Brief History
The development of the concept of lokavidya and generally the focus on
vidya in socially and politically significant aspects of life dates
back to 1995. It owes its genesis to the thought and work of three organisations
in the preceeding period, namely Mazdoor Kisan Niti group (Kanpur),
PPST Foundation (Chennai) and Nari Hastakala Udyoga Samiti (Varanasi) and specifically
to the concrete context of the Congresses of Traditional Sciences & Technologies
of India (1993 Mumbai, 1995 Chennai, 1998 Varanasi).
Lokavidya Mahadhiveshan (Third Congress of Traditional Sciences & Technologies
of India) and the simultaneous beginning of the publication of the
Lokavidya Samvad gave some shape to the social
pursuit focussed on vidya.
The workshop Dialogues on Knowledge in Society organised by Indigen
Research Foundation, Pune, and Lokavidya Samvad, Varanasi, at World
Social Forum 2004 in Mumbai gave this pursuit a further impetus.
In August 2004 the Vidya Ashram got off to a limping start at Sarnath.
