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Western supremacy over Indian system of knowledge 

Our indigenous systems of education, medicine and law have been considered supreme over a period of time when we deal with the epistemological renaissance of the Indian Civilization compared to the recently evolved notions of the Western epistemology. India has become a colonial baby born to the East and the West with irresistible temptation to […]

Our indigenous systems of education, medicine and law have been considered supreme over a period of time when we deal with the epistemological renaissance of the Indian Civilization compared to the recently evolved notions of the Western epistemology. India has become a colonial baby born to the East and the West with irresistible temptation to actualize the western notions of life rather than the eastern ethics of life and love. The cradle of Indian democracy is known for its impeccable assertion of the absolute transparency and immeasurable invocation of integrity beyond all types of cultural and social biases. However, the concept of secularity in Indian politics is going to be beacon light but not the replication of the age-old profiteering through imbalances and biases in favour of the one stratum over the other. Nothing remains the same with or without colonization, which has demarcated the past with the present through suppression and oppression of our indigenous systems of education, medicine and law. The neo-imperialist narratives have started to narrate progress over the past with considerable usurpation of the traditional occupations and knowledge systems as archaic and irrelevant by promoting the profit over people by hook or crook. Our academics are mired in crystallization of the Western supremacy over our indigenous systems of knowledge proven but not being popular because of nepotism or exclusivity of inheritance and heritage. Popular constructs of the West are still deemed to be quite relevant without much of any scrutiny by the Indian media and intelligentsia. The quest for change from this position has already started but invisibly immaculate enough to redesign the norms of corporate consumerism to a large extent. Fetishism of the West is sometimes celebrated with mindless populism even amidst the rationalists and independent media critics. This scenario polarizes the neutral space prevalent in our cultural and social episteme throughout the micro and macro-spheres of knowledge gathering and dissemination. Most of the ancient and still important practices in our Siddha Medicines, Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Yoga therapy, Acupressure, Aromatherapy, Music therapy and other indigenous healing technologies ought to be promoted in order to thwart heartless profiteering done in the health system because of irresponsible commercialization. There could be an organized syndicate working against the interests of our indigenous systems of medicine, education and law too. Nonetheless, we remain etched in our quest for change and try to rediscover all that is lost in the name of colonial supremacy. There are excellent surgeons in Orthopedics, Cardiology, Neurology and Gastroenterology doing the exemplary service in Allopathy too. There are innumerable occasions for such selfless service of a few being celebrated and honoured by our society. There could be specific courts at the district, state and national level with medical experts being set up to probe any medical negligence or wrong doing for commercial purposes occurring in our health system. A few of the so-called stalwarts can blink on the loopholes in our legal system and justify our efficiency or inefficiency with or without logic. Their arguments could stifle the voice of the voiceless if prudent understanding and judicial wisdom do not dwell on the need for alacrity and vigilance over the systemic errors or mistakes. Our indigenous systems of law were enacted by the ancient monarchs in consultation with the council of ministers and representatives of various sections of society. There were quick and instant modifications in order to rectify any erroneous precedents feasible in those days but now there could be a corroborative criminal exploitation of the powerless and marginal sections of the society happening with or without intervention of our legal system. None could recuse himself or herself in the court of the Monarch and the final verdict rested with the ultimatum of the King or the Queen. For example, the Chozha Emperor Cibi (Cibi Chakravarthy) was the finest example that one could state on how equanimity and equality prevailed over the entire justice system of the Great Chozha Empire. The Western systems of epistemology are documented and systematized with apparent procedures and specific guidance to actualize the blueprints of technology, science and social sciences. We need them without any iota of doubt. The birth of a new policy on university education is welcome, as the Western Universities will set up their campuses across the country to usher in a radical transformation in the Indian higher education. The rampant corruption ruins our nation cutting across the spheres of life including education, health and judiciary too at every level. We do not speak against the most powerful forces indulging in corruption. Most powerful people happen to be highly influential and their leverage on public policy depletes any other judicious intervention whether they are part of any regime or regime change in general. Moral corruption will end up with the erosion of our ethics forever. It is evident now that corruption has become inseparable part of our elites and non-elites too. There is an indigenous system of exploiting the poor and weaker sections of our society by luring them with sops during the elections and sidelining them once having been elected by the happy-go-lucky political buffoons. A large number of electoral promises ought to be analyzed through several debates and discussions. We can democratize any kind of electioneering or agenda of any political party with strict inner party democracy systematized with the aid of comprehensive monitoring of the election commission. None should be allowed to fool the people of this great nation. Our political parties are always known for intraparty and inner rivalries besides communal collaborations without much of public or media scrutiny. Some of the turncoats happen to use such conflicts with specific objectives of safeguarding their vested interests. It is almost believed that such political leviathans will call the shots everywhere. Most of the honest bureaucrats and judicial officers are certainly horrified by the odyssey of contemporary politics enacted by the puppets and corporate cronies. Let us recall the words of the Father of our nation Mahatma Gandhi: “Truth triumphs.” 

Mangalaprathaban Muralidharan is a corporate trainer, course developer and curriculum consultant.

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