Guest Lecture on Invisible No More: Highlighting Women's Contribution to the Indian Knowledge System in Ancient Literature

On April 29, 2025, the Department of English and Cultural Studies, Lavasa, organized an insightful online guest lecture titled "Invisible No More – Women’s Contribution to the Indian Knowledge System in Ancient Literature." The speaker for this event was Dr. Devina Krishna, a distinguished academic and researcher in the field of Linguistics. The lecture was part of the university’s broader initiative to promote interdisciplinary learning and foster critical engagement with India's intellectual and cultural heritage.

The session began with a warm welcome by the host, who highlighted the importance of revisiting and reassessing ancient Indian knowledge traditions through an inclusive lens. Dr. Krishna’s presentation centered on the Bharatiya Jñāna Paramparā, or the Indian Knowledge System, a division of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, established in October 2020 and currently housed at AICTE, New Delhi. She emphasized that the IKS aims to promote indigenous Indian systems of knowledge, with a focus on curriculum integration, cultural preservation, and sustainable development.

Dr. Krishna opened her talk by contextualizing IKS as a holistic and evolving framework that emphasizes well-being, practice-based learning, and the uniqueness of Indian civilization. However, she also stressed the urgent need for reassessment and critical deconstruction of the traditional narratives within these knowledge systems, particularly in relation to gender roles and contributions. In her detailed exploration of the contribution of women in ancient Indian literature, Dr. Krishna drew attention to the often-overlooked presence of women writers in early literary traditions. Tracing these traditions back to the Indus Valley Civilization (circa 2500 BCE), she discussed how the Vedas, the earliest surviving works of Indian literature, also contain voices and compositions attributed to women sages or "rishikas" such as Lopamudra and Gargi.

Dr. Krishna underscored that despite their pivotal role in shaping and enriching the literary and philosophical landscape of ancient India, women's contributions have been systematically marginalized or rendered invisible over time. Patriarchal norms and socio-cultural biases, she argued, have historically silenced these voices, necessitating a re-reading of ancient texts through a feminist and inclusive lens. One of the central themes of the lecture was how literature served as a powerful medium for ancient Indian women to express themselves and to challenge the dominant patriarchal narratives. Dr. Krishna provided examples of women’s agency within the constraints of their historical context, illustrating how literary expression became a site of both cultural preservation and subtle resistance.

She concluded her presentation by reiterating the importance of academic initiatives aimed at uncovering and revalidating the contributions of women within the IKS framework. She called upon students and scholars to engage critically with ancient texts, not just to appreciate their aesthetic or philosophical value, but to also question the structures of power that dictated who could be heard and remembered. The lecture was followed by an engaging Q&A session, where students posed thoughtful questions about the scope of IKS, feminist interpretations of ancient texts, and methods of integrating such content into contemporary curriculum. Dr. Krishna’s responses were nuanced and thought-provoking, encouraging further exploration and dialogue.

Overall, the event was a resounding success, illuminating a critical and underexplored area of Indian literary history. It not only deepened the participants’ understanding of the Indian Knowledge System but also shed light on the vital yet often invisible role of women in shaping it. The session aligned perfectly with Christ University Lavasa’s commitment to inclusivity, academic rigor, and the preservation of cultural heritage through progressive education.

The lecture supports SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by highlighting and reclaiming the marginalized contributions of women in ancient Indian literature. It also aligns with SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by promoting inclusive academic discourse that challenges historical biases and advocates for equal representation within cultural and educational narratives.