By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 22: A two-day national workshop on ‘Integrating Indian Knowledge System in Research in Social Sciences and Humanities’ was held here on Friday.
Organised by the Indian Council of Social Science Research–North Eastern Regional Centre (ICSSR-NERC), the workshop aimed to explore traditional Indian knowledge practices and philosophies and their integration into modern education and research.
Delivering the inaugural address, former Pro-Vice Chancellor of EFL University, Prof. KC Baral, highlighted the differences between Western and Indian thought systems. He said, “We often align our education system with Western models, but through this workshop, we seek to reconnect with our ancient civilizational wisdom and incorporate it into contemporary education.”
Prof. Bhagirathi Panda, Director of ICSSR-NERC, described the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) as a compilation of knowledge accumulated across centuries. He emphasized that IKS plays a crucial role in advancing sustainable development goals in India.
Dr. Arzuman Ara, coordinator of the workshop, discussed how mythical paradigms influence human life and knowledge. She stressed the importance of engaging with the Indian Knowledge System critically and rationally rather than through blind emotional attachment.
The workshop sought to familiarise young researchers with India’s intellectual traditions and provide direction for further research, particularly in the evolving fields of digital humanities and post-human studies.