This paper underlines not only the significance of traditional knowledge, variously termed as Indigenous Knowledge (IK), Traditional Environmental Knowledge (TEK). Traditional Technological Knowledge (TTK), etc., but also argues in favour of a judicious synthesis between the fast changing traditional knowledge and modern science for the general good of the rural and tribal communities in less developed countries (LDC). The argument ostensibly is, therefore, against a conventional artificial conceptual divide between traditional knowledge and Western science, where the former is commonly portrayed by the scientists as a barrier to development, while the latter is looked at with suspicion by the traditional communities. This has been evidenced by the reluctance of the rural and tribal communities to easily accepting modern health care, agricultural technology and forestry, irrigation and water management, and so on. This paper makes a modest attempt to demonstrate that this artificial divide is detrimental to development. Contrarily, it is argued that a judicious synthesis of traditional knowledge and Western scientific knowledge is bound to usher in better economic growth and development in rural and tribal societies. Some case studies of synthesis of knowledge in agriculture, medicine, and some best practices by the tribal and rural people are discussed here to bring home the point that mutual distrust between traditional knowledge and Western science is unwarranted. In fact, the need of the hour is to work towards a synthesis of knowledge for development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]