Lokavidya Adhyayan Peeth
Idea
Lokavidya does not have that place/status in society which may enable it to provide the basis for people's initiative in the governance of the society. Although lokavidya has emerged with an identity in the public realm in the information age, because of being suppressed and neglected for generations it still finds itself not strong enough to make its knowledge claims vis-a-vis science. It is still viewed from the standpoint of science. This gap in its position requires to be filled up by studies of theoretical and practical importance. Lokavidya Adhyayan Peeth is conceived to meet this demand.
The focus of studies is planned on the following themes:
- Lokavidya: body of knowledge, values, paradigms of argument and analysis and actual practice.
- Gram Vidyaloka- autonomous worlds of knowledge, rural world of knowledge, knowledge located among the people in ordinary life constituting a world of its own, economic, social and political contents and promise of such worlds
- Farmers' Movement- the width, depth and variety in the farmers' movements, do they unleash an imagination of a world on farmer's terms.
- Gyan Patrakarita- ideas and modes of communication among the people, media as a place and form of representing people's interests, ideas, imagination etc.
- Local market- horizontal exchange, situation of peasants, artisans, women, and small shop keepers with respect to the market, regeneration of rural economy.
- Lokasmriti- memories, narratives, stories, seeking a balance between the written word and social memory.
- Art- art communities, philosophy of desi and margi, creative activity, literature, theater, films.
- Contemporary political philosophy- sant parmpara, lokavidya darshan, concept of organization, governance, state.
- Connectivity- live traditional methods, modern methods (internet, mobile), complexity by dimensions of space, time, social groupings, class, economic activity, heritage, civilization, etc.
Present situation: Two part-time researchers are working on:
- Gram Vidyaloka
- Farmers' Movement in Eastern Uttar Pradesh