Why in news?

Recently Union Minister for Culture and Tourism in a written reply in Lok Sabha , presented the governments focus on preserving intellectual heritage of Ancient Indian Knowledge Centres.

What are the ancient knowledge systems of India?

• Ancient systems of knowledge in India – It basically consist of understanding the mysteries of the universe, human interactions with environment, philosophy of life ,development of art etc.
• Ancient literatures – Shruti and Smriti literature, Sutra literature, Jataka tales, Panchtantras, Kathasaritsagara, Thirukural, Athichudi and Vachanas are examples of Indian literary traditions.
• Indian Philosophical thoughts – Āstika, Nāstika, Sāṅkhya, Yoga, Nyāya, Vaiśeṣika, Mīmāmsā, Vedānta, Cārvāka, Buddhism and Jainism.

• Ancient knowledge centres – They are learning institutions developed to provide institutional frameworks for scholarly activities.
• Prominent universities of Buddhist system were Takshashila, Nalanda, Vikramshila, Odantapuri and Vallabhi.
• Despite their decline due to invasions, their legacy influenced global education.

How did ancient India's knowledge survive destruction?

• Oral tradition and guru-shishya parampara – Knowledge was transmitted orally from teachers to students to ensure its continuity even without or destruction of  formal institutions.

• Migration of scholars – When institutions like Nalanda and Vikramashila were attacked, scholars fled to different regions, taking their knowledge with them.
• Many migrated to South India, Tibet, China, and Southeast Asia, ensuring that their teachings were preserved and spread.
• Religious institutions and monasteries – Buddhist and Hindu monasteries, along with temples, functioned as secondary knowledge centers of learning, which preserved ancient texts.
• Monks and scholars continued their work in secret or in other safe locations.
• For instance, Tibetan Buddhist monasteries preserved Indian texts and traditions when Buddhism declined in India.
• Foreign translations and records – While invaders destroyed libraries, travellers like Xuanzang and Al-Biruni documented and translated Indian knowledge into Chinese and Arabic languages.
• Underground libraries – Some scholars hid manuscripts in remote locations or underground repositories.
• Resurgence of learning – New centers of knowledge  like Varanasi and Kanchipuram emerged, and continued intellectual traditions.
• Integration into other cultures – Indian mathematical, scientific, and philosophical knowledge was absorbed by Islamic and European scholars.
• Concepts like the decimal system and Ayurveda found their way into global civilizations, ensuring their survival despite institutional destruction.
• Thus, while ancient knowledge centers were physically attacked, their intellectual and cultural legacy endured through resilience, adaptation, and the widespread dissemination of knowledge.

What are the Initiatives taken by IGNCA to restore ancient Indian knowledge systems and centers?

The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) was established in 1987 under the Department of Culture, as a centre for research, academic pursuit and dissemination in the field of the arts.

• Vedic Heritage Portal - Launched in 2023, It aims at preserving and disseminating the rich heritage of the Vedas.
• It features transcriptions of ancient texts such as the Vedas, Upanishads, Vedangas, Upavedas, and details of Vedic rituals in both audio-visual formats.
• Project 'Mausam' - It is a multidisciplinary initiative to revive and strengthen ancient historical maritime cultural and economic ties among countries along the Indian Ocean.
• Academic programs and research – IGNCA offers postgraduate diploma courses and conducts research on India's traditional knowledge systems, to understand and revive ancient practices.
• Indian knowledge systems (IKS) initiative – IGCCA supports the IKS division of Ministry of Education.
• IKS focuses on  integrating traditional Indian knowledge into contemporary education by incorporating subjects like Vedic mathematics, Ayurveda, yoga, and ancient Indian sciences into university curricula.

Reference

PIB | Ancient Indian Knowledge Centres