Below are a few model curricula of courses in Indian Knowledge System (IKS) that may be useful for designing appropriate courses, including Foundation Courses in IKS and some possible Elective Courses on disciplines that are part of IKS, such as Indian Mathematics and Indian Astronomy. Apart from Elective Courses in these and other disciplines which are part of IKS such as Indian Logic, Indian Linguistics, Indian Metallurgy, Indian Architecture, etc., there can also be Elective Courses on Special Topics that are part of IKS, such as Indian Algebra, Indian Astronomical Instruments, Indian Iconography, Indian Musical Instruments, Water Management in Pre-British India, etc.
A. FOUNDATIONAL COURSES IN IKS
- INTRODUCTION TO IKS
1. Bharatavarsha—A Land of Rare Natural Endowments:
Largest cultivable area in the world. Protected and nurtured by Himalayas. The Sindhu-Ganga plain and the great coastal plains. The great rivers of India.
Abundant rains, sunshine and warmth, vegetation, animals and mineral wealth. Most populous country in the world. India’s prosperity held the world in thrall.
Splendid geographical isolation of India and the uniqueness of Indian culture.
2. Foundational Literature of Indian Civilisation:
The Vedic Corpus. The Itihasas— Ramayana and Mahabharata, and their important regional versions. The Puranas.
The role of Itihasas and Puranas in understanding the Vedas.
Foundational Texts of Indian Philosophies, including the Jaina and Bauddha. Foundational Texts of
Indian Religious Sampradayas, from the Vedic period to the Bhakti traditions of different regions.
3. The Vedangas and Other Streams of Indian Knowledge System:
The six Vedangas — Siksha, Vyakarana, Chandas, Nirukta, Jyotisha and Kalpa. Other streams of Indian Knowledge System such as Ayurveda, Sthapatya, Natyasastra, Dharmasastra, Arthasastra, etc.
Continuity of the Corpus.The Indian way of continuing the evolution of knowledge through commentaries, interpretations and revisions of the foundational texts.
The large corpus of literature on IKS in Sanskrit and other Indian languages. Others sources for the study of Indian Knowledge System.
4. Indian Language Sciences:
Language Sciences and the preservation of the Vedic corpus.
Varnamala of Indian languages based on classification of sounds on the basis of their origin and effort involved. The special feature of the scripts of most Indian languages, that each symbol is associated with a unique sound.
Word formation in Sanskrit and Indian languages. Basic purpose of the Science of Vyakarana as established by Panini.
Important texts of Indian Language Sciences —Siksha or phonetics, Nirukta or etymology, Vyakarana or Grammar, Chandas or Prosody.
How the Indian Language Sciences continued to flourish in the 18//19 the centuries. Navya-
nyaya and Navya-vyakarana in Navadvipa, Varanasi and West and South India.
5. Indian Mathematics:
Numbers, fractions and geometry in the Vedas. Decimal nomenclature of numbers in the
Vedas. Zero and Infinity. Simple constructions from Sulba-sutras.
The development of the decimal place value system which resulted in a simplification of all
arithmetical operations. Linguistic representation of numbers.
Important texts of Indian mathematics. Brief introduction to the development of algebra, trigonometry and calculus.
How Indian mathematics continued to flourish in the 18/19/20th centuries. Kerala School.
Ramanujan.
6. Indian Astronomy:
Ancient records of the observation of the motion of celestial bodies in the Vedic corpus. Sun, Moon, Nakshatra & Graha.
Astronomy as the science of determination of time, place and direction by observing the motion of the celestial bodies. The motion of the Sun and Moon. Motion of equinoxes and solstices. Elements of Indian calendar systems as followed in different regions of India.
Important texts of Indian Astronomy. Basic ideas of the planetary model of Aryabhata and its revision by Nilakantha.
Large corpus of inscriptions recording observation of eclipses. Astronomical instruments.
How Indian astronomy continued to flourish in the 18/19th centuries. Astronomical endeavours of
Jaisingh, Sankaravarman, Chandrasekhara Samanta.
7. Indian Health Sciences:
Vedic foundations of Ayurveda. Ayurveda is concerned both with maintenance of good health and treatment of diseases.
Basic concepts of Ayurveda. The three Gunas and Three Doshas, Pancha-mahabhuta and Sapta-dhatu. The importance of Agni (digestion). Six Rasas and their relation to Doshas. Ayurvedic view of the cause of diseases.
Dinacharya or daily regimen for the maintenance of good health. Ritucharya or seasonal regimen.
Important Texts of Ayurveda. Selected extracts from Astāngahrdaya (selections from Sūtrasthāna) and Suśruta-Samhitā (sections on plastic surgery, cataract surgery and anal fistula). The large pharmacopeia of Ayurveda.
Charaka and Sushruta on the qualities of a Vaidya. The whole world is a teacher of the good Vaidya. Charaka’s description of a hospital. Hospitals in ancient and medieval India.
How Ayurveda continued to flourish till 18/19th centuries. Surgical practices, inoculation. Current
revival of Ayurveda and Yoga.
8. Classical Literature in Sanskrit and Other Indian Languages:
The nature and purpose of Kavya. Drisya and Sravya Kavyas.
The ideas of Indian aestheticians on what constitutes the soul of Kavya. Important examples of classical literature in Sanskrit and other Indian languages.
9. Indian Education:
Preservation of culture, tradition and Dharma through education. Svadhyaya, Pravachana. Also continuity of the family and the vamsha, who are the carriers of knowledge, tradition and Dharma.
The extent, inclusiveness and the sophistication of indigenous education in early19th century India.
10. The Purpose of Knowledge in India:
Para Vidya and Apara Vidya. The corpus connected with Para Vidya. Learning and formalization of concepts associated with Para Vidya also form part of Apara.
Apara Vidya. Nature and purpose of sciences, technologies, and all human knowledge concerning the world and the society.
The concept of Rita, Dharma. The cycle of mutual dependence of humans and all aspect of creation. Yajna and the inviolable discipline of sharing and caring.
11. Methodology of Indian Knowledge System:
Systematization of knowledge fields as Sastra. Each Sastra has a clearly defined purpose in
Vyavahara.
The means of valid knowledge (Pramanas). Perception (Pratyaksha), Inference (Anumana) and Textual Tradition (Agama), as discussed in the canonical texts of all the disciplines.
The importance of Pratyaksha and Agama in relation to Anumana.
12. Indian Architecture and Town Planning:
The importance of Sthapatya-veda. The ancient cities of the Indus Saraswati region. Town planning and drainage systems.
Examples of the significance of architecture and materials in Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Public opulence and private austerity in Indian architecture. Why there are many more of Temples than Palaces.
Important texts of Architecture and Sculpture. The prevalence of high Indian architecture in almost all parts of India except the Ganga plains. Examples of high Indian architecture from ancient and medieval periods from different parts of India.
The building of Jaipur in the 18th century. How temple art and architecture continues to flourish in
modern India.
13.Indian Fine Arts:
The importance of Gandharva-veda. Natyasastra on the nature and purpose of fine arts.
Basic concepts of Indian music and dance. Important texts of Indian music, dance and painting. Indian musical instruments.
Different schools of music, dance and painting in different regions of India. Important examples of
Indian painting in various part of India.
Musicology as a science. Harmonising Lakshya and Lakshana (practise and theory).
Major developments in the science and practice of music the 17/18/19th centuries. The current revival of music and dance in India.
14. Indian Agriculture:
The significance of agriculture and irrigation as emphasised in the Ramayana, Mahabharata and other
texts.
Mention of Indian agriculture by the Greek historians and later travellers. Significance of agriculture
and irrigation for the kings of Indian tradition.
Major water-bodies of the ancient times. The Ery system of south India.
Excellence of Indian agricultural technologies as observed by more recent European observers.
Productivity of Indian agriculture in medieval Thanjavur and eighteenth century Allahabad, Chengalpattu, etc. Indian attitude towards agriculture, based on Walker and later reports.
15. Indian Textiles:
India as the ancient home of cotton and silk fabrics. Weaving formed the most significant part of
Indian economy after agriculture. Varieties of textiles and dyes developed in different regions of India.
India as a leading exporter of textiles in the world in the 17/18/19th centuries.
16. Indian Metallurgy:
Vedic references to metals and metal working. Mining and manufacture in India of Zinc, Iron, Copper, Gold, etc., from ancient times.
Indian texts which refer to metallurgy. Important specimens of metal workmanship preserved/found
in different parts of India.
The significance and wide prevalence of ironsmith and other metal workers in the pre-modern era.
European observers on the high quality and quantity of Indian iron and steel in the 18/19th centuries.
17.Indian Polity and Economy:
Indian conception of well-organised Polity and flourishing Economy as expounded in the foundational texts. The notion of Bharartavarsha as a Chakravarti-Kshetra and important attributes of Chakravartin.
King as the protector of Dharma. King as the strength and support of the weak. King as the protector of Varta. King as the protector of the times.
Meaning of Varta: Krishi, Gopalana and Vanijya forming the basis of Varta and the core of economic activity in society. The importance of sharing Grama as the centre of the polity.
18. The Outreach of Indian Knowledge System:
The outreach of Indian Knowledge System beyond Indian boundaries form the ancient times. Outreach to East, Southeast, Central and Southeast Asia of Indian phonetic script, decimal value place system based arithmetic, algebra, astronomy and calendar, medical pharmacopeia, architecture, methods of making iron and steel, cotton textiles, etc.
The transmission of Indian linguistics, knowledge of plants, iron and steel metallurgy, textiles and dyeing, shipbuilding etc., to Europe in 17/18/19th centuries.
Current global outreach of Ayurveda, Yoga and Indian Fine Arts.
Suggested References
- Baladev Upadhyaya, Samskrta Śāstrom ka Itihās, Chowkhambha, Varanasi, 2010.
- D. M. Bose, S. N. Sen and B. V. Subbarayappa, Eds., A Concise History of Science in India, 2nd Ed., Universities Press, Hyderabad, 2010.
- Astāngahrdaya, Vol. I, Sūtrasthāna and Śarīrasthāna, Translated by K. R. Srikantha Murthy, Vol. I, Krishnadas Academy, Varanasi, 1991.
- Dharampal, Some Aspects of Earlier Indian Society and Polity and Their Relevance Today, New Quest Publications, Pune, 1987.
- Dharampal, Indian Science and Technology in the Eighteenth Century: Some Contemporary European Accounts, Dharampal Classics Series, Rashtrotthana Sahitya, Bengaluru, 2021.
- Dharampal, The Beautiful Tree: Indian Indigenous Education in the Eighteenth Century Dharampal Classics Series, Rashtrotthana Sahitya, Bengaluru, 2021.
- J. K. Bajaj and M. D. Srinivas, Indian Economy and Polity in Eighteenth century Chengalpattu, in J. K. Bajaj ed., Indian Economy and Polity, Centre for Policy Studies, Chennai, 1995, pp. 63-84.
- J. K. Bajaj and M. D. Srinivas, Annam Bahu Kurvita Recollecting the Indian Discipline of Growing and Sharing Food in Plenty, Centre for Policy Studies, Chennai, 1996.
- J. K. Bajaj and M. D. Srinivas, Timeless India Resurgent India, Centre for Policy Studies, Chennai, 2001.
- M. D. Srinivas, The methodology of Indian sciences as expounded in the disciplines of Nyāya, Vyākarana, Ganita and Jyotisa, in K. Gopinath and Shailaja D. Sharma (eds.), The Computation Meme: Explorations in Indic Computational Thinking, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 2022 (in press)
[…] MODEL CURRICULA OF COURSES IN INDIAN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM ELECTIVE COURSES ON SELECTED DISCIPLINES/ TOPICS THAT ARE PART OF IKS(Indian Knowledge System) […]