Unit 5: Traditional Knowledge and Future
Syllabus Reference: India as a vast reservoir of Traditional Knowledge: documentation and scientific validation. Need for Conservation of Traditional Knowledge, Policy implications. [cite_start]Application of modern tools and techniques in Conservation of TK [cite: 584-586].
1. India as a Reservoir of TK
India is one of the 12 mega-biodiversity nations and has a rich history of oral and written traditions (Vedas). The combination of biodiversity and cultural diversity makes India a global powerhouse of TK.
2. Documentation
Oral knowledge is disappearing as younger generations move away from tradition. Documentation is urgent.
- TKDL (Traditional Knowledge Digital Library): An Indian initiative to digitize ancient medical texts (Ayurveda, Unani) and translate them into international languages. This prevents foreign patent offices from granting patents on existing Indian knowledge (Preventing Biopiracy).
- PBR (People's Biodiversity Register): Under the Biological Diversity Act (2002), local Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) must document local bio-resources and associated knowledge.
3. Scientific Validation
To accept TK globally, it must be validated by science.
- Reverse Pharmacology: Starting with a clinical experience (traditional use) and then working backwards in the lab to find the active molecule and mechanism. This saves time and money compared to conventional drug discovery.
4. Need for Conservation & Policy
- Erosion of Knowledge: When an elder dies, a library burns. Knowledge must be passed on or recorded.
- Policy Implications: Laws like the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and Plant Protection of Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act (PPV&FRA) are designed to protect the rights of knowledge holders and ensure they benefit from commercial use.
- Modern Tools: Using databases, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), and DNA barcoding to identify and map medicinal plants used in TK.