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Indigenous Mathematical Knowledge and Oral Traditions in Jharkhand: An Explorative Study of Tribal Learning Practices

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Last date : 27-Oct-2025

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Indigenous Mathematical Knowledge and Oral Traditions in Jharkhand: An Explorative Study of Tribal Learning Practices


Mrs. Kalpana Priya | Bharat Yadav | Dr. Jyoti Verma



Mrs. Kalpana Priya | Bharat Yadav | Dr. Jyoti Verma "Indigenous Mathematical Knowledge and Oral Traditions in Jharkhand: An Explorative Study of Tribal Learning Practices" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-9 | Issue-4, August 2025, pp.566-571, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd97281.pdf

The Oraon, Munda, Kharia, Santhal, and Ho, among others, reside in Jharkhand. Each tribe has its own unique customs and diverse systems of knowledge. Schooling in the tribes was predominantly oral, done through stories, songs, and folklore. It encompasses useful skills such as agriculture, hunting, medicine, community leadership, spiritual practices, and a compassion for nature. Tribal elders were the primary educators as they shared knowledge accumulated from life experiences through storytelling. Through these indigenous systems of knowledge, mathematics was part of life and culture in holistic ways. Activities like farming, construction, trade, and craftwork already had an element of estimating, measuring, and counting. For instance, tribal societies used sticks, marbles, and other local materials for counting and basic arithmetic-methods that were contextually relevant and easy for children to understand. Such mathematical practices were rooted in the community, focusing on true and relevant issues that would benefit the people. The tribal people of Jharkhand have taught and understood mathematics with culture in mind, which makes it relevant to their lives. For example, recent educational projects have aimed to convert mathematics textbooks into tribal languages such as Ho, Santhali, Mundari, Kudukh, and Kharia, using local contexts to enhance teaching efficacy for primary school learners. By employing traditional teaching tools and methods, tribal people protect lost forms of mathematical knowledge and ensure they are taught and learned. Knowledge in tribal societies is often acquired and taught communally, such that it is disseminated and enjoyed in groups, which strengthens social relations and cooperative solutions. The Objective of the study is to identify the role of the tribes of Jharkhand in understanding of mathematics. Data sources include the review of related literature. The study explores the ways in which traditional mathematics-based on oral tradition, interactive engagement with nature, and group learning-traditionally have determined mathematical ideas such as number, measurement, and spatial thinking. Through a reading of modern schooling programs, such as mother-tongue math textbooks using indigenous illustrations (sticks, marbles, and seeds) and biliterate curricula.

Indigenous mathematics, Art integrated pedagogy, tribal education, Jharkhand, culturally relevant pedagogy, mother-tongue instruction.


IJTSRD97281
Volume-9 | Issue-4, August 2025
566-571
IJTSRD | www.ijtsrd.com | E-ISSN 2456-6470
Copyright © 2019 by author(s) and International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development Journal. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)

International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development - IJTSRD having online ISSN 2456-6470. IJTSRD is a leading Open Access, Peer-Reviewed International Journal which provides rapid publication of your research articles and aims to promote the theory and practice along with knowledge sharing between researchers, developers, engineers, students, and practitioners working in and around the world in many areas like Sciences, Technology, Innovation, Engineering, Agriculture, Management and many more and it is recommended by all Universities, review articles and short communications in all subjects. IJTSRD running an International Journal who are proving quality publication of peer reviewed and refereed international journals from diverse fields that emphasizes new research, development and their applications. IJTSRD provides an online access to exchange your research work, technical notes & surveying results among professionals throughout the world in e-journals. IJTSRD is a fastest growing and dynamic professional organization. The aim of this organization is to provide access not only to world class research resources, but through its professionals aim to bring in a significant transformation in the real of open access journals and online publishing.

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