Science and Technology in Indian Knowledge Systems

The Indian Knowledge System (IKS) is not merely a collection of ancient traditions; it is a sophisticated framework of scientific inquiry that has guided the Indian subcontinent for millennia. IKS in science and technology comprises ancient Indian contributions—spanning Ayurveda, mathematics, astronomy, and metallurgy—integrated with modern research to foster innovation from the precise movement of celestial bodies to the complex alchemy of medicine. IKS represents a legacy where spirituality and empirical logic coexist. This initiative under the Ministry of Education promotes interdisciplinary studies in areas like sustainable architecture, traditional medicine, and advanced mathematics. In IKS, astronomy was never just about gazing at stars; it was a rigorous mathematical discipline used for time reckoning. Long before modern calculus, the Sulva Sutras in Vedic mathematics laid the foundational stones for geometry and measurement. The Indian approach to health is holistic, combining Ayurveda (the science of longevity) with Rasa Shastra (ancient chemistry or latrochemistry). The most exciting contemporary development is the integration of IKS within Computer Science. We shall deal with these four aspects of IKS in detail.