Namaskar

Deendayal Research Institute

Need for HonouringTraditional Wisdom

and

Reviving  Traditional gOccupations

Atul Jain, General Secretary, DRIt lj d i@ ilatulj.dri@gmail.com

Disclaimer

Fi t di l i Th f ll iFirst, a disclaimer. The following presentation is in no way meant topresentation is in no way meant to demean any other knowledge y gsystem that is not traditional. 

Deendayal Research InstituteStriving to work on 

a holistic system of rural developmenta holistic system of rural development through people’s initiative andthrough people s initiative and 

their participation. 

It is working in over 700 villages inIt is working in over 700 villages in Chitrakoot, Gonda and Beed. 

With headquarters in New Delhi.

Through our volunteers and Social A hit t C l iArchitect Couples, we aspire 

to achieve Five Zeroes:to achieve Five Zeroes:

1. Zero Poverty2 Zero Illiteracy2. Zero Illiteracy3 Zero Unemployment3. Zero Unemployment4. Zero Disease5. Zero Conflict

T diti l k l d i h ld dTraditional knowledge is held and maintained by a specific culturalmaintained by a specific cultural group and is a key aspect of their g p y pcultural identity. It encompasses all manner of cultural expressions, 

l ti l drules, practices, values and understandings of the world all ofunderstandings of the world, all of which work to create a complex playering of interlinked knowledge.

The intricacies of traditional /knowledge/occupations 

need to be recordedneed to be recorded before they completely lostbefore they completely lostin the hands of a generation who do not either know 

their value or do not believe in their value to the modern worldin their value to the modern world.

There is a need to haveThere is a need to have traditional knowledge/ knowledge 

about traditional occupations i h i l i lin the national curriculum to encourage young peopleto encourage young people 

to learn about their cultural heritage.to learn about their cultural heritage. 

It provides apprenticeshipIt provides apprenticeship to the child in the familyto the child in the family 

from an impressionable age. Free of cost. 

Case Study:yThe Barah Balutedar system is a servant‐cum‐caste systems that was found in villages of Maharashtrasystems that was found in villages of Maharashtra, India. Today, according to an act of 1958, the village 

f f h kservants are free from their work.Groups that gained from Bara Balutedar include: p g

• Chambhar (cobblers)• Sonar (goldsmith) • Chambhar (cobblers), • Dhor (makers of ornaments f ttl )

• Sonar (goldsmith),• Gurav (temple servants), 

h i (b b ) for cattle), • Koli (water carriers), 

• Nhawi (barbers), • Parit (washers), 

• Chougula, and • Mang (watchpeople).

• Kumbhar (potters), • Sutar (carpenters), g ( p p )( p ),• Lohar (blacksmiths), 

Th ti i t diti l tiThose practicing traditional occupations ensure that they get the best out of their efforts.y g

They employ their resources very efficiently.Th dd l t f ti it i th iThey add an element of creativity in their 

endeavours.They ensure that the natural resources, which is ft t i l f th t l it doften raw material for them are not exploited. Because, their livelihood depends on them., p

The local people have a special and emotional attachment ith these reso rces In fact theattachment with these resources. In fact, they 

have respect for these resources.p

Traditional occupations also facilitateTraditional occupations also facilitate the engagement of a chain ofthe engagement of a chain of 

occupations. While it enables people 

d b lf liengaged to become self‐reliant, it also ensuresit also ensures 

mutual‐complimentarity.mutual complimentarity. 

Western science can be characterized as lineal, 

precise and reductionistprecise and reductionist.

On the other hand, t diti l k l d i li ltraditional knowledge is cyclical, 

fluid and part offluid and part of a dynamic system of knowledge.y y g

Traditional occupationsTraditional occupations provide premium p pon creativity.

Knowledge of traditional occupationKnowledge of traditional occupation is usually acquired through y q gdirect personal experience.

This kind of knowledge can be revealed through practice in a particular context and 

transmitted through social networkstransmitted through social networks. 

To some extent it is “captured” when theTo some extent it is “captured” when the knowledge holder joins a network, a g j ,

community of practice or a work team.

Tacit knowledge is not easily shared. As well i l k l d (k h ) ias practical knowledge (knowhow), it 

consists of beliefs, ideals, values, andconsists of beliefs, ideals, values, and mental models that are deeply ingrained 

and often taken for granted.

An individual can acquire tacit knowledge 

ith t th b i f lwithout the barriers of language. 

Th U d l i P i i lThe Underlying Principle 

Using local resources with local talent, and 

then consuming the same locallythen consuming the same, locally. 

Th i d t f llThere is a need to follow an informed consent processan informed consent process 

when documenting and sharing g gtraditional knowledge. People must be properly i f d b t h th iinformed about how their knowledge will be storedknowledge will be stored, 

used and shared and have the option pas whether to participate or not.

Need to change the psyche of the society g p y yvis‐à‐vis certain laws. 

There is a need to change the outlook of the society towards lookingof the society towards looking at traditional occupations.

There was an age‐old system of 12 Balootedarin Maharashtra. But under the western 

influence and laws, it was looked down withinfluence and laws, it was looked down with such disdain that a law was passed in the P li t i i d d t I di i 1958Parliament in independent India, in 1958 

abolishing it. There cannot be a caste‐based goccupation now!

It has got some shortcomings too. Th h t iThese have crept in over

a period of timea period of time. Because, the tradition of ,traditions is being lost!

Child labour. Factory laws. 

Now that some changes are being made to allow children of the age 

f 14 i f il ’of 14+ to engage in family’s traditional occupationstraditional occupations, 

international agencies are cryinginternational agencies are crying foul. Some Indian organisationsare also joining the chorus.

The Way Ahead

Mapping of the resources and the local talent to harness those 

i h f hiresources is the foremost thing that the skill developmentthat the skill development ministry needs to do.ministry needs to do.

आभार

Atul Jain, General Secretary, DRIatulj.dri@gmail.com