Prayagraj, 11 Sept (HS): The two-day International Seminar, being organised

by the Centre for Tribal Studies at Iswar Saran P.G. College, Prayagraj, on September

11–12, 2026, commenced on Friday. Speaking on the theme of the seminar,

“Revitalising Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Tribal Heritage, Cultural

Continuity and Social Transformation in India,” the Chief Guest and Director of

the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, Prof. Himanshu Chaturvedi, said

that indigenous epistemological traditions in India have long been subjected to

a marginalised approach and have been systematically eroded, whereas they could

have been used to provide direction to society and the education system and to

address some of the major challenges confronting the world. He emphasised the

need for new perspectives, new research and new scholarship on indigenous

knowledge traditions in contemporary Indian academic discourse. He further

observed that culture is dynamic and can be preserved only by remaining rooted

in its foundations.

Welcoming scholars, social scientists, teachers and research scholars from

across the country at the inaugural session, Prof. Anand Shanker Singh,

Principal of the College, said that the two-day international seminar would

certainly open up new dimensions in the study of indigenous knowledge

traditions. He added that the discussions and deliberations during the seminar

would compel us to rethink tribal culture, ways of life, values and sources of

inspiration from fresh perspectives.

Addressing the inaugural session, Prof. D. R. Sahu, President of the Indian

Sociological Society, New Delhi, said that tribal heritage and cultural

richness are not in opposition to modernity but are contributing to its

advancement. He stressed that knowledge traditions should not be viewed in

binaries. Instead, efforts should be made to establish connections and

meaningful interactions among diverse indigenous knowledge traditions.

On the occasion, Prof. Daniel Rycroft, Professor at the School of Arts,

Media and American Studies, University of East Anglia, England, delivered the

keynote address. He said that it was a matter of pride for India that its

academic community was exploring new sources of knowledge. This, he observed,

not only challenges the dominance of Western knowledge traditions but also seeks

to establish a dialogue with the hegemony that has shaped the field of Western

knowledge over the past three centuries. He stated that Indian indigenous

knowledge traditions contain an immense reservoir of knowledge. He recognised

tribal and Indigenous peoples as holders of knowledge who safeguard their

cultural heritage and whose ecological and social expertise can be incorporated

into frameworks of national development. He emphasised the need for a

pluralistic pedagogy and collaborative approach to the study of Indigenous

knowledge systems.

On the occasion, Dr. Shaista Irshad, Convener of the seminar, elaborated on

the background and significance of the seminar theme. She explained how

Indigenous Knowledge Systems can support social justice, cultural resilience

and environmental sustainability. India is home to some of the world's richest

and most diverse indigenous knowledge systems, developed and preserved over

centuries by various tribal communities. Ecological knowledge, sustainable

resource management, health practices, oral literature, art, language,

governance and cultural values are among the important manifestations of these

knowledge traditions. She further stated that the seminar would engage with

concerns surrounding the erosion of traditional knowledge due to modernisation,

urbanisation, environmental degradation and globalisation. She also emphasised

the role of the humanities in the preservation of language and culture.

Following the keynote address, the seminar souvenir was released. On the

occasion, the book “Tribal Structure, Culture and Development”, written by the

Co-Convener of the seminar, Dr. Vikash Kumar, and published by Gautam Book

Company, Jaipur, was also released. Subsequently, a Memorandum of Understanding

(MoU) was signed with Jan Kalyan Kendra, Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. The MoU was

signed by Dr. Ajay Kumar Singh, who also delivered a brief address on the

occasion.

In his presidential address, Shri Krishna Mohan, Treasurer, Governing Body,

Ishwar Saran Degree College, extended his best wishes for the success of the

seminar.

During the special lectures held on the first day of the international

seminar, Prof. K. K. Mishra, former Vice-Chancellor of Utkal University of

Culture, spoke about the historical evolution of indigenous knowledge

traditions and how they have gradually lost their significance as pillars of

knowledge in the present context. Prof. R. Shiva Prasad, Department of

Anthropology, University of Hyderabad, observed that indigenous knowledge

traditions are rooted in local environments and biodiversity. However, he noted

that these traditions are being adversely affected in the name of development.

He emphasised the need to develop indigenous artificial intelligence that can

preserve the ethos of marginalised communities. The session was chaired by

Prof. B. K. Bagla, Professor of Sociology, M.D. University, Rohtak.

In the first plenary session on the first day, Prof. Ajit Kumar Pandey,

Prof. R. K. Mohanty, Dr. Rajiv Kumar Dubey and Dr. Rajiv Kumar Singh enriched

the seminar theme through their research papers, followed by valuable

discussion and deliberation. It may be noted that on the second day of the

seminar, a total of 650 research papers will be presented across six plenary

sessions and sixteen technical sessions, conducted in both offline and online

modes.

Faculty members of the College, social scientists from different parts of

the country, participants, research scholars and students were present at the

programme. The event concluded with the National Anthem. The inaugural session

was conducted by Dr. Ruchi Gupta, Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce,

while the formal vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Avinash Pandey, Department

of Education.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi