Indian Traditional Knowledge: Leeway towards Sustainable Development
Keywords:
Traditional knowledge, Indigenous knowledge, Sustainable development, Indigenous and local communities, Bio-piracy, Patent, TRIPS, Convention on biological diversity (CBD), Sui-generis, Traditional knowledge digital library (TKDL)Abstract
An era of age-old traditions and knowledge, which was preserved and ingrained in the heart of our motherland since time immemorial, has given us extreme pride at its disclosure. The tradition has kept on showcasing itself as it has been inherited through generations. India’s traditional knowledge has remained a by-product of its glorious past. With the passage of time, this knowledge has been intervened and erroneously used by the outer world by making false claims in the absence of a proper mechanism to protect our traditional knowledge. The sudden awakening of our country after losing its inherent recognition regarding the traditional knowledge of turmeric as a healing agent and neem as an antifungal agent manifested the need for its immediate conservation. The subsequent preservation of our traditional knowledge has further promoted a world of sustainable and ecological development.
This paper attempts to study our Indian traditional knowledge and the pressing need to protect such an ingrained culture. The researchers have studied techniques to protect and conserve our traditional knowledge and uphold the rights of its holders and pride of the local indigenous communities. The international provision has also been dealt with regard to specific provisions and conventions providing protection to such knowledge in the international community. The researchers have concluded by disclosing the loopholes where traditional knowledge fails to get a ticket of an intellectual property right despite its impeccable contributions towards sustainable development.
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