The city of Bhopal will play host to an international conference titled “Pre LokManthan: Non-Codified Herbal Healing Systems – Conservation, Promotion, and Action Plan” on September 21 and 22, 2024, at the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS). This two-day conference will be organised jointly by several esteemed institutions, including the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), Prajna Pravah, Dattopant Thengadi Research Institute, Anthropos India Foundation, and Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication.
The theme of the conference focuses on the preservation and promotion of herbal healing traditions, many of which have existed for centuries but remain outside the realm of formal healthcare systems. It aims to shed light on the oral traditions of herbal treatments and explore methods for safeguarding these practices.
Theme of the Conference
The term “non-codified” is the central theme of the event and the word in general refers to those healing systems that are less structured or less valid than their codified counterparts like Western medicine. By grouping diverse healing traditions under one umbrella term, one risks oversimplifying their rich cultural and historical contexts. Despite the dominance of biomedicine, which has been heavily commercialised and professionalised, these non-codified healing practices have endured for centuries, underscoring their importance in various global communities for both cultural heritage and practical health benefits.
Non-codified healing systems, often labelled as ‘traditional’, ‘Indigenous’, or ‘folk medicine’, include a broad spectrum of health practices, knowledge, and beliefs deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric of different societies. These traditions are typically transmitted orally across generations, embracing a holistic view of health that considers the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of individuals. Embedded within the social and cultural life of communities, these practices rely on experiential evidence and observation rather than formal scientific validation.
They incorporate various methods like herbal remedies, spiritual healing, physical manipulations, and specific dietary regimes. These systems are generally non-commercial, community-focused, and infused with elements of spirituality, offering primary healthcare directly in remote or rural settings.
According to the World Health Organisation, although a significant majority, around 80 per cent, of people in some Asian countries rely on traditional herbal healers, these systems often lack official recognition from governments and health institutions. This oversight can lead to feelings of marginalisation among practitioners. The experiential nature of these healing practices is frequently dismissed for not adhering to conventional scientific scrutiny, fostering skepticism. However, numerous field studies indicate that these healers enjoy regular patronage, with many patients reporting significant health improvements, thereby demonstrating the effectiveness of these non-codified systems.
So, The Pre-Lokmanthan will discuss and debate some of the strategies to mitigate the exploitation of healers. Questions that probably need asking include whether to establish fair trade standards that can ensure that herbal healers receive equitable compensation for their contribution and resources, or not?
Further, whether to commercialise their practices or leave them untouched for the benefit of the local communities? Whether involving local communities in the commercialisation process can help ensure that they retain control over their own knowledge? How to develop robust legal frameworks to protect the intellectual property rights of herbal healers and their communities? Whether to encourage companies to adopt ethical standards and practices while engaging with traditional healers (to prevent their exploitation and to ensure mutual respect), or not?
Whether we need to implement agreements that ensure a fair distribution of profits and benefits between companies and the source communities, or not? Whether the healers need protection from exploitation by Companies, or not, and so on and so forth.
Padma Awardees to Attend the Event
Four prominent Padma Shri awardees will be attending the conference, adding a distinguished touch to the discussions. These include:
-Padma Shri Yaning Jamoh Lego from Arunachal Pradesh
-Padma Shri Hemchand Manjhi from Chhattisgarh
-Padma Shri Laishram Nabakishore Singh from Manipur
-Padma Shri Lakshmikutty Amma from Kerala
Their participation will further the understanding of traditional healing practices, providing a national stage for the exploration of these heritage-rich systems.
Discussion on Key Issues
The central theme of the conference will address non-codified herbal healing systems and their significance in rural India, where access to formal healthcare services remains limited. Local healers, deeply knowledgeable in biodiversity, will present their techniques for treating various illnesses using plants and natural resources.
Key topics to be covered include:
-Herbal healing in the face of climate change
-Biodiversity conservation
-Health communication relate to traditional healing
-The impact of commercialisation and the threat of biopiracy
The conference will also tackle challenges facing the practitioners of herbal medicine, including the lack of governmental support, marginalisation, and the complexities surrounding intellectual property rights.
5-Day Herbal Healers Workshop
An important aspect of the event is the 5-day herbal healers’ workshop, where practitioners will treat patients using traditional remedies and share their knowledge of herbal medicines. This will provide participants, including students, researchers, and the general public, an opportunity to witness firsthand the traditional knowledge of herbal healing systems that have been passed down through generations without formal documentation.
Renowned Scholars and Organisers
The event is expected to draw an audience of notable figures, including:
-Shri J. Nandakumar, National Coordinator of Prajna Pravah
-Professor Brij Kishore Kuthiala, Chairperson of Prajna Pravah
-Professor (Dr.) K.G. Suresh, Vice-Chancellor of Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University
-Dr. Amitabh Pande, Director of IGRMS
-Dr. Sunita Reddy, Founding Chairperson of Anthropos India Foundation, and many others.
The sessions will be conducted by scholars from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi University (DU), and Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University, among other prestigious institutions.
The conference aims to create actionable strategies to safeguard and promote non-codified herbal healing systems. Debates will focus on whether commercialisation benefits the local communities or erodes the cultural significance of these practices.
This conference promises to be a pivotal platform for academics, researchers, and policymakers to discuss the integration of these traditional practices into mainstream healthcare while ensuring their preservation.
A detailed pdf for the event can be downloaded here.
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