Linking Contemporary Science with Traditional Knowledge Sources: A Scientometric Approach

Abstract

The intrinsic value of Indian traditional knowledge sources in modern sciences is examined by evaluating 2431 publications of the last 200 years culled from the Scopus database. The results showed growing interest among scholars and researchers from about 60 countries who have researched these knowledge sources. Although major publications belong to the fields of humanities and social sciences, researchers in the areas of computer science, engineering, medicine, and environmental science have shown research interests in these domains. A shift of research interest has been noticed as researchers in computational linguistics, semantics, cultural heritage, and sustainable development have identified emerging themes. The analysis of secondary sources showed that publications appeared between 1700 and 1950 on various traditional sources, mostly by non-Indic authors. This research concludes that the fusion of traditional knowledge in fields such as medicine, agriculture, and environmental sciences may be helpful for the study of contemporary problems, achieving sustainable goals, and enhancing both academic inquiry and practical applications. It is urged that the Governments in India should support researchers to work in the areas of social welfare using the Indian traditional knowledge sources.