Knowledge Dissemination Efforts to Uplift the Marginalized in Early Twentieth Century Kerala

Abstract

TThis paper examines Indian traditions of knowledge transmission through the lenses of ethical responsibility and modern Open Knowledge. Drawing on sources from the Upanishads, Ayurveda, and yogic and tantric sciences, it argues that knowledge was viewed as a moral trust aimed at lokasaṅgraha rather than private ownership. The guru–śiṣya system ensured both effective learning and ethical readiness, while institutions such as Takshashila and Nalanda, public medical texts, and cross-cultural exchanges reflected a strong culture of openness and shared inquiry. Secrecy and symbolism functioned as safeguards of responsible use, not exclusion. By engaging contemporary Open Knowledge, Open Science, and digital heritage initiatives, the paper shows how India’s epistemic ethics anticipate and enrich today’s debates on responsible, inclusive, and sustainable knowledge sharing.