The Knowledge Systems Debate in India

Abstract

This is the first part of a two-part review of the book titled (Vol. 1 and Vol. 2) edited by Kapil Kapoor and Avadesh Kumar Singh, published by the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. The review essays are an attempt to initiate a wider critical debate around the discourses, on Indian knowledge systems, especially among the scientific community in India. The essays are relevant and much needed today when questions are being raised about science and the claims made against the Indian knowledge systems by non-scientists, politicians and policymakers. The first part published here, looks at the different contributions contained in the two volumes that seek to expound on Indian knowledge systems, and also raise some preliminary critical questions, on the subjects covered under the rubric of Indian knowledge systems. The second part of the review essay would go deeper into the area of scholarship that is constructed around the term ‘knowledge systems’ and wider debates around it. The second part will also critically examine the domain that is being referred to as ‘Indian knowledge systems’ by attempting a more in-depth critique of the some of the papers in the two volumes being reviewed and their claims to be part of Indian knowledge systems.