The word heritage is defined as “Anything transmitted from ancestors or past ages”. The Indian heritage is often best appreciated concerning different historical periods. We are the inheritors of a cultural and non-secular tradition stretching over 4000 years.
CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION
The word ‘culture’ and ‘civilization’ are often used as the same. However, they have their own clearly defined meanings which differentiate them.
‘Civilization’ means making better ways of living and making use of nature to satisfy daily needs. Civilization includes developing societies into politically well-defined groups that work together for improved conditions of life in terms of food, dress, and communication.
The English word ‘Culture’ is coined from the Latin word ‘cult or cultus’ which means tilling, or cultivating or refining and worship. ‘Culture’ refers to the inner self, a refinement of mind, soul, and heart. Culture includes various art forms and sciences, music and dance, and several higher activities of human life which also are classified as cultural activities. On the whole, it is cultivating and refining a thing to an extent such that its outcome evokes our admiration and esteem. This is often practically an equivalent as ‘Sanskriti’ of the Sanskrit language.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE
• Culture is learned and purchased
• Culture is shared by a cluster of individuals
• Culture is cumulative
• Culture changes
• Culture is dynamic
• Culture gives us a variety of permissible behaviour patterns
• Culture is diverse
• Culture is ideational
Cultural development may be a historical process. Cultural heritage includes all those aspects or values of culture transmitted to citizenry by their ancestors from generation to generation. They’re cherished, protected, and maintained by them with unbroken continuity, and that they feel pleased with it. Architectural works like monuments, material artifacts, the intellectually achieved properties, philosophy, treasures of data, scientific inventions, and discoveries also are a part of heritage.
Traditional knowledge or ‘local knowledge’ may be a record of human achievement in comprehending the complexities of life and survival in often unfriendly environments. Traditional knowledge, which can be technical, social, organizational, or cultural was obtained as a part of the good human experiment of survival and development. We have to analyse, evaluate conserve, and revive the normal Knowledge Systems for the economic betterment of the planet in a holistic manner. It is that the knowledge system possessed by various communities across the world. Such knowledge has been accumulated, used, and has been bequeathed through several generations. It’s usually regarding the natural surroundings of the community and includes agricultural knowledge like manner of cultivation, environmental knowledge, and knowledge of natural medicines.
TYPES OF TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE
• Cultural knowledge
• Artistic knowledge
• Biodiversity or natural resources
• Agricultural knowledge
• Sacred knowledge
CHARACTERISTICS OF TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE
• It has been handed on from generation to generation.
• In many cases, it’s transmitted orally for generations from person to person.
• It is being considered by the communities as a gift of God and not as personal property.
• This knowledge generally distinguishes one community from another community.
• It is typically impossible to spot the first creator of the knowledge.
• It is learned by observing continuously, experiencing, and practicing it.
• It is inseparable a part of the communal and cultural life of its holders.
• It is typically related to biological resources.
NEED FOR SHIELDING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE
• Lack of proper legal policy framework for the protection of traditions.
• Exploitation of traditional knowledge and indigenous resources.
• Patenting the medicinal plants and their derivatives.
• Commercial interests violate indigenous property rights.