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.
