Decolonizing Education and Reclaiming India’s Intellectual Legacy: Integrating Indian Knowledge System in NEP 2020

Abstract

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 advocates the integration of the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) into the mainstream curricula signifying an important transformation in India’s education system. India for ages is known for its vast repository of wisdom in fields such as ayurveda, mathematics, astronomy, philosophy and traditional ecological practices. The policy recognizes this profound historical significance of IKS and earnestly endeavours to make available the golden treasure trove of precious knowledge to the students. Inclusion of IKS aims to bridge the gap between India’s rich intellectual heritage and modern education. It also aims to foster a sense of cultural identity, holistic learning and sustainable development. This paper explores the historical contributions of IKS, the challenges in its integration along with the strategies proposed by NEP 2020 to address these barriers. The study underscores the potential of IKS to enrich contemporary education through an analysis of key domains such as Vedic mathematics, traditional healthcare system, the role of temples and women in safeguarding the indigenous environmental practices. The quintessential aim of NEP 2020 is to revitalize these dormant knowledge systems and envision an education framework to preserve India’s historical, cultural and intellectual legacy.