PRESERVING ROOTS IN A DIGITAL WORLD: CONTEMPORARY RELEVANCE OF INDIAN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS FOR LIS PROFESSIONALS

Abstract

Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) form a vast intellectual tradition that has evolved over millennia through philosophy, arts, sciences and community-based practices. With the rapid digital transformation of libraries and information services, there is renewed interest in understanding how these indigenous knowledge traditions can enrich, inform and diversify library practices in the 21st century. This chapter re-examines IKS from a contemporary lens and discusses their relevance for Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals. It highlights the conceptual foundations of IKS, the digital re-emergence of indigenous knowledge, the opportunities created by new information technologies and the ethical responsibilities of LIS institutions. The discussion further explores the integration of IKS into knowledge organization, digital preservation, community engagement and policy frameworks. The chapter argues that the co-existence of modern LIS practices with ancient knowledge traditions offers a unique path toward inclusive, context-sensitive and culturally rooted information systems that serve the present without disconnecting from the past.