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comprehensive
definition of indigenous knowledge would endorse "a body of knowledge built by a
group of people through generations living in close contact with nature. It
includes a system of classification, a set of empirical observations about the
local environment, and a system of self-management that governs resource use"
It is a matter of
grave concern that we are heading towards a more uniform world, with cultures
dying out faster than the people associated with them.
The main purpose of
protecting indigenous knowledge is to preserve it for the future generations and
provide its benefits to the indigenous community, which is the rightful owner of
this knowledge.
Such disappearance of
indigenous knowledge can be attributed to factors like:
1.
Greater erosion of oral knowledge;
2.
Continued unwillingness of younger generation to acquire the knowledge,
innovations and practices developed over a long period of time,;
3.
Lack of material incentives for conservation of endangered species;
4.
Knowledge-rich poor communities may migrate due to lack of opportunities for
subsistence and employment, negligence of local resources or over-exploitation
of the resource itself, netting very little value in a short period of time;
and
5. Stifling the very creative and
buoyant laboratory of innovations at grassroots by denying any social esteem
for such knowledge through material as well as non-material incentives and
general neglect.
It is frequently
assumed that ownership and property rights, including intellectual property
rights, are alien concepts in indigenous and traditional societies. Such
communities, it is said, are characterised by a strong sharing ethos with
respect to biological resources and biodiversity-related knowledge. In fact, the
anthropological literature reveals that the Intellectual Property Right (IPR)
concepts or at least close equivalents to them are as common as the sharing
ethos. Proprietary systems do exist in many traditional societies.
In India, IPRs have
been practiced since time immemorial. Some of the interesting findings
pertaining to IPR are provided here.
1.
Many people may not know that Shahjahan, who built the famous Taj Mahal, was
very keen to protect the design of the monument. He got the right hand thumb
of all the workers cut so that they could never build another Taj Mahal.
2.
There is an old tradition of textile production popularly known as 'Patan
Silk' in Patan region of north Gujarat. At present, only two families are left
who are carrying on this tradition involving the use of vegetable dyes. They
do not share their trade secrets even with their daughters who shift to
another family after marriage. Only daughters-in-law are inducted into the
tradition to retain the secrecy.
3.
‘Secrets turn knowledge into property that can be exchanged -- people
throughout Melanesia swap or sell their secrets and/or their knowledge
copyrights for pigs, money and other goods.’
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