Bhubaneswar. Environmental sustainability and a deep appreciation for nature are key characteristics of tribal communities.. They have been praying the trees, mountains and water sources. The tribal communities are a vast repository of Bharatiya knowledge and it is essential for academicians, researchers, and students to focus on, explore, and document this indigenous wisdom. Such efforts will enhance our understanding of various aspects of life and benefit future generations. This was stated by Girish Kuber, a prominent tribal and forest rights activist from Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram, during his special talk on the Indian Knowledge System: Contribution of Tribal Society’ (Bharatiya Gyan Parampara: Janajatiya Samaj ki den) under the Ek Bharat Srestha Bharat program at the Central University of Odisha, Koraput.
He further stated that nowadays everyone is talking about the happiness index, but no one is considering the happiness of tribal communities in their villages and daily lives. Tribals lead very joyous lives. Their culture, music, folklore, painting, and traditions all revolve around nature and express gratitude. While this has always been part of academic studies, we should also explore what makes them joyful and happy: their community life. The tribal society emphasizes community, where people share both happiness and sorrow together. Whether it’s festivals or marriages, their traditions are closely tied to the community.
He said , millet consumption is a way of life of tribal communities. They have been cultivating and consuming it for ages and have led a healthy life.
More research and studies should be conducted on the vast repository of knowledge that tribal people possess, whether it pertains to farming, the environment, nature, or their legal systems.
Prof Chakradhar Tripathi, Vice Chancellor, CUO in his presidential address emphasized that although there are forces active to break the nationhood of Bharat and western education has left behind a deep hang over in the intellect and academia of our country, the tribal society with its vast repertoire of indigenous knowledge is the backbone of Bharat. He explained that the aim of the Central University of Odisha is to enhance the percentage of local student enrollment in the University and affect a change in the current situation where literacy rate of tribal women is less than 2 per cent in Koraput region. He asserted that the Faculty and students of the University should visit the forests and familiarize with tribal culture. The different academic disciplines also should focus on tribal studies like tribal journalism, tribal economics etc. He also said that the University is thinking in the lines of structuring a tribal studies discipline with the help of experts.
Dr. Sourav Gupta, Nodal Officer, EBSB delivered the welcome address and welcomed the guests and explained the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat and the Indian Knowledge System. Dr. Bharat Kr Panda, HOD, Dep’t of Education and NEP, Coordinator, CUO emphasized in his introductory speech that Bharatiya Gyan Parampara should not be called Indian Knowledge System and explained the ethos behind the Bharatiyatatwa and the tribal way of life.
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