Bhubaneswar: To document and preserve India’s traditional knowledge systems, the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) division under the Union ministry of education has approved a research project of Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, focusing on the ethnozoological practices of tribal communities in the state.
Students at work at a laboratory at FM University in Balasore
The project will be led by Bharat Bhusan Patnaik of Fakir Mohan University, with his colleague Manojit Bhattacharya being the co-principal investigator. The initiative is expected to engage PG students of zoology in field-based research, official sources said.“The project aims to explore the rich but largely undocumented knowledge of indigenous communities related to animal use, traditional veterinary practices and medicinal applications derived from animals. The study will focus on tribal populations in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts — regions known for their diverse tribal groups such as Santal, Kolha, Bhumija and Ho,” said Santosh Kumar Tripathy, vice-chancellor, Fakir Mohan University.Experts believe Odisha holds a vast repository of ethnozoological knowledge developed over centuries through close interaction between humans, animals and ecosystems spanning forests, wetlands and coastal areas. However, rapid modernisation and the declining transfer of oral traditions have put this knowledge at risk of disappearing.“The need to document and validate this indigenous knowledge is urgent,” said Tripathy, adding that the project will bridge traditional practices with modern animal science, veterinary research and ecological studies. Students involved in the programme will conduct field surveys, interact with traditional healers and tribal communities, and record practices such as ethno-veterinary treatments, animal husbandry techniques and conservation methods, he added.Tripathy said the research will adopt a multi-phase approach, beginning with literature review and conceptual training, followed by field documentation, data analysis and scientific validation. The findings will be compiled into reports, digital repositories and policy briefs, which could support curriculum development and future research initiatives, he added.Odisha govt has also sanctioned Rs 30 lakh to Fakir Mohan University for promotion of the IKS in state public universities in alignment with the objectives of the NEP.
