INDIAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR COOPERATION WITH UNESCO
The Indian National Commission for Co-operation with Unesco was established by the Government of India in 1949 to (a) promote understanding of the objects and purposes of Unesco in India; (b) to serve as a liasion agency between the Government of India and institutions concerned with and working for the advancement of Education Science and Culture and (c) to advise the Government of India on matters relating to Unesco. The Indian National Commission is primarily interested in securing the co-operation and support of non-government organisations and the general public in India for Unesco's programmes and activities in the fields of Education, Science,Culture and Communication. The five Sub-commissions of the National Commission, dealing with (i) Education, (ii) Natural Sciences, (iii) Social Sciences, (iv) Cultural activities and, Humanities and (v) Mass Communication, include leading specialists in India in the above fields.
The Commission continued to work actively for the fulfilment of these aims during the period under review. A resume of the important activities of the Commission during the period is given below :
Meeting of the Sub-Commissions of the Indian National Commission
for Cooperation with Unesco The five Sub-Commissions of the Indian National Commission for Co-operation with Unesco met during the year on the dates indicated against each:
S. Name of the Sub-Commission Date of Meeting
No
1 Natural Sciences 28-4-71 & 23-8-71
2. Mass Communication 29-4-71 & 19-8-71
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1 2 3
3 Cultural Activities and Humanities 25-8-71
4 Social Sciences 27-8-71
5 Education 30-8-71
The Sub-Commissions reviewed the action taken on the recommendations made by them earlier, Unesco's Approved Programme and Budget (1971-72) and a communication from the Director-General of Unesco inviting proposals for inclusion in the Draft Programme and Budget of Unesco for 1973-74. The Sub-Commissions also considered the programmes chalked out for the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Unesco, the proposal for the 4th centenary celebrations of Ramcharit Manas during 1973 and reviewed the progress of Unesco project on the study of Civilizations of Central Asia. The Sub-commissions also elected their chairman, vice-chairmen and rapporteurs, for the next year.
On the basis of recommendations made by the Sub-Commissions and the working groups constituted under their direction, the Indian National Commission for Co-operation with Unesco forwarded to UNESCO a number of specific Proposals for inclusion in the programme and Budget of Unesco for 1973-74 and the Medium Term Outline Plan for 1973-1978.
Sub-Regional Meeting of South-Asian National Commissions for
Unesco The following Indian delegation participated in the Third Sub- Regional meeting of South-Asian National Commissions for Unesco held at Bangkok from January 10 to 1.3. 1972:
1. Shri T. R. Jayaraman, Joint Secretary, Leader Ministry of Education & Social Welfare New Delhi.
2. Shri S. Tripathi, First Secretary (Inf.) Member Embassy of India, Bangkok.
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The agenda of the meeting included discussions on items like communication and cooperation between National Commissions and UNESCO Secretariat, role of Asian National Commissions in the Second Development Decade, establishment of a Liaison Office for Asian National Commissions, the celebration of International Book Year (1972), and preparation for the 17th session of UNESCO General Conference.
National Seminar on International Cultural Cooperation The Commission organised a National Seminar, under the Chairmanship of Dr. Prem Kirpal, President, Unesco Executive Board, at New Delhi from March 15-17, 1971, to consider ways and means to implement the Declaration of the Principles of International Cultural Cooperation adopted unanimously by Unesco in November 1966. The Seminar which was amended by about 20 participants, recommended, inter alia, the establishment of (a) a National Commission for Cultural Rights for the development and reinforcement of cultural policies and programmes, and for the protection of Cultural Rights, and (b) a Foundation for Cultural Development which would make positive efforts for the promotion of culture in the country by organising studies and projects through various organisations and by giving financial and other assistance for this, purpose. The Seminar also recommended the strengthening of the cultural content of Education in the interests of the total development of the individual. It further recommended more extensive area studies in universities, intensive publication pro- gramme for foreign books, exchanges with foreign countries of documentary films, reproductions of paintings and sculptures etc., organisation of travelling Book Fairs and art exhibitions, and several other projects as part of the programme for International Cultural Cooperation.
Publications of the Commission
(a) Journals The Commission regularly brings out a quarterly "Newsletter" to publicise information about the activities of the Com-
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mission and Unesco in India. It also Publishes another journal entitled "World in the Class Room" to promote Education for International understanding. This is also a quarterly publication serving as a forum for dissemination of information on the classroom projects in the field of Education for International Understanding undertaken by the participating institutions. Special issues of these journals were brought out in commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of Unesco.
(b) Indian Languages Editions of Unesco Courier For the benefit of non-English knowing readers, the Commission continued the bringing out of the Hindi and Tamil edition of the "Unesco Courier". The Hindi edition is being brought out by the National Book Trust, India, New Delhi and the Tamil edition by the Southern Languages Book Trust, Madras.
In addition to these regular publications, the Commission brought out the proceedings of the Ninth Conference of the Indian National Commission for UNESCO held in July, 1970.
Translation of Unesco Publications With financial assistance from Unesco, the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with Unesco, completed translation into Hindi the following books brought out in English by Unesco:
1. Vocational and Technical Education
2. School Teachers and the Education of Adults
3. The Teaching of General Science in Tropical Secon dary Schools.
The Hindi translation of another UNESCO book entitled "Teaching of Reading and Writing" has been completed and arrangements are under way for its publication.
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Study Kits
(a) Study Kits on India (i) With financial assistance from Unesco, the Commission has prepared 20 Study Kits on India for supply to a few selected National Commissions for Unesco in other countries.
(ii) On a request received from them, a set of 20 photographs depicting Indian folk dances, folk and tra- ditional theatres was supplied to the Unesco Club of Benin, Lome (Togo).
(b) Study Kits on Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland The Danish National Commission for Unesco, has despatched 60 Study Kits on Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland to the Indian National Commission for distribution to Indian Schools participating in the Programme of Education for International Understanding and the Unesco Clubs.
Unesco Clubs (a) The Indian National Commission for Cooperation with Unesco has been promoting the establishment of Unesco Clubs in various Centres including universities, libraries and educational and cultural institutions. So far 108 such Unesco Clubs have been established throughout the country. These clubs undertake activities to disseminate information about the aims and policies of Unesco, U.N. etc. and arrange various programmes in the field of education, science, culture etc. to promote international understanding, cooperation and world peace. The Commission has been sending publications, periodicals, and other materials received from Unesco, or brought out by the Commission itself regularly to all the Unesco, Clubs. Special Kits of material were sent to these Clubs to enable them to celebrate U.N. Day, Human Rights Day, International Year for action to combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and the
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Twenty-fifth Anniversary of Unesco. The Indian Federation of Unesco Clubs, with financial assistance from the Commission, organized a series of Workshops in connection with the Silver Jubilee of Unesco.
(b) Meeting on Promotion of Unesco Clubs in South-East Asia Indian participation in.
On an invitation from the National Federation of Unesco Associations in Japan, Shri C. S. Nayar, Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare, and Secretary, Indian National Commission for Co-operation with Unesco, participated in the meeting on the promotion of Unesco Clubs in SouthEast Asia organised at Tokyo from October 11 to 16, 1971 with financial assistance from Unesco.
Programme of Education for International Understanding (a) Over 900 schools and Teacher Training Institutions are participating in the programme taken up by the Commission in support of Unesco's world-wide Associated Schools Project in Education for International Understanding and Cooperation. The Commission has enlisted about 30-40 secondary schools and Teachers Training Institutions and about 10 Primary Schools from each State to participate in the programme besides 142 Central Schools. The project hinges round three main activities:
1. Teaching about UN and its Specialised Agencies.
2. Teaching about other countries and cultures.
3. Teaching about Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
(b) Teachers' Workshops
To orient teachers of participating institutions in the deve- lopment of curricular and co-curricular activities under the project, the Commission has been organising workshops from time to time. These workshops enable the teachers to examine the teaching methods and materials suited for experimental and curricular activities in Education for International Understanding,
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to exchange ideas and experiences on the operation of the projects in the classroom and on methods of evaluating them for assessing results and effecting improvements, and for considering ways and means for integrating the teaching of international understanding with the core subjects in the normal school curriculum. The Commission has so far organised 25 workshops on a regional and State basis in different parts of the country. Two such workshops were held during the year, one at Trivandrum (10-14th May 1971) and the second at Pondi in Goa (2-6 August, 1971).
Celebrations of Anniversaries of Important Events and
Personalities.
(a) 25th Anniversary of Unesco
Public Function Professor Syed Nurul Hasan, Minister of State for Education and Social Welfare visited Paris from 2nd to 6th November, 1971, to participate in the 25th Anniversary celebrations of Unesco. Professor Nurul Hasan also took the opportunity to visit the United Kingdom for holding discussions with the High Commissioner of India in London and the officers of the Education Department of the High Commission on Educational problems.
The Commission, in collaboration with the National Council of Educational Research and Training, organised a public function in New Delhi on the evening of 4th November 1971 to commemorate the silver jubilee of Unesco. The programme included an address by Dr. Malcolm S. Adiseshiah, formerly Deputy Director-General of Unesco, screening of two films entitled. "In The Minds of Men" and "Unesco and N.C.E.R.T.", and a Cultural Programme. A commemorative postage stamp was also released on that day.
At the request of the Commission, a number of non-governmental and governmental organisations in India organised programmes to celebrate the events. These included news coverage
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and special broadcasts and talks on Radio and Television, public functions and essays and declamation contests, debates, symposia etc. in educational institutions. The Commission sanctioned financial assistance to the following organisations for special programmes to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Unesco
(1) Indian Federation- of Unesco Clubs for the organi- sation of Unesco Workshop meetings.
(2) The United Schools Organisation of India for holding a Unesco Week;
(3) Haryana UN Association for a Seminar on Education and Culture for Future etc.
International Year for Action to Cambat Racism and Racial
Discrimination On the request of the Commission, a number of non-governmental organisations and educational institutions undertook various activities in the celebration of 1971 as the International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination. With financial assistance from the Commission, the United Schools Organisation of India organised an All-India Teachers' Seminar on the theme in May 1971.
Study of Civilizations of Central Asia (a) The Commission is participating in Unesco's project on the Study of Civilizations of the Peoples of Central Asia. The project has two aspects viz., deepening of scholarly knowledge, and better appreciation by the general public of the cultures of Central Asia through studies of their Archaeology, History. Science, Literature and Contemporary Social and Cultural developments etc. The geographical area covered under the Unesco project now comprises Afghanistan, Northern India, Eastern part of Iran, Pakistan, Mongolia and Soviet Central Asian Republics.
(b) In order to implement the Unesco project effectively, a 'National Advisory Committee on Central Asian Studies has
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been constituted by the Commission which is responsible for coordinating Central Asian Studies in India under the project.
(c)History of Ideas and Philosophy The special theme allotted to India by UNESCO under the project is 'History of Ideas and Philosophy'. The Centre of Advanced Study in Philosophy, University of Madras, has undertaken studies on Buddhist philosophy and Bhakti Movement in India and the impact of both on Himalayan borders. The Commission has also given financial assistance to the University of Patna for the preparation of a book containing studies on History of Social and Political Ideas in Central Asia and also to the University of Allahabad for carrying out study on Motifs, Symbols, Myths and Legends' in Art and Architecture up to Mughal times in the context of the study of History of Ideas and Philosophy.
(d) Other Projects Other projects under execution in India with financial assistance from Unesco or the Commission include :
(1) Preparation of an Annotated Bibliography of Kushan Archaeology by Dr. B. N. Puri of the University of Lucknow.
(2) Preparation of a descriptive catalogue on works on Central Asia available in India by the Asiatic Society, Calcutta.
(3) Project on Cultural impact of the Peoples of Central Asia upon each other during the Medieval period by Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh.
(e) International Symposium on Al-Biruni and Indian Sciences The Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi organised with partial financial assistance from Unesco, and in collabora-
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tion with the Commission, an international symposium on "Al-Biruni and Indian Sciences" at New Delhi, on November 8-9, 1971. Besides Indian scholars, participants from the U.S.S.R., Afghanistan, Iran, Kuwait and Lebanon attended the symposium.
(f) Collective Consultation on the Study of Civilizations of
Central Asia The Commission arranged for the participation of Prof. Ram Rahul of the Jawaharlal Nehru University School of International Studies, in the Collective Consultation on the Study of Civilizations of Central Asia, convened by Unesco at its Headquarters, Paris from 26th April to 5th May 1971 to discuss the technical problems connected with the implementation of the project including the evaluation of past experience and work already done within the frame work of the Central Asian project, the extension of geographical and disciplinary range of the project, inclusion of contemporary and new research themes, preparation of Unesco and other publications on Central Asian cultures, organisation of an International Association of Central Asian Studies etc.