Summary:
On 24th April 2025, Professor Kamal K. Misra delivered a distinguished lecture titled “Weaving Indigenous Knowledge into the SDG Narrative: Whispers from the Field” under the AIF Distinguished Guest Lecture Series. Introduced by Professor Sunita Reddy and Mr. Kazi Roson Mustafa Hasan, Prof. Misra emphasized the importance of indigenous knowledge in advancing sustainable development. He outlined the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and discussed the critical stagnation in their progress, as highlighted in the United Nations’ 2024 report “A Promise in Peril.” He stressed that integrating indigenous perspectives is essential to achieving meaningful and inclusive global sustainability by 2030.
The SDG Summit (New York, Sept 2023) review showed only 12% of goals on track, highlighting stagnation amid global crises. Prof. Misra referenced anthropological critiques by Escobar, Li, and Berkes, who noted development failures stem from “one-size-fits-all” models, cultural ignorance, and disregard for indigenous knowledge. Contrary to misconceptions, indigenous knowledge is dynamic and evolving. True integration requires context-specific, flexible strategies grounded in lived realities, not rigid national agendas.
Prof. Misra stressed Indigenous Knowledge’s (IK) role in achieving SDGs, citing real-life examples like the Apatani tribe (Arunachal Pradesh) practices rice-fish farming using organic inputs and bamboo bunds (SDG 1-2-3). In Goalpara, Assam, bamboo plantations prevent erosion. Disaster-resilient housing includes Kashmir’s Taq system, Rajasthan’s heat-resistant homes, and vernacular architecture in Jammu. The Bodo community formed an ecotourism society (2003) near Manas Sanctuary (SDG 1-2-8-9-16-17). In Malkangiri, Odisha, Bonda women revived millet-based cropping and seed preservation with neem, offering a climate-resilient model (SDG 1-2-3-5).
Throughout the lecture, Professor Misra stressed that Indigenous Knowledge is more sustainable than mainstream practices because:
- It offers time-tested, context-specific solutions rooted in a holistic understanding of environment, community, and culture (SDGs 10, 13, 15).
- Knowledge production must be transdisciplinary, integrating scientific and Indigenous systems (SDG 17).
- Development planning must be eco-centric and aligned with people’s worldviews (SDGs 6, 3, 14, 15).
- It must be participatory, inclusive, context-specific, and empowering (SDGs 5, 10, 16).
- Finally, it must recognize the implicit link between environment, culture, and spirituality (SDGs 2, 3, 12).
The session critically reflected on how the existing SDGs were largely Western-centric, treating Indigenous groups merely as beneficiaries rather than contributors. Professor Misra pointed out that although the UN created the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in 2000, only recently, in 2023, did Secretary-General António Guterres officially acknowledge Indigenous Peoples as “guardians of the world’s biodiversity” and carriers of the “green economy” concept long before it became a global agenda.
In conclusion, Professor Misra proposed the introduction of a new SDG 18 that would formally integrate Indigenous Knowledge into global development frameworks. To achieve this, the following strategies were recommended:
- Recognizing IK as credible and valuable.
- Leveraging IK with modern technology for sustainable solutions.
- Collaborating with communities and placing them at the center of planning.
- Including IK in educational curricula.
- Promoting quality research that documents Indigenous practices.
- Creating databases to preserve this invaluable knowledge.
Around 60 participants joined the lecture via Zoom, while 108 attended through YouTube Live. Attendees included students, researchers, and faculty from across India and abroad, representing institutions such as Utkal University, University of Delhi, Kannur University, South Asian University, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Amity University, University of Hyderabad, Gauhati University, Panjab University, IGNOU, University of Madras, IIT Guwahati, Central University of Odisha, Central University of Karnataka, Savitribai Phule Pune University, University of Kashmir, and the University of Leicester, among many others.
Notable organizations such as the Tribal Cultural Research and Training Mission, UNDP, UNESCO, IGRMS, and the International Justice Mission were also represented. Renowned professors and anthropologists actively participated, contributing rich insights during the discussion session.
The event concluded with a strong call to action, urging anthropologists to play a proactive role in policy-making, documentation, and educational reforms to ensure Indigenous Knowledge is recognized, protected, and promoted in building sustainable futures.
