Publications
Community Participation in Documenting Traditional Knowledge: A Case Study in Tezpur, Assam, India
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Manage No DI00000755 Country Republic of Korea Author Subhra Devi (Tezpur University, India) , Dr. Subhra Devi 
Published Year 2018 Language English Copyright 
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| Description | Traditional knowledge refers to the body of knowledge, indigenous practices and believes build up by of ethnic and local communities through generations of living in close contact with nature and transmitted through oral tradition and first hand observation from one generation to the other. Traditional knowledge is the essence of the identities and world views of indigenous and other people and constitutes the collective heritage and patrimony of the communities. With the advancement of science and technology and spread of modern education, a unique situation evolves. On one hand, the tradition bearers are trying to cope up with the modern advancement and development even at the cost of their traditional knowledge. On the other hand, the policy makers and educationist are now started to realise the importance of the traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions to maintain and preserve the colourful and diversity of cultures throughout the world. Moreover, this diversified knowledge are also in focus because of rising importance of “sustainable” and “green” development. Assam in the North East India with its variety of ethnic communities as well as other local populations presents a huge corpus of traditional knowledge. Assam being rich in natural resources also presents a unique situation of its varied manifestations by the ethnic communities through beliefs and religious practices, ceremonies, cultural values, food habits, traditional medicines and healing practices, arts and crafts forms, traditional technologies and house patterns. However, with changing socio- economic and environmental conditions the traditional knowledge system of the indigenous population is being under threat. Tezpur University, specifically, the Department of Cultural Studies (known as the Department of Traditional Culture and Art Forms during its inception in the year 1996) have been involved in the study, documentation and research of Intangible and tangible cultural heritage of the region. The department have been engaged in field visit and research projects on various issues of ICH. However, through the project in question, an attempt was made to document the community traditional knowledge of Tezpur area of Assam, India with active participation of the women of the families as active partners and data collectors. It was executed by Tezpur University on a pilot basis in collaboration with Tezpur Mahila Samiti - a women organization working for wellbeing and economic development of women. Before starting of this project, periodic awareness programmes were undertaken by the museum, Department of Cultural Studies, Tezpur University among the common people regarding importance of heritage and need of its preservation. | ||
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