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Science BEHIND ethno knowledge
Deepak Prasad Kayastha
This thesis is submitted to the Tribhuvan University
in partial fulfilment of the requirements for
The Master of Philosophy in Education
August, 2011
Abstract
This study has focussed on the perception of science under ethno knowledge. I had done in-depth study of some households of Bhaktapur and Kaski districts where three generations of Newar family were living together. Underpinning the science behind traditional practices was the main area of this study as many such practices still prevail in many Nepali communities. What was more intriguing was that people have followed such practices unknowingly about the science hidden into it. Most arguably, practices related to health care and hygiene, culinary practices, and housing are some of the areas that inherit significantly from our traditions. Qualitative approach was used in this research to articulate the use of ethno-science between the two different generations – grandparent and grandchildren. Focus group discussions, interviews, and observation of artefact and practices constitute the major data source. This information was processed and interpreted with the help of Ethnography. The study found that there is a big gap between the traditional knowledge and the modern knowledge for which modern technologies appears to be the cause. Except in a few areas, most traditional practices have their own explanations and the process for which there were particular values attached to them. In the study, intergenerational value difference in scientific knowledge was also identified and the ways to bridge the intergenerational knowledge through educative process was highlighted.
Library Release Form
Name of the author Deepak Prasad Kayastha
Degree Master of Philosophy in Education
Year of this degree granted 2011
Permission is hereby granted to Tribhuvan University to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only.
The author reserves other publication and other rights in association with the copy right in the thesis, and except as herein before provided neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatever without author’s permission.
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Deepak Prasad Kayastha
2011
Declaration
I hereby declare that this thesis has not been submitted for the candidature for any other degree.
I understand that my thesis will become a part of permanent collection of Tribhuvan University Library. My signature below authorizes release of my thesis to any readers upon request.
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Deepak Prasad Kayastha
2011
Acceptance and Recommendations
The undersigned certify that we have read, approved, and recommend to the Faculty of Education, Tribhuvan University for acceptance, a thesis entitled Science BEHIND ethno knowledge submitted by Deepak Prasad Kayastha in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in education with specialization in leadership studies.
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Dr Vishnu Karki, Ed. D.
Thesis Supervisor
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Dr Hridaya Bajrachharya
External Examinar
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Dr Rukmani Bajrachharya
External Examinar
August, 2011
Dedication
To my parents
Acknowledgement
I sincerely would like to express many thanks to Dr Vishnu Karki for his immense support and advice to complete this thesis. I am also equally thankful to Dr Bidya Nath Koirala for his massive cooperation throughout my work.
I am grateful to the Principal of Budhanilkantha School, Mr N P Sharma, Vice Principals- Mr R N Dawadi and Mr K Khulal for their full support and co-operation during my M Phil study. I am also very indebted to Mr Mukunda Amagai, Mr Rajesh Manandhar, and Mr Ramchandra Dahal for their immense help and support during the gestation period of my thesis. I am so much thankful to Mr Noor Jung Shah for his full cooperation to convert my thesis into the APA style.
I would also like to extend my gratefulness to the families of Mr Prem Lal Malla for assisting me during my fieldwork and all the households and the informants that I got support during my field visit.
I appreciate my wife, Sushila for her patience and support throughout my M. Phil. Study.
I am equally indebted to my brother Mr Rabindra Kayastha, the assistant professor of Kathmandu University for his full guidance throughout my study.
Table of Content
Abstract ii
Library Release Form iii
Declaration iv
Acceptance and Recommendations v
Acknowledgement vii
Chapter i 1
Introduction 1
Background of the study 1
Medicinal Practices 4
Daily Living Practices 7
Problem Statement and Rationale of the Study 12
Research questions: 12
Chapter II 13
Literature Review 13
Conceptual Framework 26
Chapter III 37
Methodology 37
Selection of the Site 37
Tools/ Instruments 38
Participant Observation 38
Focus Group Discussion 39
Science behind traditional practices 45
A. Daily Living Practices: 45
1. Structure of the old houses 45
2. Ethnoscience in Chulo 47
3. Location of chulo 48
4. Cloud formation 49
5. Additional importance of smoke 49
B. Health Related Practices 50
1. Health awareness of the grandparents: 50
2. Clever use of the products of fire wood 50
3. Use of abir 51
4. Use of suraii for storing drinking water 51
5. Pond water /river water is regarded as a drinking water. 51
Findings and Discussions 52
1. Knowledge on house construction 54
2. The thermodynamics of chulo 58
3. The scientific location of chulo 61
4. Cloud formation: the contribution of chulo 62
5. Multipurpose of smoke 64
B. Health Related Practices 64
Health awareness of the grandparents: 64
1. Fire wood and smoke hazards: 64
2. The science on the fire wood used in the chulo 66
3. Use of abir (vermillion) 67
4. Suraii for health and local economy 68
5. Pond water /river water: healthy practice. 69
Chapter VI 72
Conclusion and Implications 72
References 81
Appendix –I 85
Appendix -II 94
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Chapter i
Introduction
Background of the study
Long years back, people were trying to understand the nature and hence remained closer to the nature. They were not aware of the advent of the modern science and technology. Over the time, considerable change has happened in science and technology and their use in addressing basic human needs such as housing and food habits. However, what is more intriguing is to note that in most traditional cultures, age old practices, especially on shelter and food habits, are still prevalent and that they have sustained healthy living. What is the science or the knowledge behind traditional practices that contributed to continuation of the traditional practices, and that people are still making satisfactory living with the practices? Current research is more or less an attempt to find scientific reasoning on some of the most common activities that many people have been practising in traditional ways mostly in rural areas but is also common in some urban households in Nepal.
While this traditional science and the knowledge that was transferred from generations to generation was initially in my mind, I did some exploration into the literature where I could find something like ethno-science which was quite a new concept. There was an abundance of literature on ethno-mathematics, ethno-botany, ethno-biology but the word ethno-science was relatively few in the literature search. As a science teacher, lack of information on this new knowledge domain “ethno-science” made me inquisitive to explore the knowledge or the science behind traditional practice and that how it explains ethno-science in our Nepalese context.
To begin with, I did preliminary survey of some households in which three generations were living together. It was fascinating to note that many of their methods used in daily chores were very much scientific. This made me even more curious to examine this household level science which is used interchangeably as ethno-science. Ethno-science researches have been started in different parts of the world as we could see some research related to these in the libraries and in the internet. Most of the ethno-science researches have been done in ethno-botany and ethno-mathematics but the history of ethno science is not that long. The ethno science basically focuses on the knowledge rather than the number of sample (www.ethnoscience.com). Therefore, the research is based on the reviews of existing literature and the experience of some household studies.
According to Encarta dictionary, ethno means culture. So, ethno science means the science inherent in people’s culture. There are different traditions, beliefs, logical reasoning, and habits ascribed in such cultures. There exists innate reasoning and logical thinking, in each culture, behind such practices that is often described as traditions have been followed through generations. Such reasoning and logical thinking provides as the basis to form the ethno-science.
Speaking of the traditional buildings, the earthquake of 2045 BS provides good reasons to discuss how traditional buildings could resist the wave whereas many of recently built houses failed to stand it. Likewise, the knowhow about different types of spices used in cooking and preserving food dates back to hoary past which has transcended from generation to generation.
The knowledge or the science that has been transcended from generations is gradually fading away due to inadequate research and studies. No doubt, that the modernization has made human living safer and comfortable than ever before, widespread use of gadgets and instruments in daily living and household chores have on the other hand made us more dependent. For example, spices are readily available in the market that meets food specific requirement of ingredients, making cooking lot easier. The person cooking the food need not know anything about spices being used. Basic cooking and preserving food used to be the common household knowledge, which has now been fading away due to extensive use of gadgets and readymade recipes.
Kitchen, in particular, in many Nepali cultures receives an utmost priority in terms of its location and value in the household chores. In some cultures, it is the place that is most neat and tidy, for example, the thakali kitchen. Fire, an important source of energy in the kitchen is also considered the god and is regularly worshipped in Hindu culture. Thus, cleanliness in the kitchen is also associated in the use of fire that is considered as the god. Wasting food is considered a sin but an offering is usually made to the fire god prior to beginning the meal.
Impact of the disappearing knowledge is discernible among our new generations. Hence the sole motive of this study is to bring forth the traditional practices and culture and to examine the scientific reasoning envisaged in them. Nepal is really rich with old people with old techniques and we should understand the science associated with these techniques. The old methods and techniques are scientific in many ways. It is for this reason that we need to look their methods through the lens of science.
Among the innumerable items, some of the items and techniques discussed in this thesis include the science behind indigenous structure of the old houses, and the science behind chulo – the kitchen. Additional importance in the study is also given to explore scientific reasons in the use of smoke, health awareness of grandparents, clever use of the products of firewood, scientific truth in the use of charcoal, old method of tackling mental stress, use of abir, use of surai for drinking water storage. These discussions have been grouped into two broad categories for better understanding as: Medicinal practices and Daily living practices.
Medicinal Practices
There are various practices still executed by the old people for various purposes which although does not apparently look scientific are very scientific and many valuable reasons behind it. For instance, when the body skin burns due to the accidental fire break, the old people spat the paste of cow dung around the affected area. They said it prevents the formation of blisters. But the discussion with the medical doctors shows that they are not in position to accept this concept and yet the old people are using these methods since the time immemorial and they are getting relief from these methods. Therefore, how far the truth is there needs to be studied scientifically in this regards and this will really be beneficial to the Nepalese people. For instance there is a scientific reasoning behind the ‘paan’. Old people whom I talked with believe that eating ‘paan’ increases the strength of the teeth. This has scientific reasoning. paan consists of ‘chun’ which is calcium oxide powder. The powder thus provides calcium which is very essential to strengthen the teeth (Mackean & Jones, 1985). Similarly, the old people preferred to have pickles grinded in the thick stone slate rather than grinding in the electric grinder. There is pretty scientific reasoning behind this. The old people prefer that because the stone slate provides fine particles of stone which is the compound of calcium and it is because of Calcium that the pickles grinded on the stone slates are tasty (Tuli, et al, 1983). Pickles without calcium have blunt taste. Similar is the case with water. River water is also tasty as it flows along the stone rocks they contain plenty of calcium ions (Sthapit & Pradhananga 1996). Underground water have blunt taste as it is not coming in contact with the rock stones and hence consists of very little or no calcium ions at all. That is why the old people prefer to have pickles made in the stone slate. The calcium makes our teeth and bones stronger and hence essential substance for our healthy growth (Mackean & Jones, 1985). This clearly shows how the old people are using science in their day to day life.
Another physician points out that as far as possible, patients should be given only the traditional methods of treatment unless it is really very essential. It is because the pharmaceutical medicines always have some or other sort of side effects. He recommended sourly foods like teete karela and pickles with ‘methi’ which gives sour taste is the best method to control the blood pressure. When I consulted with dieticians and doctors in an Adolescent Health Training Programme in Budhanilkantha School (2010), they claimed that food in particular with sour taste such as teete karela (bitter gourd) has medicinal values in controlling human blood pressure (01/08/2009). This message had also sparked my mind. Those old people that I met were very cool in spite of their old age- generally I have found many old people in the urban areas very sensitive due to problem of the blood pressure. There are some amazing methods, which are very powerful methods to cure some of the diseases like curing janai khatira. This disease was treated by writing a lion around the blisters. But a physician Dr Dhakwo told (12/12/2010) me that janai khatira is a disease named Harpes Zoster. Herpes Zoster is a viral infection in the nerves, and it spreads along the branches of the infected nerves. An ointment called ‘acyclovir is used to cure this disease’ said Dr Dhakhwo. I feel that Research needs to be done in these amazing traditional methods because this method is curing this disease among several people according to the old people.