Sustainable Development and Traditional Knowledge with Special Reference to the Bodo Community

Traditional Knowledge of local or indigenous communities are developed and nurtured over many generations. Its wisdom has enabled communities to adapt and interact with their environment. The knowledge system of indigenous communities is embedded in their traditions, customs and practices. In many cases, such knowledge is orally transmitted through folklore, art, customary laws and rituals. Indigenous communities possess a wide array of traditional knowledge developed through the collection of insights of their surroundings and as a response to it. This has allowed them to sustain and reduce risks, thus enabling them to co-exist, utilize and adapt with their surroundings. Traditional knowledge, therefore, forms a vital asset for the indigenous communities such as the Bodos of North-east India. Due to globalization and the development of modern sciences and technology, the traditional knowledge of indigenous societies faces multiple challenges and have witnessed the reduction in its importance. However, the growing emphasis on sustainable development has begun to shed a new light in its direction. This paper, therefore, is an attempt to study the relevance of traditional knowledge in the achievement of sustainable existence of human beings with an emphasis on the Bodos community.