The Union Government of India announced a groundbreaking initiative, IKS Wiki, an online repository to disseminate traditional knowledge and cultural information. Spearheaded by the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) division within the education ministry, the platform aims to serve as an authentic library for Bharatiya Gyan Parampara, accessible globally.
The programme invites students to contribute to developing IKS Wiki, highlighting the significance of multidisciplinary research on indigenous knowledge. The internship programme includes various forms of artistic expression, such as pictures, sketches, and multimedia, such as cartoons and graphics, focusing on depicting “oral traditions of Bharat.”
“With that intent, the division has also launched an internship programme for students to contribute to and be involved in the development of IKS Wiki,” according to Ganti S Murthy, national coordinator of the education ministry’s Indian Knowledge Systems division.
The world’s largest free online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, has extensive entries on Indian civilization, religion, philosophy and culture. Other repositories, such as Bharatpedia, are curated by private foundations. IKS Wiki, however, would be the first such state-sponsored initiative.
In 2020, the ministry established the IKS division as an innovation cell at the All India Council for Technical Education to promote interdisciplinary research on indigenous knowledge issues. According to the report, the idea behind starting the IKS Wiki is to provide information in a simplified language that the common people can understand.
The report added that the IKS internship programme is designed to encourage and enthuse youth to study various topics related to IKS, preferably in Bharatiya bhashas (Indian languages). IKS Wiki must be an essential tool. Therefore, the focus of thisinternship programme is to create opportunities for students to contribute and be involved in the development of IKS Wiki during the summer breaks or anytime during the year. Each intern will be remunerated with ₹1,000 per accepted article, incentivizing meaningful contributions. The project guidelines underscore a commitment to preserving and showcasing organized knowledge rooted in Indian traditions, excluding articles based on modern scientific methods.
With a deadline for student applications set for December 25, the unveiling of IKS Wiki represents a pivotal step in preserving and promoting India’s rich traditional knowledge heritage. The selected interns will be announced on January 5, marking a significant milestone in this innovative government-led initiative.
