In India, Religious Faith and Indigenous Knowledge are Used to Save the Environment: A Perspective towards Sustainable Development

Abstract

In previous years, world politics and every person in general was busy with politics and war. But due to rapid development activities environmental issues appear to be an important challenge in the twenty first century. As creatures living on this planet, we are totally dependent on what the Earth bestows upon us for food, water, minerals and energy resources. Religion blended with ‘वसुधैवकुटुम्बकम’ (the world is one family) can be a powerful tool for this planet. The idea of environmental conservation and sustainable development are not fresh for India. Through the lectures of Buddha, Ashoka, Gandhi, the concept of sacrifice for other became the integral part of the oriental philosophy. Veda, Bhagwad Gita, Upanishads are also believe in supremacy of the nature. By the help of primary and secondary data source, the paper documents the religious faith and traditional knowledge related to environmental conservation as well as sustainable development. Today, more than ever, there is a vital need to document all traditional knowledge and myth among the diverse ethnic communities before the traditional cultures are totally vanished.