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Tenth Conference of the Indian National Commission The Tenth Conference of the Indian National Commission for Co- operation with UNESCO was held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, on June, 30 and July, 1 1972 under the chairmanship of Prof. S. Nurul Hasan, Minister of Education, Social Welfare and Culture. The Conference was attended by individual and institutional members of the Commission, observers from the Government of Bangla Desh and Nepal, and represen- tatives of UN and its specialised agencies in New Delhi and a few UNESCO Clubs in India. The Conference considered a varied agenda, covering the activities, work and programme of the Indian National Commission, including projects relating to Education for International Understanding and Cooperation, Study of Civilizations of Central Asia, Publication of Hindi and Tamil editions of UNESCO Courier, celebration of International Education Year, 25th anniversary of UNESCO and the International Book Year etc' It also considered the UNESCO's Draft Programme and Budget for 1973-74 as well as its Draft Medium Term Outline Plan (1973-74) and suggested a number of changes. The Conference also recommended the setting up of working groups to examine specific programmes in depth and to make recommendations for the guidance of the Indian delegation to the 17th session of General Conference of UNESCO subsequently held in Paris (October-November, 1972).
The Conference unanimously adopted a resolution by acclamation requesting UNESCO to admit Bangla Desh as a member of the Organisation and to give it massive assistance for educational reconstruction and rehabilitation, 'thereby facilitating its full participation in the programmes of UNESCO.
The Conference also recommended that UNESCO may hold the Sixth Regional Conference of Asian National Commissions for UNESCO in India.
The Conference endorsed the Government of India's stand on the question of the International University viz., that India may offer facilities for locating a centre of the university in the
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Jawaharlal Nehru University and that the International University may be structured as a multi-disciplinary complex devoted to research and scholarship, functionally and geographically decentralised but administratively integrated. The UN General Assembly has since decided to establish the International University.
The other important recommendations of the Conference related to the reduction of international cable rates and provision of assistance to developing countries to build up an infrastructure for domestic news agencies as well as exchange or news between these countries through their national news agencies etc., holding of an Asian Conference on University Reform, UNESCO assistance for National Staff College for Educational Planners and Administrators, establishment of an Asian Youth Centre, Population Education, development of research in Social Science in Asia, setting up of an Asian Regional Centre for Documentation and Research Material;. Study of Oral Traditions in Asia, adoption of measures to prevent thefts and losses in Museums, comparative Study of Musical Instruments and Traditions in Asia, establishment of an Asian Institute of Puppet Theatre, etc.
Meetings of the Steering Committee of the Indian National
Commission for UNESCO The Steering Committee, of which the President of the Commission is the chairman, held six meetings during the period under review.
Regional Meeting of Asian National Commissions for UNESCO The Japanese National Commission for UNESCO organised from March, 22-27, 1972, a meeting of Asian National Commission for UNESCO.
The meeting discussed New Phase in the Activities of UNESCO National Commissions with special reference to the role of Asian National Commissions in the preparation and
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execution of UNESCO Programmes and the strategy of the Asian National Commissions for the 17th session of UNESCO General Conference. The meeting made a number of recommendations for regional cooperation.
Publications of the Commission (a) Journals : The Commission brings out a quarterly "Newsletter" to publicise information about the activities of the Commission and UNESCO in India. It also publishes another journal entitled "World in the Classroom" to promote education for international understanding. This is also a quarterly publication serving as a forum for dissemination of information on classroom projects in the field of education for international understanding undertaken by the participating institutions.
(b) Indian Languages Editions of UNESCO "COURIER": For the benefit of non-English knowing readers, the Commission continued the publication 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.
(c) In addition to these regular publications, the Commission brought out "Report of, the Secretary-General for 1970-72" and "Proceedings of the 10th Conference of the Indian National Commission for UNESCO".
Documentation and Distribution Unit of the Indian National,
Commission for UNESCO The Library and Documentation and Distribution Unit as in the past, continued to make available copies of the UNESCO publications and periodicals as well as Commission's own publications to institutions, organisations etc. throughout India and abroad. The Unit also continued the preparation and circulation of bibliographies on selected subjects. In order to assist UNESCO in the project of Co- operative Educational Abstracting Service, the Commission entered into a contract with UNESCO
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for providing abstracts of educational documents and materials from authoritative sources published or unpublished appearing currently in India.
UNESCO Clubs (a) The National Commission has been promoting the establishment of UNESCO Clubs in various Centres including universities, libraries and educational and cultural institutions. So far 109 such UNESCO Clubs have been established throughout the country. These clubs undertake activities to disseminate information about the aims and policies of UNESCO, UN etc. and arrange various programmes in the field of education, science, culture etc. to promote international understanding, cooperation and world peace. The Clubs have been asked to take up action programmes of/utility to the communities in which they are located in the field of education, science, culture, etc. 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 materials were sent to these clubs to enable them to celebrate UN Day, Human Rights Day, International Book Year etc.
(b) Meeting on promotion of UNESCO Clubs in South-East Asia- Indian participation : Oil an invitation from the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan, Shri C. S. Nayar, Secretary, Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO participated in a meeting convened by the Federation at Tokyo on March, 20-21, 1972 to discuss the question of establishment of an Asian Federation of UNESCO Clubs.
Exhibitions (a) UNESCO Exhibition of African Arts : The Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO received a travelling exhibition "African Arts" from UNESCO. It consists of 132 photographs and 34 panels showing the different aspects of the creative genius in the plastic arts of the people of Africa.
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This exhibition is being circulated to Schools in Delhi which are associated with the project of Education for International Understanding.
The exhibition is intended for display in the various Member States and therefore it will be returned to UNESCO after its full utilization.
(b) The Korean National Commission for UNESCO organised the 15th World School Children's Art Exhibition at Seoul in October, 1972. The Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO obtained 50 paintings by Indian children (age group 5-15) from Shankar's International Children's Competition agency, New Delhi and sent them to the Korean National Commission for UNESCO. The entries made by 13 Indian children were included among the prize-winning exhibits. The prizes will be sent to the winner shortly.
The Korean National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO hats also invited the -Indian National Commission to send exhibits from children for the 16th World School Children's Art Exhibition which they propose to hold -some time in October, 1973.
Programme of Education for International Understanding About 1000 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 teacher training institutions and about 10 primary schools from each State to participate in the programme besides all the Central Schools under the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sanghathan. The programme hinges round three main activities viz. (i) teaching about UN and its specialised agencies; (ii) teaching about other countries and cultures and (iii) teaching about human rights and fundamental freedoms.
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Teachers' Workshops To orient teachers of participating institutions in development of curricular and co-curricular activities under the project, the Commission has been organising workshops from time to time. These workshops enable teachers to examine the teaching methods and materials suited for experimentation and curricular activities in education for international understanding, 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 to consider 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. More workshops are being planned.
The question of extension of the programme to colleges and universities is under examination.
The Commission has also undertaken the preparation of a Manual on Education for International Understanding for use of teachers. A meeting of the editorial panel for the preparation of the Manual was held on April 27, 1972. The meeting selected authors for writing different chapters of the Manual. The work on the preparation of the Manual is in progress.
Evaluation of the Programme On a request from UNESCO, the Commission undertook the evaluation of the progress and results achieved in the Associated Schools Project for education in international understanding. The evaluation report was prepared and forwarded to UNESCO.
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Celebrations of Anniversaries of Important Events and
Personalities (a) Copernicus Laboratory : The Polish National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO has presented a "Copernicus Laboratory" to a secondary school in India as part of the celebration of the 500th Birth Anniversary of Copernicus. The Laboratory is being placed at the disposal of the Commissioner, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan New Delhi for utilization in a Kendriya Vidyalaya under its control. The Commissioner, Kendriya Vidvalaya Sangathan has decided to utilise this laboratory at the Kendriya Vidyalaya, Colaba, Bombay.
(b) Anniversaries of Great Personalities and Events : The following anniversaries of great personalities and events of India have been included in the UNESCO calendar for the biennium 1973-74 :-
(1) Birth Centenary of Kumaran Asan (18-4-1973)-Indian poet and Philosopher;
(2) Birth centenary of Vithalbhai Javerbhai Patel (23- 9-1973)-Social reformer and patriot;
(3) Birth centenary of Swami Ram Tirath (22-10-1973)- mystic and philosopher;
(4) Death centenary of Michael Madhusudan Datta (1973) Bengali playwright and poet;
(5) Death Centenary of Mir Babar Ali "Anis" (1974)Urdu poet;
(6) 7th Birth Centenary of Amir Khusro (1974)-Poet, prose writer and musician;
(7) 25th Nirvana (Death) centenary of Vardharnan Mahavira (1974)-first apostle of non-violence:
(8) Fourth centenary celebrations of Ramacharit Manas (1973-74)-a great Hindi classic by Goswami Tulsi Das.
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The UNESCO Clubs\ and, associated Schools participating in the project for international understanding, non-governmental organisations, and other educational institutions are being requested to organise suitable programmes in India in commemoration of the anniversaries of the above personalities at the appropriate time.
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) The execution of various study projects in the field of Central Asian Civilization has now been entrusted to the Indian Council of Historical Research and funds are being made available to it for carry in out the various projects.
Recruitment of Indians to UNESCO Posts The Commission continued to assist UNESCO in the recruitment of Indians for its Secretariat and field assignments. About 90 Indian nationals recruited by UNESCO as experts, officials etc. are working on different assignments all over the world.
UNESCO International Coupon Scheme The Commission continued to operate UNESCO Coupon Scheme designed to assist institutions and individuals working in the field of education, science. culture and communication to import books and educational materials from foreign countries
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on payment in Indian rupees. Coupons worth Rs. 11.5 lakhs approximately -were sold during the year up to the end of January, 1973.
Relations with Other National Commissions for UNESCO The Commission continued to develop and strengthen its relations with other National Commissions in pursuit of the common ideals of UNESCO. These mainly consisted in the exchange of documentation and information, visual material, arranging participation of Indian scholars and institutions in activities organised by other National Commissions, and in receiving in our midst representatives of a few National Commissions.
Visits (i) A delegation led by H.E. Mr. A. A. Smirnov, Deputy Foreign Minister of the USSR and Chairmain, USSR National Commission for UNESCO visited India in March, 1972 for discussion with the Government of India on matters relating to UNESCO and Indo-Soviet Cultural Exchange Programme., Besides four USSR officials for the Cultural Exchange Programme, the delegation had, among its members Prof. Tikhvinsky Serguei Leonidovitch a member of the Executive Board of UNESCO from USSR and Mr. I. D. Nikulin, Counsellor in USSR National Commission for UNESCO. The delegation held, discussions with the Education Minister and concerned officials of the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare and Culture. The delegation also finalised and signed an Indo-Soviet Cultural Exchange Agreement before returning to Moscow.
(ii) On an invitation extended by Government of India, a delegation from Bulgaria consisting of Prof. Nikolai Todorov, Member of the Executive Board of UNESCO and Director of the Unified Centre for Training of
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Experts for that country, his wife, Prof. Anna Varba- nova, a physiologist, and Prof. P. Simova, a physicist, visited India for about three weeks from January, 18 to February, 8, 1973. The members of the delegation visited a number of Universities and institutions in Delhi and in different parts of the country before re- turning to Sofia.
(iii) On an invitation from Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO, Shri C. S. Nayar, Deputy Secretary, Department of Education in the Ministry of Education & Social Welfare and Secretary, Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO, attended a seminar on International Understanding held at Kandy (Sri Lanka) on August, 15-16, 1972. He also delivered a talk on teaching about the UN and its spe- cialised agencies in the context of UNESCO's Associated Schools Project in Education for International Understanding.
Study Kit on India With financial assistance from UNESCO, the Commission prepared 20 Study Kits on India, depicting India's life and culture for use in schools in other countries. The kits were despatched to 20 UNESCO National Commissions for use in their schools.