Paper
Resilience of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons from Selected Communities in India
presenters
Mohammad Pedda Hothur
Nationality: India
Residence: India
Department of Sociology, Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU)
Presence:Online
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the resilience, adaptability, and wisdom of indigenous knowledge systems in confronting unprecedented challenges. By drawing upon their traditional modes of life and cultural practices, indigenous communities have not only weathered the storm of the pandemic but have also emerged stronger and more resilient in the wake of the ensuing lockdowns and restrictions introducing unprecedented challenges. In fact, the indigenous communities have long demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of historical traumas, environmental challenges, and socio-economic disparities. But the reinvigoration of the traditional knowledge practices adopting innovative approaches to navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic, offered research interest among many. Thus it is interesting to observe the emerged positive indications of resilience and adaptation, amidst this turmoil, leading to the reinvention of traditional modes of life in various spheres. In this background, this paper highlights the valuable lessons that can be learned from indigenous communities' experiences of broader efforts to build more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive societies in the post-pandemic era. This paper aims to explore the transformative changes adopted by the indigenous communities selected for the study in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on key areas such as community-based healthcare systems, sustainable agriculture practices, cultural preservation efforts, ecosystem management strategies, and education management, etc. Drawing on empirical data collected from two sets of tribal communities – Gujjer Bakerwal and the Lambada or Banjara - from both North and South India, respectively, selected based on pastoral nomadism and settled agriculture occupations, the paper examines how indigenous communities have leveraged their traditional knowledge systems and cultural practices to adapt to the circumstances brought about by the pandemic and sustaining the same, further. The indigenous agricultural practices ensuring food security and sustainability amidst supply chain disruptions and economic uncertainties, also has been highlighted in the paper.
Keywords:
The COVID-19 pandemic; resilience, adaptability, and wisdom; indigenous knowledge systems; confronting unprecedented challenges