Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Common People's Rights

Indigenous Knowledge (IK) is the local knowledge - knowledge that is unique to a given culture of society. IK contrasts with the international knowledge system generated by universities, research institutions and private firms. It is the information base for a society. Indigenous information systems are dynamic, and are continually influenced by internal creativity and experimentation as well as contact with external systems. One of the major lacunae in India agricultural and rural development is its relative failure to recognize the importance of IK of farm people, as a potent surface of powerful ingredient of a judiciously synthesized technology. The importance of global commitment towards the conservation of biodiversity is no longer questioned. The Global Biodiversity Strategy, for example, includes as one of is ten principles for conserving biodiversity. During the past few decades a rapidly growing set of evidence indicates a strong relationship between indigenous technical knowledge and sustainable development. Furthermore, this knowledge offers new models for development that are both ecologically and socially sound. Capitalistic approach towards exploitation of biodiversity and IK and unequal benefit sharing have raised issues of ownership of knowledge and questioning of intellectual property rights (IPR), the principal legal mechanism for protection of IK, innovation and practices. IKS and common people's rights has been explored and explained through 31 chapters focusing on (a) overall theme, (b) theoretical angles, (c) biodiversity and sustainability issues, (d) technology socialization and people's participation, and (e) people's rights and IKS.