India is endowed with a rich legacy of traditional knowledge and practices touching several spheres of life and traversing several S&T domains. Our traditional practices exist in synergy between human needs and nature, often balancing resources and requirements in local context. However, with time, India has been witnessing erosion in people’s faith towards our traditional knowledge. Creating awareness and sharing evidence-based traditional practices/knowledge among the public is of paramount importance to instil a sense of pride and confidence in the knowledge that we have inherited.
Recognising this, the Hon’ble Prime Minister and President, CSIR Society, Shri Narendra Modi exhorted in the CSIR Society meeting this year that information related to scientific validation of the traditional knowledge/practices needs to be communicated effectively to the public. Hence, CSIR was directed to spearhead the efforts to collaborate with the relevant partners from across the country and implement the initiative on ‘Communicating India’s Scientifically Validated Traditional Knowledge to the Society’.
CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR), New Delhi has been assigned as the nodal organisation to implement this national initiative supported by a Steering Committee of eminent national experts including Chair, Prof. B.N. Jagatap, Senior Professor, IIT Bombay and Monitoring Committee with Chair DG CSIR & Secretary, DSIR.
CSIR-NIScPR, under the guidance of its Director Prof. Ranjana Aggarwal, Director, launched this initiative under the tag line “SVASTIK — Scientifically Validated Societal Traditional Knowledge” on 25 August 2021.
SVASTIK aims to conserve the practice of the right tradition, inculcate scientific temper of verifying traditional practices scientifically and instil confidence in the citizens regarding the scientific value of our traditional knowledge/practices. As a part of this initiative, simplified creative content on India’s traditional knowledge is being disseminated through various digital platforms in English, Hindi, and different regional languages to cater to a wider audience. You can reach and follow this initiative through @NIScPR_SVASTIK on all popular social media platforms.
To take the initiative forward further, the Traditional Knowledge Studies (TKS) Division, CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication & Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) has started a Lecture Series “NIScPR SVASTIK Lecture Series”. The first lecture of this series was organised by CSIR-NIScPR on 22 October 2021 on the theme “Traditional Foods for Better Nutrition, Environment and Life” to highlight the benefits of traditional foods in building a healthy and balanced life and also to commemorate the World Food Day 2021.
Prof. Ranjana Aggarwal, Director, CSIR-NIScPR, congratulated the CSIR-NIScPR SVASTIK Team & Traditional Knowledge Studies Division for initiating this “NIScPR SVASTIK Lecture Series”. In her introductory remarks, Prof. Aggarwal emphasised on the global relevance of the topic and its importance in achieving Sustainable Development Goals that focus on zero hunger and revolve around issues related to hunger, food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture and is inclusive of the entire food chain, ranging from the production of food grains to their consumption.
She also highlighted the role of CSIR-NIScPR which is a global think tank. She said that we always try to connect science with society through scientific endeavours. One such effort is SVASTIK, which is a national initiative that focuses on the communication of Scientifically Validated Traditional Knowledge to Society. Prof. Aggarwal also emphasised India’s rich cultural diversity in traditional foods that are important for holistic health focusing on both good nutrition and physical, mental and emotional well-being and the need to create awareness of the nutritional values of these foods.
Prof. Vinti Davar, Clinical Nutritionist, New Delhi, delivered the keynote address on “Indian Food Culture, Traditions and Health”. She highlighted the role of traditions, religious beliefs and social customs on Indian foods and ethnic and geographical diversity. She emphasised the importance of utilising local, nutritionally rich, region-specific foods that are grown using sustainable practices and are beneficial for farmers as well as the consumers instead of foods laden with preservatives, pesticides and adulterants.
Prof. Suparna Ghosh-Jerath, Professor and Head, Community Nutrition, IIPH Delhi, spoke about the “Indigenous food systems to address food insecurity and malnutrition in tribal communities”. Prof. Ghosh-Jerath emphasised the importance of “diversifying our food baskets sustainably” by using traditional food systems that have a strong sustainability component including their production and consumption and how these traditional foods can address the nutritional needs of tribal communities.
She talked about the food systems in terms of farming practices, food processing, policy support, food preparation for human health and well being. She also discussed about indigenous foods that are rich in nutrients and can be grown sustainably and the incorporation of these foods into tribal diets. The use of sustainable food systems that are accessible, affordable, safe and healthy while promoting environmental sustainability was highlighted.
She said that this can be achieved by government programmes, promotion and awareness programmes and behaviour change practices that incorporate child feeding practices and balanced eating habits at household and community levels. She also emphasised the importance of socio-cultural and economic factors that affect the inclusion of these foods in the tribal diets.
The session was concluded following the Q&A session.
Dr Suman Ray, Principal Scientist, TKS, CSIR-NIScPR proposed the Vote of Thanks.
