COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANISATION
A. INDIAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CO-OPERATION WITH UNESCO The Indian National Commission for Co-operation with Unesco whose function it is to promote among the people of India an understanding of the aims and objectives of Unesco, to serve as a liaison agency between Unesco and the institutions working in the fields of education, science and culture and to advise the Government of India on matters relating to Unesco, continued to undertake diverse and manifold activities during 1963-64. Some of the important activities carried on by the Commission during the period are outlined below.
2. Promotion of Unesco, Publications.-Unesco produces a rich variety of documentation, periodical and non-periodical. Quite a few of these periodical bulletins such as `Unesco Chronicle', `Arid-Zone Newsletter', 'Museum', `Education Abstracts', and reports on various aspects of education, science and culture are made available free of cost to a large number of organisations and institutions throughout the country. Over the last few years Unesco, Paris has been supplying various organisations in India with such materials direct. It is proposed to take up with Unesco the question of centralising the distribution of materials mainly through the National Commission. To enable the Commission to do so as well as to meet the increasing needs of individuals, organisations and institutions, Unesco would be prepared to supply much larger copies of each publication.
2.2. In 1962 the National Commission had obtained an agency from Unesco for the sale of its Publications in India. The work of the agency was placed on a firm footing during the year and steps were taken to boost up their sales. Special mention may be made of the `Unesco Source book of Science Teaching', an exceedingly useful manual for science teachers; `Study Abroad', a compendium of educational opportunities available throughout the world; `Index Translationum', an exhaustive bibliography of all works translated into the various languages of the world, etc. Circulars were sent out to the State Governments bringing to their notice the availability of these publications and the drive resulted in an appreciable increase in the number of orders received.
2.3. Steps were taken to increase the readership of the well- known Unesco magazine, `The Unesco Courier'. Towards the end of 1962 the number of subscribers to the Courier in the country was barely 75. Owing to the promotional drive undertaken by the Commission during 1963-64, this number reached the figure of 500.
3. Travelling Exhibition.-A travelling exhibition of Unesco publications, visual materials, films, filmstrips and slides emphasising the work of Unesco in promoting international understanding through mutual appreciation of eastern and western cultural values, which had been assembled earlier, was put up on display at Pachmarhi on the occasion of the meeting
102
103
of the Central Advisory Board of Education in May, 1963. The exhibition included a study kit on India, comprising photographs, charts, posters, films, filmstrips, etc. projecting Indian life and culture, specially assembled by the Commission with Unesco's assistance particularly for use in institutions in other countries. The Pachmarhi Exhibition was seen not only by the participants of the meeting of the Advisory Board but also by the local students. It was later taken as an adjunct to the teachers workshop organised by the Commission at Mysore where it was thrown open to the general public and more than 500 persons saw it daily for 4 days. The exhibition was also displayed at Bangalore and Hyderabad, where it evoked great interest among hundreds of students and teachers.
4. Establishment of Unesco Centres.-With a view to enlisting the interest of voluntary organisations to function as centres of information and to obtaining their co-operation in programmes to further the aims and objects of Unesco, two Unesco Centres, one at the Panjab University, Chandigarh and the other at the Royal Asiatic Society, Bombay were set up. The Commission will supply them with publications and visual materials produced by Unesco, non-governmental international organisations, specialized agencies of the UN and the like. They are expected to adopt programmes for lectures, seminars, exhibitions etc. in support of the programmes of Unesco. The Commission has obtained assistance amounting to Rs. 4,762 for the purchase of documentation and other materials to feed these centres.
5. Publication Work.-The Commission continued to bring out, with Unesco's financial assistance, its quarterly publication, `The Newsletter' disseminating information about the activities of Unesco, the National Commission, international non-governmental organisations and national) bodies engaged in the various fields of competence of Unesco. The print order for this publication has increased from 1,500 to 3,000 to cater for the increasing demands. The Commission brought out a new bimonthly bulletin, `The World in the Classroom' again with Unesco's assistance, to meet particularly the requirements of schools and teacher-training institutions in the country that are participating in the programme of education for international understanding. A small pamphlet giving the constitution, purpose and activities of the Indian National Commission for Co-operation with Unesco is under preparation; 10,000 copies of this pamphlet will be printed for wide distribution among individuals and organisations.
6. Translation of Unesco Publications.-The Commission undertook the translation of the following publications into Hindi and in some other Indian languages : What is Unesco (Hindi); Asia, Arab States, Africa-Education and Progress (Hindi); The Universal Declaration of Human Rights A Guide for Teachers (Hindi); Some Suggestions on Teaching About the UN and Specialized Agencies (Hindi); The UN and World Citizenship (Hindi); The Teaching of Arithmetic in Tropical Primary Schools (Hindi); The Teaching of Science in Tropical Primary Schools (Hindi); The Teaching of General Science in Tropical Secondary Schools (Hindi); Education in Racial and Inter-Group Relations (Hindi); Source-book for Science Teaching (Hindi); and Teaching of Reading and Writing (Hindi and Tamil). While the translation of two publications. have been completed and are being vetted, the manuscripts of four are expected shortly.
104
7. Advisory Committee on Major Project on Mutual Appreciation of Eastern and Western Cultural Values.-The major project on mutual appreciation of eastern and western cultural values is considered to be a very important work of the Commission and serious efforts were made to develop an effective programme of activities. All member- States of Unesco are required to participate in the Major Project and in particular to develop intensive programmes and systematic projects in schools, universities, academies, adult education associations, youth organizations, libraries, museums, etc. In this connection the Commission had already set up an Advisory Committee comprising 24 members for the East-West Major Project including the Secretary- General of the Commission and six other nominated by the President of the Commission. It is hoped that the Committee, would revitalise and bring a fresh approach to the various programmes to be undertaken in the country in the context of Unesco's Major Project.
8. National Seminar on the Role of Universities in East-West Relations.-A National Seminar on the Role of Universities in East-West Relations was organised in New Delhi on August 31 to September 3, 1963 by the India International Centre in cooperation with the Indian National Commission for Unesco. Inaugurated by Dr. C. D. Deshmukh, President, India International Centre and presided over by Mr. P. N. Kirpal, Secretary-General of the Indian National Commission, the Seminar with representatives of 32 universities considered the implementation of the Unesco Major Project on Mutual Appreciation of Eastern and Western Cultural Values in the university sector. Among the major recommendations made by the Seminar, mention may be made of the development of departments of languages and area studies to promote intensive studies in other cultures, especially of South Asia, East Asia, West Asia, Africa and Latin America, the undertaking of significant research projects aimed at promoting mutual cultural appreciation and on the uncovered aspects of the culture and life of India.
9. Programme for Education in International Understanding- Unesco had launched in 1953 a special project known as the Associated Schools Project for education in international understanding and cooperation. Under a special programme undertaken by the Commission, over 400 schools and teacher-training institutions in the country were selected through the State Departments of Education to participate in this programme. To guide the programme, the services of Dr. Herbert J. Abraham were obtained from Unesco for one year. Dr. Abraham remained with the Commission from October, 1962 to October, 1963 and gave his expert advice in conducting various teachers' workshops, designed to orient teachers for the implementation of the programme. The first such workshop was held in April, 1963 in Delhi; the second in Mysore in May; the third, fourth, and fifth respectively in Trivandrum, Hyderabad and Aurangabad in August; the sixth in Bombay in September; and the seventh, eighth and ninth respectively in Poona, Nagpur and Kolhapur in November; and the tenth in Allahabad in December, 1963. The workshops studied the relationship of experi- mental activities to curricular programmes, examined the teaching methods and materials suitable for different themes, developed individual experiments for implementation in the institutions and made suggestions on the role of the directors of public instruction and of the Indian National Commission in developing the programme.
9.2. In the implementation of this programme the National Commission, as mentioned earlier, brought out a bimonthly bulletin entitled, `The World
105
in the Classroom'. This is intended to serve as a forum for the dissemination of activities of the schools and institutions participating in the project and to inform the participants about the activities undertaken by oher educational institutions in the world in the context of this programme. Over 3,000 copies of each issue of the bulletin were distributed. It is proposed to bring out a publication on this programme which will include a detailed account of all the workshops and the various projects formulated at the workshops.
10. International Meeting on Associated Schools Project.-The Indian National Commission in response to an invitation by Unesco participated in a meeting of the representatives of the Associated Schools Project of the member-States of Unesco, held in December, 1963 in Serves, France to review the working of the Project in various countries and to chalk out a concerted plan for its further development among the member-States. Miss S. Rehman, Secretary of the Commission represented the National Commission at this meeting.
11. Celebration of UN Day.-In 1963 a special appeal was made to educational institutions throughout the country to celebrate the UN Day. In consultation and co-operation with the UN Information Centre in New Delhi and with representatives of various missions located in New Delhi, the National Commission undertook to collect materials on the UN and its related agencies and on the life and culture of other countries for distribution to the institutions that wished to observe this day. 30,000 copies of a special issue of the bimonthly bulletin, `The World in the Classroom' were printed on the occasion. This issue was devoted to information about the birth of the UN and the related agencies, their role and functions, and about the significant part they are playing in international co-operation.
12. Celebration of Human Rights Day.-The 15th anniversary of the Declaration of the Human Rights Day was observed on 10th December, 1963 and on this occasion a world-wide programme of celebration of the progress achieved in the formation and development of human rights and fundamental freedom was organised at the instance of the UN. The National Commission launched an appeal to celebrate this day. A special issue of the bimonthly bulletin. `The World in the Classroom' was devoted to the observance of the day. 30,000 copies of this issue were brought out for wide distribution. At New Delhi, to observe this day a special programme was organised jointly by the India International Centre, Indian Federation of United Nations Associations and the National Commission at the premises of the India International Centre. There the Union Education Minister, Shri M. C. Chagla, addressed an invited audience and spoke about the significance and the import of the adoption of the Declaration of Human Rights.
13. Research Project by the Council for Regional Cultural Studies-The Research Council for Regional Cultural Studies established at the Indian International Centre in New Delhi as an associated institution for the study and presentation of cultures, prepared, on the advice of experts, a few research projects to be undertaken by the Council for which Unesco agreed to give financial assistance to the extent of 11,000 dollars. The position in regard to the projects undertaken is as follows :
13.2. (a) A Study of Opinion regarding Work : This project attempts to determine the attitude of men towards their work, the shifts in occupational
106
patterns among those who live in cities and rural areas. Investigations are being conducted in India, Malaya and Ceylon through questionnaires and interviews to study the aspirations of the high school students in the three countries regarding the type of work they would like to do after leaving school. The Indian Institute of Public Opinion has consented to co-operate in the project.
13.3. (b) Culture Carriers : Aimed at studying the change in thought and attitude towards life, of Indian students returning to, the country after studies abroad, the project under the directorship of Dr. B. Kuppuswamy commenced in May, 1963.
13.4. (c) Tradition of Non-Violence in East and West : Limited to a historical and critical study of non-violence in Eastern and Western cultures, the project started in September, 1963, with Dr. T. K. N. Unnithan of the Rajasthan University directing it.
13.5. (d) Images and International Understanding : Considering that the elites constitute the conscious section of the community and are mainly responsible, for taking decisions in various spheres of life and thus influencing government policies, the project is expected to provide an insight into the working of democratic institutions. It aims at studying the images of the elites in India, Thailand and the Philippines drawn from five categories; intellectual elites, power elites, industrial elites, administrative elites and military elites.
14. Visit of Officials of Asian National Commissions.-At the invitation of the Indian National Commission for Unesco, three officials of the National Commissions of Asian countries came to this country as follows : (1) Mr. the Jang Lok, Executive Secretary of the Indonesian National Commission for Unesco on 25th-27th October, 1963; (2) Mr. Minha Cho, Secretary-General of the Korean National Commission for Unesco on 30th-31st October, 1963 and (3) Dr. Nguyen Dinh Hoa, Secretary-General, Vietnam National Commission for Unesco, and Director, Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Education, Vietnam on 25th- 26th November, 1963. During their visits matters of common interests in the sphere of Unesco's programme and activities were discussed and possibilities of greater collaboration between the Asian National Commissions were explored.
15. Unesco Exchange of Persons Programme.-Under the Programme Mr. B. N. Tewari of Nepali Bhasha Prakasini Samiti, Nepal and Mr. Hooshang A'lam of Teheran came to India under Unesco's Reading Materials Project for New Literates in December, 1963. They visited various organisations concerned with the production of literature for new literates, such as the Sahitya Akademi, the National Book Trust, the Indian Adult Education Association, Makataba Jamia, all at New Delhi; and the Book Industry Council of South India, Madras and Southern Languages Book Trust, Madras.
16. Unesco Award for Indian Teacher.-Miss G. Thangam, a teacher of the Vidyodaya Girls School, Madras was awarded a study and travel grant under the Organization's East-West Project. The purpose of the grant was to enable Miss Thangam to study experimental activities in education for international understanding in European schools and to observe the life and culture of the peoples of the countries that she visited and to utilise the experience in developing such activities in education for international understanding in the Vidyodaya School which is participating in the Associated Schools Project of Unesco.
107
17. Ceylonese Musicologist in India.-Mr. Lionel Edirishinghe, Lecturer in Music and Dance, School of Music and Dancing, Government College of Fine Arts, Colombo (Ceylon) arrived in India in the third week of April on a two-month Unesco fellowship in the field of oriental music under the Organization's participation programme in the activities of member-States.
18. The Unesco International Coupon Scheme.-The Commission continued to operate the Unesco, Coupon Scheme designed to assist individuals and institutions working in the fields of education, science and culture in importing materials for their bona fide educational use. The Commission has so far supplied coupons worth over Rs. 1,00,000 and by the end of the current financial year the figure is expected to reach Rs. 2,08,408.
B. GOVERNMENT'S RELATIONS WITH UNESCO 19. The Government of India continued to develop and strengthen its relations with Unesco. On the one hand, the Government lent all possible support to the Organization in various fields of its endeavour and on the other received financial and technical help from the Organization for developing national and regional activities. The various fields of Unesco activities involved the active participation of a number of Governmental authorities in the implementation of its programme. The Ministry of Education continued to perform its role as the coordinating agency and took up the implementation of such of the activities as come within its purview. The following paragraphs give a general survey of the activities of the Government during 1963-64 in the sphere of Unesco's work.
20. India's Participation in the Unesco Programmes.-The Government of India are participating in the Unesco emergency programme for assistance to member-States in Africa for educational development. Besides a contribution of Rs. 10 lakh offered to Unesco, of which Rs. 4 lakh have already been paid, the Union Government have instituted 33 fellowships at a cost of Rs. 5 lakh for the training of African university personnel in India. Candidatures for these fellowships have been invited from Unesco.
20.2. In the field of Natural Sciences, India played host to a training course in scientific and technological teaching at university level (Ore Dressing). The course was organised at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Ten Asian countries participated in it. India continued to take active part in the International Indian Ocean Expedition. The Films Division, with the assistance of Unesco and under the technical direction of Dr. N. K. Panikkar, Director of Oceanography, produced a documentary on the International Indian Ocean Expedition. India's participation in the Arid Zone Research, Humid Tropics and other Unesco, programmes in Natural Sciences continued. Besides, Indian scientists took advantage of the various seminars and training courses organised by the Unesco South Asia Science Cooperation Office, like Seminar on Ore Dressing at Banaras Hindu Uni- versity and Regional Technical Assistance Training Course on Scientific Documentation at INSDOC, New Delhi.