigenous practices can be scientifically documented, tested, and validated, while modern science can learn from their sustainability and contextual relevance. Educational institutions, policymakers, and researchers play a vital role in fostering dialogue and integration between these systems. Supportive policies, community participation, and ethical research standards are necessary for respectful collaboration. Globalization can enhance rather than supplant traditional wisdom by encouraging interdisciplinary research and integrating indigenous knowledge into educational programs. In summary, aligning globalization with indigenous knowledge can foster sustainable growth, safeguard cultures, and create a more inclusive and equitable global knowledge community.
Keywords: Globalization, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Traditional Indian Wisdom, Modern Scientific Knowledge, Sustainable Development, Knowledge Integration.
Page No: 50-61