CHAPTER XVII COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANISATIONS
A. INDIAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CO-OPERATION WITH
UNESCOThe Indian National Commission for Co-operation with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is an agency established by the Government of India for promoting the understanding of the aims and objects of Unesco and for acting as a liaison agency between Unesco and the institutions working for the advancement of education, science and culture. The relationship between the National Commissions and Unesco is unique. While Unesco is an Agency representing the Governments of the Member States, it can reach out to the peoples of the countries concerned directly through its National Commissions. The National Commissions are to a sub- stantial extent, projections of Unesco in the Member States and present Unesco's image to the peoples of their countries. The Indian National Commission, in common with other National. Commissions of Unesco, works actively to promote popular support and sympathy for Unesco's ideals and assists Unesco in the development of peace, international co-operation and understanding and in the effort to harness the resources of knowledge in the quest for peace. The National Commission also keeps in touch with Unesco's programmes for education and social and cultural development and assists in their effective execution.
2. 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.
3. Eighth Conference of the Indian National Commission for UNESCO: The Eighth Conference of the Indian National Commission for Unesco was held at the University Centenary Building, Madras on the 29th and 30th August, 1967. At this meeting, the Commission discussed several reports among which mention may be made of those concerning its working and programmes, education for international understanding, activities of the nongovernmental organisations affiliated to the Commission, the commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of Unesco 1966, the East-West Theatre Seminar and Theatre Art Festival, and the work of the Indian delegation which attended the last General Conference of Unesco in, 1966. The Commission also discussed, in detail,
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the programme for the celebration of Mahatma Gandhi's birth centenary in 1969.
4. The Commission made a number of recommendations the more important of which relate to the establishment of a National Centre for Adult Education in India, organisation and coordination by Unesco of research and study in the fields of linguistics bearing upon practical reforms which might help in evolving a common script to link peoples, establishment of pilot libraries in important cities, organisation of science and technological museums in different parts of the country, assistance from Unesco for the preservation of Buddhist Monuments at Bamiyan in Afghanistan, establishment of an Asian Theatre Bureau in India, progress of Auroville project, sites for TV stations and obtaining outstanding childrens' films through Unesco.
5. Fourteenth Meeting of the Executive Board : The 14th meeting of the Executive Board of the Indian National Commission for Unesco was held on 30th August, 1967, at which were considered the applications of thirteen non-governmental organisations for associate membership of the Commission. The Board recommended the admission of the following nine organisations
1. The Bharat Scouts and Guides, New Delhi
2. Darpana, Ahmedabad
3. Southern Languages Book Trust, Madras
4. National Cooperative Union of India, New Delhi
5. The New Education Fellowship (India Section) Bombay
6. Guild of Service (Central, Madras)
7. Indian National Committee for International Council of Museums, New Delhi
8. Indian Conference of Social Work, Bombay
9. Indian Federation of University Women's Associations New Delhi
The above recommendation was accepted by the, Commission in its plenary session on 30th August 1967.
6. National Committee on Youth Activities: The Indian National Commission for Unesco has constituted a National Committee on Youth Activities comprising representatives of 20 important youth organisations, 5 representatives of the Commission and representatives of the Ministry of Education. The purpose of the Committee is to co- ordinate, canalize, and to promote youth activities covered by Unesco's aims, objects and programmes. The first meeting of the Youth Committee was held on 8th August', 1967.
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7. The Committee considered the activities of the Youth or- ganisations in India with special reference to national development, transition of young people from school to working life and the participation of young people in activities for development of national solidarity and international cooperation. It was decided at the meeting that instead of dispersing activities in a number of fields, activities of youth organisations. should be focussed on 4 decisive areas relating to development, viz., (1) food production, (2) promotion of literacy, (3) family planning, (4) national solidarity and international co-operation.
8. The Committee suggested that 9th August each year i.e. Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's "Quit India Movement" should be celebrated throughout the country as the "All India Youth Day". The Committee also decided that the Indian National Commission for Unesco may be moved to request Unesco to celebrate 1969 as the "International Youth Year" in order that attention of the world may be concentrated during that year on youth activities and development of cooperation and understanding between the youth of different countries.
9. Sales Agency: The Indian National Commission for Unesco started functioning as the Sales Agency for Unesco publications in India since July, 1962. In order to ensure, wider circulation of Unesco publications, the Sales Agency was reorganised during the year. All the Unesco Information Centres were urged to take interest in the promotion and publicity drive for increasing the sales of Unesco publications and subscription to Unesco periodicals, particularly the "Unesco Courier". Besides the sale of publications brought out by Unesco, the Sales Agency also handled successfully this year the sale of the Hindi edition of "Unesco Sourcebook of Science Teaching" published by the Publications Division of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and "Nehru and the Modern World" brought out by the Indian National Commission itself.
10. Translation of Unesco Publications: Unesco conducts numerous research studies and produces practical source books on education, and allied subjects. The Mass Communication Programme of Unesco provides for assistance in the translation and publication of these books in different languages of the world. Under this programme, the Commission has completed translation of three books in Hindi, viz., (1) Education in Racial and Inter-Group Relations, (2) Education for International Understanding, and (3) Web of Progress. The books are under print. Another book "Teaching of Reading and Writing" is being published in Tamil. Unesco's important brochure entitled "Declaration of the Principles of International Cultural Cooperation" has also been translated into Hindi and 5,000 copies will be issued.
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11. 'Unesco's Collection of Representative Works of World Literature India Series : In the field of literature, the, Indian National Commission has been active in encouraging and facilitating the translation of representative works of the world's cultures into Indian languages and English. The work of translation and publication under this programme has been undertaken in collaboratioin with the Sahitya Akademi.
11.1. At the request of the Government of India, Unesco has agreed to bring out a publication consisting of selected hymns from 'Dasam Granth' as a part of the programme for the celebration of the 300th Birth Anniversary of Sri Guru Gobind Singh. Unesco has also accepted the proposal to bring out an English rendering of the Sanskrit work 'Natyasastra'.
12. Publications of the Commission: The Indian National Commission brings out two regular periodicals, viz., the 'Newsletter' and the 'World in the Classroom'. The former, which was a quarterly publication, became a monthly with effect from October, 1967. By making the Newsletter a monthly publication, it is intended to give greater and more up-to-date publicity about the activities of Unesco, and the Indian National Commission and also to give timely information about the vacancies announced by Unesco, from time to time for various expert jobs and the important meetings and conferences held in different parts of the world.
12.1. As regards the second publication 'The World in the Classroom', which is at present a semi-annual journal, it is proposed to make it a quarterly feature shortly so as to feed the educational institutions and other organizations with suitable material on the theme of Education for International Understanding more adequately.
12.2. The Commission also brought out two very important publications entitled, 'Unesco and India' and 'Selected Unesco Features' in connection with the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Unesco.
13. Unesco Courier-Hindi and Tamil Editions: For the benefit of non-English knowing readers, the Indian National Commission arranged to bring out Hindi and Tamil editions of the Unesco, Courier in India from July, 1967. With the introduction of these two Indian language editions, the Courier, which expresses Unesco's spirit of humanism and is devoted to the cause of international cultural and scientific understanding, will become more familiar to India and will serve as a window to the world. The Central Hindi Directorate, Delhi and the Southern Languages Book Trust, Madras have been entrusted with the responsibility
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of bringing out Hindi and Tamil editions respectively. Unesco's partial financial assistance will also be available for this new project.
14. Library of the Indian National Commission for Unesco Being aware of the importance of a specialized library on Unesco, both for use by the Commission and the general public, the Commission, after a good deal of effort, has been able, during the year under review, to put its library on an actively functional footing. The library of the Commission maintains documents and publications of Unesco as well as other important international and national nongovernmental organizations. At present, the library has 60,000 books and documents, 28 sets of Unesco art and art education slides, and receives over 800 periodicals, serials and official documents every year. It circulates nearly 500 publications, and on an average deals with more than 25 queries per day. The Photo Library Section has now started working. A film section has also recently been added to the library.
14.1. During the period under review, the library continued to issue bibliographies on relevant topics. Mention may be made about (i) Bibliography of publications in Indian languages published under the Unesco Reading Materials Programme, and (ii) Indian classics and contemporary works published under the Unesco Literature Translations Programme.
15. Exhibitions: Exhibitions received from Unesco or assembled in India play a significant part in promoting knowledge about Unesco, as also in bringing about understanding between different countries.
15.1. The Commission received an exhibition entitled "Painted Churches of Moldavia" from the Romanian National Commission for Unesco. The exhibitions was inaugurated at the Office of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi on 29th June, 1967. Later, it was circulated to other parts of the country as well.
16. Another exhibition received by the Commission is from the Polish National Commission for Unesco. This exhibition is composed of 64 photograph panels and is devoted to the life and work of Maria Sklodowska Curie, the discoverer of Radium and the only woman winner of both the Nobel prizes in physics and chemistry. The Polish National Commission has prepared this exhibition in connection with the 100th anniversary of the birth of Madam Curie. The exhibition with English inscriptions has been received in the Indian National Commission and will be circulated in different parts of the country for the benefit of the boys and girls of secondary schools and colleges.
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17. Establishment of Unesco Information Centres: The Commission continued to promote the establishment of Unesco Information Centres/Clubs in the country. The number of such centres functioning in university libraries, State Central Libraries and other educational institutions and cultural organisations, during the year, was 92. The Commission feeds these centres with publications and visual materials produced by UN, Unesco and other specialised agencies of the UN and the Commission itself. The Centres are expected to organise lectures, discussions, exhibitions, etc., besides maintaining and distributing information materials and other data on Unesco and the Commission.
17.1. An orientation course for the organisers of selected centres, was organised, with financial assistance from Unesco, at India International Centre, Lodi Estate, New Delhi from 3rd to 6th January, 1968.
18. Programme of Education in International Understanding: Under a national project undertaken by the Commission in support of Unesco's worldwide Associated Schools Project of Education for International Understanding and Cooperation, over 440 schools and teacher training institutions throughout India are participating in studies initiated by the Commission in this behalf. The project hinges on three fundamental programmes, viz., teaching about other countries; teaching about the UN and its Specialised Agencies including Unesco; and inspiring respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Commission organised two workshops, one at Simla in May 1967 and the other at Gauhati in October 1967. to enable teachers of participating institutions to come together and exchange views on the work of the programme.
19. Unesco, Fellowship in Education for International Understanding: Unesco awarded a fellowship to Shri J. N. Dayal, Principal, Central School, Ramakrishnapuram, New Delhi in the field of education for international understanding for three months from 1st October, to 31st December, 1967, to enable him to observe and study the operation of the programme in France, Switzerland, UK, Canada, USA and Japan.
20. The Unesco Reading Materials Project : This project aims at providing and aiding in the development of reading materials in the countries of South Asia region for all levels of readers. Eleven countries are covered by the Project. A number of activities were organised to implement this programme, of which mention may be made of the meeting of authors organised by the Unesco, Regional Centre for Reading Materials in Asia, Karachi. This Centre organised a sub- regional meeting of authors from Afghanistan, India, Iran, Nepal and Pakistan from 11th to 15th
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November, 1967 at Tehran (Iran). Two persons from India participated in it.
21. Unesco's Exchange of Persons Programme: Under this programme Unesco awarded travel grants to 3 Indian youth and student leaders to under-take study tours/visits to some foreign countries.
22. Unesco Fellowships for Indians: During the year, Unesco awarded some 40 fellowships of varying duration to Indians for study/training, etc., abroad.
23. Unesco Fellows from Abroad in India:
(1) Mr. Rudolf Vig, an Ethnomusicologist from Hungary arrived in India on 5th July, 1967 with the object of studying Folk Music in general and Gypsy Music in particular under a Unesco fellowship. Mr. Vig is a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. His study tour in India was up to 31st December, 1967.
(2) A team of three experts from Turkey, who were awarded Unesco fellowships under the United Nation's Development Programme (Technical Assistance), visited India for a period of one month beginning from 1st August, 1967. The team, studied planning methods in this country and observed the implementation of adult literacy programmes launched by the Government of India.
(3) Mr. Seung Yup Park, Director, Fine Instrument Cen- tre for Seoul, South Korea, visited India on a Unesco fellowship to study the administration of Fine Instru- ments Centres concerned with standardization and quality control.
(4) A UAR team of three trade union workers is likely to visit India for a period of one month from February, 1968 to study various development programmes launched by the Government of India.
(5) Unesco awarded a two-month fellowship to Mr. George Khoo Jao Chuan of Singapore to visit India from 3rd January, 1968 to 28th February, 1968 under its programme of participation in the activities of Member States to study bibliography at the Indian Central Reference Library, Calcutta.
(6) Unesco awarded a fellowship to Miss H. Chen Apuy of Costa Rica, Central America, to visit institutions in the field of Oriental Studies in India from 1st
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February, 1968 to 31st March, 1968. During her visit to India she will visit monuments and study development of Indian art.
(7) Unesco awarded a travel grant to Mrs. Ase Graude Skard of Norway to study teachers' organisations in India. Besides India, she visited Australia, New Zealand, Iran, Pakistan and Thailand. She arrived in New Delhi on 27th April 1967.
(8) A team of three workers from the Singapore Trade Union Congress was awarded travel grant by Unesco to visit trade union institutions in India from 16th September to 6th October, 1967.
(9) Mrs. R. Rungkot, Unesco Documentalist at the Asian Regional Institute for School Building Research, Colombo, visited India from 14th to 24th September, 1967 in connection with documentation for the Asian Regional Institute for School Building Research.
(10) Dr. (Mrs.) Sandvoz, Cultural Affairs Officer, Office of Multilateral Policy and Programmes, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, USA, Washington, visited India in July, 1967, and had discussions with officers of the National Commission.