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WORLD ANTHROPOLOGICAL UNION

CONGRESS 2024​

Paper

Impact of Ecotourism on Indigenous Knowledge and Education in Pastoral communities of Jammu and Kashmir

presenters

    Hilal Ahamd War

    Nationality: India

    Residence: India

    Maulana Azad National Urdu University Hyderabad India

    Presence:Face to Face/ On Site

The tribal communities of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly those practicing pastoralism in the hill regions, have long developed unique knowledge systems. This remained mainly focused on knowledge of migration routes, water resources, livestock care, and herbal remedies etc. Inculcating this traditional knowledge among their younger generations is an integral part of their socialization process. The relevance of modern education, which emphasizes science, technology, and the other several social studies for gainful employment has been less relevant to these communities because of their distinct economic, cultural, and ecological contexts. However, over time, the introduction of various development initiatives impacting their geographical and cultural environment has triggered several socio-economic changes among these communities. As a result, their traditional knowledge and perceptions of education are also evolving in response to these development initiatives. This research study examines the impact of ecotourism on the knowledge traditions of these pastoral communities, in Bangus Valley area of Kashmir region, assessing how ecotourism as a tool of modernization and economic changes are reshaping traditional Knowledge, educational needs and socialization practices. The study will contextualize changing educational priorities within broader discourses on traditional knowledge systems and development. The sociological and anthropological perspective on the interaction between traditional lifestyles and modern economic pressures, ​​shaping the cultural values and social systems, provide a framework for understanding these changes. The study will mainly focus on the Julian steward's Cultural Ecology perspective to analyze the evolving knowledge traditions in the context of rapid socio-economic changes due to ecotourism development. This study aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on the indigenous knowledge and education in fostering adaptive and resilient communities in the context of development pressures. The study will utilize primary data collected through fieldwork, including observation in the community, interview schedules, and case studies. This mixed-methods approach ensures comprehensive data collection.

Keywords:

Tribal communities, Jammu and Kashmir, pastoralism, traditional knowledge, modern education, ecotourism, development.