Pune: With an aim to disseminate traditional Indian knowledge across the world and to make the present-day Indian citizens aware of their roots and culture, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) have come together to launch an ambitious initiative titled ‘UTIKS’, Universalization of Traditional Indian Knowledge System.

An MoU to this effect was signed between the two organisations today during a ceremony held at the SPPU campus. This project will be up and running from the auspicious occasion of Gudhi Padwa on April 13, 2021.

Capsules on Indian Constitution and Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar along with 15 other capsules on the subjects including Bharatshstra, Ashtanayika, Mohiniyattam, Kalaripayattu, Robindro Sangeet, Jatra, Biryani, Indian Manners and Etiquette, Yogasanas, Ayurveda, Knowledge Leaders of Ancient India, Bollywood dance, Gharanas in Indian Classical Music, Rhythm of India and Arms and Armours of Marathas will be launched on the UTIKS platform. Knowledge available on this platform would be absolutely free for everyone to access.

Dignitaries including Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Dr Nitin Karmalkar, Vice Chancellor of Savitribai Phule Pune University, Deepak Karanjikar, Chairman of Finance Committee (ICCR), Dr. Apoorva Palkar, Director, Innovation, Incubation and Enterprises at the SPPU, Shrirang Godbole, Content Director of ‘UTIKS’, Rajesh Pande and Prasenjit Fadnavis, Members of Management Council of SPPU, Atul Patankar, Finance and Accounts Officer of SPPU, N.K. Malik, Director, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Pune Division, Dr. Bhupal Patwardhan, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute among others were present on the occasion.

Dr Sahasrabuddhe said, “There are many platforms available around the world to discuss economic and strategic issues, but there are no platforms available for discussing culture. Considering this, we are undertaking this ‘UTIKS’ project with Savitribai Phule Pune University, through which successful efforts will be made to enhance education and impart right information over Indian traditional knowledge and dispel stereotypes and misconceptions.”

As the traditional Indian knowledge system is of great interest to the community worldwide, its universalisation has been the mandate of the ICCR. It has entered into an agreement with SPPU through its e-Content Development & Learning Innovation Centre (e-CDLIC) to create structured e-Content capsules.

It will provide basic information for those within India and overseas about the subjects related to Indian Art, Culture, Indian Epics, Indian wildlife, temple architecture, folk art and tradition, Yoga, Indian cuisine and traditional dances of India among others.

Dr Karmalkar said, “We will make a special effort to understand Indian traditional knowledge in a contemporary way and not just by providing available information. The project will be important in preserving Indian culture as well as guiding the new generation.”

Massive knowledge base of various departments of SPPU and the allied institutions shall be utilised for the development of UTIKS. The e-CDLIC at SPPU will utilise the best academic brains to create engaging content that would include presentation, video, quizzes, and reading material of about two hours in each capsule. The center has the expertise of developing e -content using its state-of-the-art studio facility. It has so far created more than 1300 video-based courses.

Information of about 100 subjects from the categories mentioned above shall be made available under this UTIKS initiative through the capsules of e-content. To begin with it would be available in English and there are plans to make it available in German, French, Russian, Japanese and Chinese at a later stage.