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Sri Sri Advanced Global Centre for Indigenous Studies (SSAG-CIS)

 
  • Inspiration: Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
  • Chief Patron: Prof. (Mrs.) Rajita Kulkarni: President, Sri Sri University & President of World forum for ethics in Business.
  • Patron: Prof. (Dr.) B. R. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, Sri Sri University.

    Advisory Board:
    – Sujeet Kumar, Advisory SDC Govt. of Odisha
    – D.K.Hari, Founder Bharath Gyan
    – Hema Hari, Co-Founder, Bharath Gyan.
    – Kamala kant Dash, Asst. Prof. FCMS, Sri Sri University

    Objective of the Centre: Celebration of the Spirit of Mutual Learning Mutual Respect and Mutual Growth: – Indigenous communities are part of our unique mosaic. Their life and contribution reflect a great celebration of our rich diversity. Worldwide they have been transmitters of ancient knowledge of health, healing, social and spiritual collaborations and most notably biodiversity protection with a deep sense of love towards the mother earth. As modern civilization reaches out to them to make their living conditions better, as they engage with the new ideas of economics, technology and social change, we should never forget to learn from their scientific practices and humanitarian beliefs. The centre is designed to further this celebration of the spirit of mutual learning, mutual respect and mutual growth.

  • Back Ground: Challenges before our Indigenous Communities: – Worldwide indigenous communities are facing several challenges like exclusion deprivation, exploitation and at several places face direct confrontation with the government and market forces. The so-called civilized and modern world through its arrogance of knowledge and technology has suffered more by excluding the successors of nature’s first inhabitants. The results are disastrous and there for everyone to see and feel. This needs to be reversed and the indigenous communities deserve reverence for their centuries of work in protecting the world’s sensitive ecosystems and the bio-diverse regions of the world. Even though late, now there is an increasing awareness among national and global policy makers, business and religious leaders and investors on the crucial value that indigenous communities add to the survival of our world.
  • The Global Perspective: Think Global Act Local: – The proposed centre will connect to global platforms and networks dedicated to better understand indigenous communities, their challenges and how best to meet those challenges. In this backdrop, it’s necessary to study the lived experience of the diverse indigenous communities in India.The centre which aims to emerge as a centre of excellence in indigenous studies will conduct surveys, quantitative, ethnographic, qualitative, action oriented and policy research on indigenous lived experience.
  • Our Mandate: Stakeholder Engagement For Mutual Empowerment: – We will evaluate government and private run programmes, schemes and initiatives to develop comparative insights and document best practices. The centre will train young indigenous leaders and learn from the indigenous communities regarding the traditional knowledge systems related to nature, socio-cultural practices, folklore, agriculture, business, health, healing, spirituality and wellbeing. The centre will connect to Art of Living’s several awareness, educational, health and community development initiatives in tribal areas of India.
  • Academic, Policy and Industry Linkages: Knowledge and Practice together: – The centre will offer awareness programmes through workshops, seminars and short term certificate courses. The centre will draw its knowledge resources from different departments of the university. Sri Sri University faculty members, experts and PhD scholars from areas of Indic Studies, Languages, Architecture, Agriculture Science, Business Studies, Sustainability and History etc will bring the initial expertise and prepare a future road map in collaboration with policy makers, subject experts like sociologists and anthropologists, business leaders, indigenous community elders, literary figures and senior journalists covering indigenous affairs
  • Immediate Future Plan: Exploring the Global Networks: – The centre will sign partnerships and MoUs with relevant government ministries and department, UN Agencies, business houses, academic centres and media houses. The proposed centre in the long term aims to have a research and publication wing, an audio-visual and multi-media wing, an indigenous language wing for training and translation, a dedicated library wing along with a Museum and an auditorium.

  • Contact Details:
    Office of the Indigenous Studies (SSAG-CIS)
    2nd Floor, Shruti Building
    Sri Sri University
    Bidyadharpur, Ward No.3
    Cuttack, Odisha: 754006
    Contact No-0671-7132631  
    I.D: indigenouscentre@srisriuniversity.edu.in