Women’s Resistance and the Reclamation of Indigenous Knowledge in India

Abstract

This article examines the gendered dimensions of indigenous knowledge in India, focusing on epistemic justice, resistance and reclamation. It argues that while women have historically been key custodians of ecological and cultural knowledge, colonialism, modernization and patriarchal structures have systematically undermined their roles and recognition. The article traces the evolution of gendered IK systems from pre-colonial times through contemporary spaces of revival and resistance. Drawing on postcolonial ecofeminist frameworks, it highlights how indigenous women’s resistance movements against extractivist development exemplify sustainable, place-based ways of knowing that challenge both global capitalism and local patriarchy. The research emphasizes that supporting indigenous epistemic frameworks is integral to the decolonial project and essential for advancing knowledge justice. By reclaiming their roles as knowledge producers, marginalized women are driving transformative change and creating pathways toward more just, inclusive and ecologically grounded futures. The article concludes by advocating for the active incorporation of women's IK into development, education and governance paradigms to build epistemic democracy, ecological resilience and gender justice.