The KIIT School of Liberal Studies, KIIT-DU and the School of Tribal Resource Management, KISS-DU jointly organized a two-Day (13th and 14th February 2025) International Conference on “Utilization of Indigenous Knowledge of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups for an Inclusive Viksit Bharat” successfully concluded at KIIT premises. The conference, supported by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), Government of India brought together distinguished academicians, scholars, and policymakers to deliberate on the role of indigenous knowledge in sustainable development and inclusivity.
The event witnessed insightful discussions from eminent dignitaries, including Professor P.C. Joshi, Former Vice Chancellor, University of Delhi), Professor Jose Jesus Delgado Peña, University of Málaga, Spain, Professor P. Venkata Rao University of Hyderabad, Professor Biswajit Sarkar, Yonsei University, South Korea, Dr. Ramanuj Narayan, Director, IMMT Bhubaneswar, Dr. Manoj Dash, IIITM, Gwalior, and Dr. Meera Swain, Gangadhar Meher University, among others.
Professor Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Hon’ble Founder of KIIT & KISS, was lauded for his unwavering commitment to tribal empowerment and education. The leadership team, including Professor Saranjit Singh, Vice Chancellor, KIIT-DU, Professor Deepak Kumar Behera, Vice Chancellor, KISS-DU, and Professor Debashis Bandyopadhyay, Pro Vice Chancellor, KIIT-DU, Professor Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty, Registrar, KIIT-DU, and Dr. Prashanta Kumar Routray, Registrar, KISS-DU played a pivotal role in shaping the discourse.
A key highlight of the conference was the emphasis on decolonization, indigenous identity, and cultural heritage, with special focus on tribal art, folk traditions, and music as integral aspects of knowledge systems. The inaugural session featured profound reflections from Professor Amareswar Galla, Pro Chancellor, KISS-DU, Professor Debashis Bandyopadhyay, and Dr. Prashanta Kumar Routray, who stressed on the need for preserving and sustaining indigenous knowledge.
As the conference concluded, participants pledged to continue research and advocacy efforts to integrate indigenous knowledge into mainstream development strategies for a truly inclusive Viksit Bharat.
The conference was meticulously organized and co-ordinated by Dr. Jayalaxmi Samal (Convenor) and Dr. Snigdha Rani Panda (Co-Convenor), Organizing Team: Dr. Sumita Mishra, Dr. Sugyanta Priyadarshini, Dr. Sushanth Kumar Tarai and Dr. Nisrutha Dulla whose efforts ensured the participation of esteemed scholars. The event also saw the dedicated involvement of session chairs, panelists, and an efficient organizing team (including research scholars and research staffs of the project) that facilitated smooth execution.
