IIM-A professor collects common people's knowledge, disseminates it

Professor Anil Gupta of Indian Institute of Management-Ahamedabd has traveled 4,000 kms on foot to collect traditional Indian knowledge and innovations prevailed among common people of the country.

Professor Anil Gupta of Indian Institute of Management-Ahamedabd has traveled 4,000 kms on foot to collect traditional Indian knowledge and innovations prevailed among common people of the country.

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Professor Gupta records such knowledge and innovations, get them patented and disseminate them.

Professor Gupta with his team of 35 members recently concluded his week-long 'shod yatra' (inquisitive tour) in the Maxal dominated regions of Chattisgarh, where the state administrations fear to venture. This was the 25th such 'Sodh Yatra' taken out by Gupta since 1998.

Gupta and his team members went to find out traditional knowledge of tribals of the Chattisgarh. They started their tour from Brehda village to Mehka in Narayanpur district of the state.

"Our traditional knowledge acquired through centuries by our forefathers, which is very rich, has been withering away. What we also noticed was our grassroots innovators also required encouragement," Gupta said in an interview.

"Our common people may be poor but they are rich in knowledge. We established 'Honey Bee Network' in 1998 with an aim to tap this knowledge and spread it among other people who will also progress with the use of such knowledge and innovations," Gupta said.