The volume Indian Knowledge Systems: Literary Mapping of Ethics, Ecology and Education emerges from a growing recognition of the relevance and resilience of India's civilizational wisdom in addressing the ethical, ecological and educational challenges of the contemporary world. Rooted in an ancient yet continuously evolving intellectual tradition, Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) encompass a vast spectrum of philosophical, literary, pedagogical and ecological thought articulated through texts, oral traditions and lived practices. This book seeks to explore how these knowledge systems are imaginatively and critically represented in literature, and how literary texts serve as vital sites for preserving, transmitting and reinterpreting indigenous epistemologies.
Indian literary traditions ranging from the Vedas, Upanishads, epics, Puranas, classical Sanskrit drama, Bhakti and Sufi poetry, to regional and modern literatures have consistently foregrounded ethical conduct (dharma), harmonious coexistence with nature (ṛta) and holistic education (vidya). Unlike compartmentalized modern disciplines, Indian thought perceives ethics, ecology and education as interrelated and mutually sustaining domains.
Education, within Indian Knowledge Systems, is envisioned as a transformative process aimed at the cultivation of character, wisdom and social harmony. The guru-siṣya tradition, dialogic learning and experiential pedagogy foregrounded in classical and folk narratives challenge utilitarian and market-driven models of education. Literary texts thus become pedagogical tools that transmit cultural memory, ethical insight and ecological awareness across generations.
The essays collected in this volume adopt interdisciplinary and comparative approaches to examine how literary texts classical, folk, regional and modern map Indian Knowledge Systems in diverse contexts. Contributors engage with Sanskrit and vernacular traditions, oral narratives, postcolonial reinterpretations and contemporary literary discourses to demonstrate the continuing vitality of indigenous knowledge frameworks. By situating literature as both a mirror and a medium of Indian epistemic traditions, this volume aims to foster a deeper understanding of how IKS can inform sustainable ethics, environmental stewardship and inclusive education today.
This book will be of interest to scholars, teachers, researchers, and students of literature, cultural studies, philosophy, education and environmental humanities. It also seeks to contribute meaningfully to ongoing academic and policy-level discussions on integrating Indian Knowledge Systems into higher education curricula, in line with recent national and global initiatives.
We hope that this volume encourages renewed engagement with India's literary heritage as a living repository of ethical wisdom, ecological balance, and holistic education and inspires further research into the dynamic intersections of tradition and modernity.
Dr. T. Eswar Rao obtained his Ph.D. in English from Berhampur University in 2011 and has been serving as an Assistant Professor in the P.G. Department of English, Berhampur University, since 2012; earlier, from 1998 to 2012, he taught English at M.K. Degree College, Gurandi, District Gajapati, Odisha, with a focus on Indian, American, and British Literature. He has a total teaching experience of 28 years, including 14 years at the undergraduate level and 14 years at the postgraduate level. Under his supervision, three scholars have been awarded Ph.D. degrees and nine have completed M.Phil. degrees. Dr. Rao has participated in and presented papers at 132 international, national, and regional conferences, seminars, workshops, and Faculty Development Programmes (FDPs), and is actively associated with several professional bodies, contributing extensively to academic, administrative, and institutional activities at Berhampur University. He has authored and edited 11 books, published 41 research papers in reputed national and international journals, and written a critical book on the plays of Girish Karnad. His teaching interests include Indian Knowledge Systems, Drama, the American Dream, Renaissance and Neo-Classical Literature, and Modern Literary Theories, and his primary research area is Indian English Drama.
Mr. Anil Kumar Tiriya has been serving as Assistant Professor of English at Berhampur University since 25th February 2016. He specializes in English Language Teaching (ELT), Linguistics, Translation Studies, Indian Writing in English, Subaltern Studies, and Tribal Literature, and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in the P.G. Department of English, Berhampur University. His research interests include British Drama, Indian English Literature, Postcolonial Studies, Gender Studies, Subaltern Studies, Shakespeare, American Drama, and Tribal Literature, reflecting his engagement with marginalized voices and contemporary critical approaches. He has presented research papers at several National and International Seminars and Conferences, serves as a Member of the Board of Studies in English at Berhampur University, and acts as a Resource Person for Communicative English and Soft Skills programmes at Odisha State Open University (OSOU), Sambalpur. A dedicated teacher and scholar, he actively contributes to teaching, research, and academic development.
