About Us
Nurturing scholarly study, rigorous reconstruction, and practical contemporary integration of India's intellectual and artisanal inheritance.
Our Logo — A Living Tradition
The emblem of the Centre for Traditional Indian Knowledge and Skills is conceived as a seal of continuity, where knowledge, skill, and lineage converge. It brings together three interwoven motifs: the padma (lotus), the kolam, and the Guru (Bṛhaspati) Yantra, each reflecting a dimension of India's living intellectual heritage.
At the heart of the design blooms the lotus, a symbol of unfolding potential and clarity of thought. Surrounding it, the kolam evokes the quiet brilliance of knowledge woven into daily life: mathematics expressed as art, discipline expressed as grace.
Subtle solar and floral accents suggest illumination and renewal, the blossoming of traditional skills in contemporary contexts. Together, these elements speak of a tradition not frozen in the past, but alive in practice: precise, luminous, and ever-unfolding. Through this seal, CTIKS affirms its role as a guardian of that living continuity, where mastery is at once intellectually rigorous and soulfully embodied.
Our Motto
ज्ञानमयं तपः
jñānamayaṁ tapaḥ
Muṇḍakopaniṣad (1.1.9)
The guiding ethos of CTIKS is expressed in its motto: ज्ञानमयं तपः, often rendered as "Knowledge itself is austerity," or more fully, "Knowledge as disciplined pursuit; learning as sacred transformation." Yet the English word austerity does not adequately convey the depth of tapas, which in Sanskrit signifies not severity or deprivation, but a generative inner discipline, a refining heat that illuminates, strengthens, and transforms.
In this spirit, knowledge at CTIKS is not understood as the passive accumulation of information, but as the very substance that shapes and directs enquiry.
Our Vision
The Centre for Traditional Indian Knowledge and Skills is envisioned to be a leading centre of excellence dedicated to the rigorous study, reconstruction, and contemporary application of India's scientific and artisanal knowledge traditions. The Centre aspires to create a scholarly environment where clarity of method, depth of inquiry, and integrity of interpretation are all seamlessly blended.
Our Mission
- To strengthen foundational scholarship in various domains of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS).
- To revitalize traditional craft and artisanal traditions through modern research and support.
- To foster interdisciplinary research by bridging traditional wisdom with contemporary scientific methods.
- To create authentic educational resources and academic programs in IKS.
- To engage with the community through outreach, workshops, and international conferences.
- To act as a bridge between the wisdom of the past and the challenges of the future.