INTRODUCTION
 

The year under review has seen a steady expansion of programmes of education at all levels. A somewhat fuller account of the activities of the Ministry will be found in the succeeding pages and only a few of the more important factors can be indicated in this introductory survey.

In the field of Basic and Social education, the schemes for intensive educational development in one selected area in each State initiated last year were continued and expanded. A new programme of expansion in these and allied fields was initiated through a scheme for the appointment of educated unemployed persons as teachers in rural schools and social education workers in urban areas. Sanctions have been issued to State Governments for the appointment of about 30.000 teachers and 2,000 social education workers under this scheme. Steps have also been taken for encouraging the production of suitable literature for children as well as for neo-literate adults in Hindi and other Indian languages. Special mention may in this connection be made of four regional Literacy Workshops organised by the Government of India with the assistance of the Ford Foundation for training promising young writers in producing reading material specially suited to the needs of neo-literates.

The Secondary Education Commission submitted its report in August, 1953. A general review of the recommendations was undertaken by the Central Advisory Board of Education at its annual meeting in November, 1953. The Board appointed a Committee to examine the recommendations more minutely and drew up a list of points in order to facilitate implementation. The report of the Committee has been generally accepted by the Board at Its meeting in February, 1954, and it is expected that implementation of some of the most important recommendations will begin from the ensuing academic year.

In cooperation with the Ford Foundation, a team of four foreign and four Indian educationists has been deputed to make a detailed and comparative study of Secondary education systems in India, Europe and the U.S.A. with special reference to methods of teacher training and the reconstruction of curricula in schools. The team has completed its study tour and is expected to return soon to India. It will then frame specific recommendations within the general framework of reforms already contemplated as a result of the acceptance of the recommendations of the Secondary Education Commission.

(i)

(ii)

Other important developments in the field of Secondary education were the institution of a Headmasters' seminar-cum-Holiday Camp and the decision to establish a Bureau of Textbook Research as well as Educational and Vocational Guidance Bureau. About 50 Headmasters from about 25 States: participated in the Seminar-cum-Camp and drew up a programme of reforms which they propose to implement forthwith in their own schools. Programmes for encouraging training colleges to undertake research on specific problems have also been finalised and will be implemented during the coming year. Mention may also be, made of the institution of merit scholarships in the Public Schools. Of the 57 awards made during the current year, 12 have gone to children from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Communities.

In the field of University education, the most important develop- ment during the year was the establishment of the University Grants Commission. Inaugurated by the Prime Minister in December, 1953, the Commission has been entrusted with the task of maintenance of standards and the coordination of facilities in the universities as well as the distribution of financial assistance to universities out of funds allocated for the purpose.

Another important development was the appointment of a Committee of the Central Advisory Board of Education to review the progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the University Education Commission and suggest further steps to be taken by the Governments and universities in this behalf. The Committee drew up a list of priorities which has been endorsed by the Central Advisory Board of Education at its meeting in February, 1954. Special mention may also be made of the institution of a scheme of Research Scholarships in Humanities in order to enable meritoricus students to continue with higher studies after they have taken a Master's degree.

In the field of Technical education, the programme of development undertaken in 1947-48 on the recommendations of the All-India Council for Technical Education is in the last stages of execution. The Council has, on the recommendation of the Seven-Man Committee, to which a reference was made in last year's Report, drawn up a new programme of improvement and expansion of Technical education at all levels. The plan contemplates (a) the development of facilities for post-graduate courses, advanced training and research; (b) the improvement of instructional facilities in engineering and technology at the under-graduate level; (c) provision of facilities for part-time courses, refresher courses at various levels, sandwich courses in cooperation with industry and for other similar training; and (d) provision of adequate facilities for training in certain special fields.

(iii)

such as printing technology, industrial administration and business management, etc.

Development at various levels has to be undertaken in selected institutions in various regions. The Indian Institute of Technology at Kharagpur has maintained its programme of development and expansion. It had on its rolls about 750 students during 1953-54 and the number is expected to rise to 1,100 in 1954-55. A programme of expansion of the Indian Institute of Science at Bangalore involving an amount of Rs. 175 lakhs has also been almost completed.

Mention must also be made of the establishment during the year of the Social Welfare Board with Shrimati Durgabai Deshmukh as its Chairman. The Board is intended to stimulate and coordinate the activities of various bodies working in the field of social welfare and also give financial assistance to clearing organisations. A com- prehensive programme of Physical education and youth welfare has also been prepared and is to be implemented with the cooperation of State Governments, universities and voluntary organisations.

There has been a great expansion in the Government's programme for provision of scholarships, both internal and external. The most notable development has been in the field of scholarships for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. The budget provision for 1953-54 was Rs. 40 lakhs but ultimately the amount sanctioned was raised to Rs. 62 lakhs. Six overseas scholar- ships reserved for these castes and classes have been instituted. A provision for Rs. 75 lakhs is proposed in the budget for 1954-55. A measure of the expansion can be obtained if one compares the figure of Rs. 3.5 lakhs spent on the scheme in 1948-49 with the provision for 1954-55.

The general Cultural Scholarships Scheme which is intended to promote cultural relations with neighbouring countries and offer educational facilities available in India to students of countries which are not so well equipped in this respect, continues to grow rapidly. In addition, a scheme of reciprocal scholarships has been instituted in order to reciprocate the gesture of goodwill made by several foreign Governments in awarding scholarships to Indian nationals for study in their countries. Another scheme is under examination for encouraging the study abroad of foreign languages by Indian nationals.

In order to compile an authoritative and comprehensive History of the Freedom Movement in India, a Board of Editors under the chairmanship of Dr. Syed Mahmud was set up in December, 1952. It is proposed that the History will cover three phases of the Freedom Movement, namely the period before 1885, from 1885 to 1919 and from 1919 to the attainment of Independence.

(iv)

Among other cultural activities, mention may be made of the constitution of the Sahitya Akadami (National Academy of Letters). Shri Jawaharlal Nehru has agreed to serve as the first Chairman of the Academy. The Government have also accepted a programme for giving some financial assistance to poor but eminent men of letters in various Indian languages. Jaipur House has been acquired for housing the National Gallery of Art, and it is proposed to hold an exhibition of Modern Indian Sculpture on the occasion of its opening. An exhibition which was sent to the U.S.A., has since visited Canada, while a proposal to send an "Exhibition of Indian Art through the Ages" to some of the Middle Eastern and South American countries, is under consideration. There have also been visits of Cultural Delegations from the U.S.S.R. and Afghanistan. An exchange has also been arranged of paintings by Indian and Japanese children. An exhibition of Paintings which was sent to the U.S.S.R. and some of the European countries received high appreciation from different schools of critics. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations has continued with its programme for exchange of professors and visits of troupes to foreign countries.

Reference has been made in previous reports to India's Membership of Unesco. During the year under review the constitution of the Interim Commission was revised and a Permanent Commission established. The first Conference of the permanent Indian National Commission for Unesco was held in January, 1954, when, besides Members and Associate Members of the Commission, fraternal delegates from the National Commissions of Afghanistan, Ceylon, Egypt, Iran, Japan, Indonesia, Iraq, Nepal, Syria and the Lebanon participated. Turkey was represented by an observer. The Director-General and the Chairman of the Executive Board of Unesco attended the Conference which reviewed the policies and programmes of Unesco, and made far-reaching recommendations for the orientation of Unesco's programme so as to meet the urgent requirements of Asian and African countries. This was the first time that what amounted virtually to a Regional Conference of Unesco was convened by a National Commission. The success of the effort is seen in the fact that Egypt and Japan have already declared their intention of following up this move, and it is expected that a similar regional conference will be held in Egypt next year.

Among publications released during the year, special mention may be made of the volume Gandhian Outlook and Techniques. This is a verbatim record of discussions in the Seminar held in January, 1953, for the study of Gandhian contribution to the solution of internal and international tensions. The Quinquennial Review of Education for the period 1947-52 has also been released and indicates considerable progress in the field of Education in spite of the stupendous difficulties which the country had to face during the period.

DEMAND NO. 17

NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF INDIA

An allotment of Rs. 7,93,700 was placed at the disposal of this Department for 1953-54. For 1954-55, a provision of Rs. 10,50,600 has been proposed.

Acquisition of Records

The acquisition of records continued, and a large number of records of the defunct British Residencies and Political Agencies was received. There was a large accession of records also from the various Ministries of the Government of India. The Ministry of Defence records housed at Calcutta were examined and a comprehensive report on them was prepared.

Microfilm copies of manuscripts of Indian interest were obtained from foreign countries. This collection comprises, among other items, 10,000 pages from the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris. An English list of Dutch materials relating to India of the period 1674-1693 was also acquired.

Persian, Arabic and Urdu manuscripts and documents offered to this Department for sale, were examined and one manuscript and' five documents were purchased. Progress was made in arranging, checking and listing records.

Research Facilities

68 research scholars conducted research among the records and 11,237 pages of excerpts taken by them were released. Enquiries of' a historical nature from the various Ministries of the Government of India as well as from scholars in and outside India, were attended to.

Publications

Two volumes of Fort William, India House Correspondence, were sent to press, and two more volumes have been finalized for press. Two issues of "Indian Archives" were printed. The revision of Vol. X of the Calendar of Persian Correspondence, covering the years 1792-93, was completed, and the work of compiling Vols. XI and XII of the publication, covering the years 1794-95 and 1796-97 respectively, was continued.

The long-term permanent microfilming programme of the Department was implemented. About 1,10,000 pages of the pre-Mutiny papers were microfilmed. Among other manuscripts microfilmed by this Department, mention may be made of a few rare Persian manuscripts belonging to the Raza Library, Rampur. A collection of

1

2

valuable Maratha records in modi of the Tanjore Raj, has been brought from Madras for microfilming. Further, photo duplication services were made available to institutions and scholars in India and abroad. A scheme for the free distribution of microfilm copies of rare manuscripts to a few selected learned institutions on a quasi- permanent loan basis has been formulated.

Training in Archives

The special short-term course of training lasting three months, in Archives Science, held twice a year and now confined only to the nominees of the Government of India and the State Governments, was popular. The one-year course open to post-graduate students from all over India, was reorganized.

Map Section

A Map Section has been set up under an Archivist (Map Officer) since October, 1953. The officer has been in charge of 900 maps already in the custody of this Department. He was also deputed to Dehra Dun to make preliminary arrangements for taking over maps ,and charts from the Surveyor General of India. It is proposed to collect maps and charts of historical and geographical interest from different sources and to compile catalogues of them.

Exhibition

During the year under review a separate Exhibition Section has been created under the charge of a full-time officer to organize exhibitions of records in the custody of this Department, both in and outside the National Archives of India. The object is to convey to the general public some idea of the nature of archives and the best way of preserving them. The exhibits which are on display in show cases are shown and explained to the visitors by the officer in charge of the Exhibition Section.

Library

150 Research Scholars from different universities and institutions in India and abroad consulted publications in the National Archives of India Library. The microfilms acquired by the Department are kept in this Library and requisitions for the consultation of the microfilms are served by the Library Branch.

Indian Historical Records Commission

The Indian Historical Records Commission, which is an expert body of the historians and archivists in this country, continued to do useful survey work and has brought to light very important records and historical materials. The 30th session of the Indian Historical Records Commission was held at Hyderabad from 1st to 3rd February, 1954.

3

Programme for 1954-55

The programme for obtaining from abroad transcripts of manus- cripts and documents of Indian interest will be continued. The usual programme will be followed regarding the acquisition of manuscripts of historical importance from private custody, accession of non-current records of the Government of India, compilation of information on the archival assets of the different agencies of the Government of India, and compilation of reference media.

A Research fellowship scheme will be put into operation by June, 1954. Six scholarships of Rs. 125 p.m. each, ordinarily tenable for one year, will be awarded to six post-graduate students of the Indian universities for carrying on research in Modern Indian History in the National Archives of India. The theses when accepted for the degree of Ph.D., will eventually be published by the appropriate universities.

The implementation of the scheme for the distribution of micro- film copies of rare, manuscripts to learned institutions will be started during 1954-55. In addition, it is proposed to add a mobile microfilm unit to make possible the microfilming of rare manuscript collections on the spot.

A SECRETARIAT

The provision under this sub-head covers pay and other expendi- ture incurred on the staff employed in the Ministry of Education. Twenty-three additional gazetted posts and 145 non-gazetted posts have been created to cope with the growing volume of work in the Ministry in connection with the implementation of the Five-Year Plan and other schemes.

Consequent on the appointment of Dr. S. S. Bhatnagar as Chairman, University Grants Commission, Shri Humayun Kabir has been appointed Secretary and Educational Adviser and Shri Ashfaque Husain as Joint Educational Adviser to the Government of India.

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

Presentation of Books to Foreign Institutions

A grant of Rs. 5,000 was made for the current financial year 1953-54 for the presentation of books to foreign institutions abroad. Out of this amount, so far, an amount of Rs. 4,012/1/- has been spent on the purchase and presentation of books to institutions in the Bali Islands, Burma, Ceylon,. Fiji, Greece, Iran, Japan, Lebanon, Malaya, Malta, Mauritius, Nepal, New Zealand, Reunion Islands, South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom, West Germany, and Yugoslavia on subjects such as Indian Art and Architecture, Philosophy and Religion, History and Culture, Biography and Literature. The balance will be

4

spent before the end of the current financial year. For the next financial year, 1954-55, a provision of Rs. 5,000 has been sanctioned for similar activities.

INDIAN NATIONAL COMMISSION