Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Cultural Heritage of PVTGs in the Face of Modernization: Challenges and Opportunities for Preservation

Author(s)	Dr. Huda Faiz
Country	India
Abstract	This paper investigates the impact of modernization on the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and cultural heritage of the Baiga tribe—classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Madhya Pradesh. Traditionally, the Baiga community’s life revolves around forest ecology, ethnomedicine, sustainable agriculture, and rich oral traditions. However, factors such as urbanization, formal education, forest encroachment, socio-economic transformation, and policy interventions have contributed to rapid cultural erosion. Using Cultural Ecology, Postcolonial Theory, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems Theory, the study explores how the Baiga’s cultural practices are linked to their environment and how colonial/postcolonial legacies have shaped their present reality. The research highlights challenges including restricted forest access, loss of traditional livelihoods, and decline in cultural practices, and proposes opportunities like integration of indigenous knowledge in conservation, community-based education, and cultural revival programs. This study emphasizes the need to recognize Baiga IKS as a resource for sustainable development while safeguarding their identity amid modernization.
Keywords	Baiga Tribe, PVTGs, Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), Cultural Heritage, Modernization, Madhya Pradesh
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 2, March-April 2026
Published On	2026-04-06

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