ICHR plans global collaboration for ‘India-centric’ research work

OFFICIALS SAY AIM IS TO PROMOTE THE INDIAN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM AND METHODOLOGY, WHICH ‘HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN THEIR DUE CREDIT’

The Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) is looking at global collaborations to conduct “Indiacentric” research, and has recently signed an agreement with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) of the UK to work on the country’s creative industries and cultural heritage, a top official said.

The council, an autonomous institution under the education ministry, will explore more such opportunities with other countries, including Japan, Australia and Israel, said Umesh Ashok Kadam, member secretary at the ICHR.

“ICHR had many International collaborations that expired amid the Covid-19 pandemic and they could not be renewed. Now, we are working on renewing some old collaborations and exploring new ones. However, this time, we would only have India-centric themes,” Kadam said. “Our previous collaborations with the UK were more euro-centric and now it is completely going to shift to Indian. We signed one agreement with the UK’S AHRC last month,” he added.

The ICHR wants to present a “global face” through these collaborations, Kadam said. “Through this effort, ICHR is also trying to promote the Indian knowledge system and Indian methodology, which have not been given their due credit,” he said. “We want to tell the world about India’s scientific temperament of research. We have to understand our history not just within our own realm, but also have to see it through the contours that connect,” he added.

Elaborating on the collaboration with AHRC, Kadam said under creative industries, the topics covered include India’s contribution in performing arts, advertisements, architecture, arts and crafts, design, films, and music and photography across ancient, medieval and modern times. “In cultural heritage, we will cover topics including science and technology, astronomy, mining, textile industry, metallurgy, law, and democratic values. The baseline will be India oriented,” he said.

The ICHR and AHRC will work on at least 10 research projects and conduct workshops and seminars.

“We are also looking to have an exchange of Indian sources lying across the UK in libraries and archives,” Kadam said.