Day 21 of Tribal Futures Fest 2.0: Prof. Bipin Jojo Explores Tribal Epistemology
Day 21 of Tribal Futures Fest 2.0 featured Professor Bipin Jojo, a noted scholar of tribal education, delivering a powerful lecture on tribal epistemology and its relevance in today’s world. Hosted by Dubai-based Munda designer Anupam Purty, the session explored how indigenous knowledge systems are holistic, experiential, and deeply connected to nature, community, and spirituality. Professor Jojo highlighted that tribal knowledge, often dismissed as “primitive,” represents a sophisticated worldview that challenges dominant modern narratives. He contrasted colonial and post-independence perspectives with an emerging indigenous voice that asserts self-determination and cultural pride. Using examples such as the survival of Andaman tribes during the 2004 tsunami and the rediscovery of millets as a “superfood,” he underlined the importance of decolonising tribal worldview. His talk emphasized that true independence for indigenous communities lies in valuing and articulating their knowledge systems from within.
Staff Editor 
Day 21 of Tribal Futures Fest 2.0 featured a thought-provoking session with Dr. Bipin Jojo, Professor at the Centre for Social Justice and Governance, School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. The session was hosted by Dubai-based graphic designer Anupam Purty from the Munda tribe, who introduced Dr. Jojo as one of the foremost voices in shaping discourse on indigenous knowledge systems.
In his address, Dr. Jojo delivered a compelling lecture on tribal epistemology - the theory of knowledge within indigenous communities. He challenged long-standing stereotypes by underlining that tribal knowledge is not primitive but a complex, holistic worldview rooted in kinship, spirituality, and a deep relationship with nature.
Tracing historical narratives, Dr. Jojo contrasted three dominant perspectives: the British colonial view of tribes as “isolated,” the Indian nation-state’s assimilationist approach after independence, and the emerging indigenous perspective of self-determination. He highlighted how forums like the Tribal Design Forum and the Tribal Intellectual Collective India are reclaiming space for indigenous thought and creativity.
Prof Bipin Jojo during online session at Tribal Futures Fest 2.0
The lecture also emphasized the sharp distinctions between indigenous and modern knowledge. While indigenous epistemology is experiential, orally transmitted, and validated by the community, modern knowledge relies on institutional authority. Citing the survival of Andaman tribes during the 2004 tsunami, Dr. Jojo argued that indigenous rationality remains deeply effective despite being sidelined.
He further warned of the ongoing cultural colonization brought by modernization, using the example of millets -once dismissed as “poor man’s food” but now marketed as expensive superfoods - to demonstrate the commodification of indigenous practices.
Beyond the session, Dr. Jojo’s academic contributions underscore his authority in the field. A Commonwealth Visiting Fellow at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (2008–09), he has also held visiting positions at the University of Tampere, Finland (2018), and delivered lectures at the University of Bilbao (Spain) and Masaryk University (Czech Republic). At TISS, he served as Chairperson of the Centre for Social Justice and Governance (2006–2012) and the International Relations Office (2009–2012), playing a key role in building international collaborations, including the Erasmus Mundus consortium led by Lund University, Sweden. His co-research projects with the University of Edinburgh, University of East London, and Charles Sturt University, Australia, have contributed globally to the study of welfare, care systems, and indigenous education.
His pioneering research on Tribal Education and Ashram Schools in Maharashtra has been a landmark in Indian tribal studies. As a founding member of the Tribal Intellectual Collective India, he continues to support community outreach and civil society initiatives for indigenous empowerment.
Dr. Jojo concluded his lecture with a powerful reminder: while India may be politically independent, its indigenous communities are yet to experience decolonization. True independence, he argued, will only come when indigenous knowledge systems are valued and articulated from within these communities themselves.
Tribal Futures Fest 2.0 is the second edition of a 31-day month-long digital showcase of contemporary tribal imagination organised by Tribal Design Forum.
