Swa-Twam-Tat Inquiry: Challenging Western-induced Epistemologies and Exploring Possibilities

Western-induced epistemologies, rooted in individualism, rationalism, and empiricism, have been criticized for their shortcomings in addressing complex, interdisciplinary issues and for sidelining non-Western knowledge systems and/or Gyana Pranali. These critiques underline the need for more inclusive and diverse epistemological approaches aligned with relational ontologies that embrace cross-cultural perspectives and comprehensive knowledge systems. This editorial is an avenue for the scholar to examine the boundaries of such epistemologies mainly through the lenses of Swa-Twam-Tat inquiry and autoethnography, which reveal significant limitations in tackling complex, interdisciplinary issues and marginalizing non-Western knowledge systems. The Swa-Twam-Tat inquiry promotes a more inclusive approach by integrating diverse cultural perspectives and knowledge systems. It aims to challenge and expand beyond Western-centric epistemologies, engaging within the community of 'I' (i.e., self, you, and others) as a collective consciousness. This engagement is sensed in autoethnography, a research method that critically connects personal experiences with broader cultural, social, and political contexts, requiring researchers to reflect on their own experiences to gain insights into wider social phenomena. This approach often uses creative forms of representation to connect the person with the cultural phenomena. Bringing together these orientations into discussions, the final section of the editorial concludes with a brief summary of the articles and book review featured in Volume 5, Issue 1.