The Government of India have been a member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, since its. establishment in 1946. In accordance with the Constitution of Unesco, every Member State is required to set up a National Commission for cooperation with Unesco. The main functions of the Commission are to promote the understanding of the aims and objects of Unesco among the people of the country, to serve as a liaison agency between Unesco and voluntary organisations, working in the fields of education, science and culture and to act in an advisory capacity to the Government for matters relating to Unesco.
The Government of India set up the Interim Indian National Commission in March, 1949. This has now been put on a permanent basis. The Minister for Education is the President of the Commission and the Secretary to the Ministry of Education is the Chairman of its Executive Board that consists of 11 members.
The First Conference of the Permanent Indian National Commission for Unesco was held at New Delhi from 9th to 14th January, 1954. Besides Members and Associate Members of the Commission, Fraternal Delegates of the National Commissions of Afghanistan,. Ceylon, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Lebanon, Nepal and Syria participated in the Conference. Turkey was represented by an observer. The Conference was inaugurated by the Prime Minister. The Director- General of Unesco and Chairman of the Executive, Board. Unesco, addressed the Inaugural Session. The Conference" reviewed the policies and programmes of Unesco and made far-reaching recommendations for the orientation of Unesco's programmes so, as to meet the urgent requirements of the Asian and African countries.
The Conference passed a number of important resolutions covering a wide range of subjects including Race Relations, the Contribution of Gandhian Outlook and Techniques to the Solution of National and International Tensions, the peaceful co-existence of different ideologies and systems and the peaceful utilization of Atomic Energy. The Conference discussed the future activities of the Indian National Commission and it is hoped that in the light of discussions at the Conference, the Commission will be in a position to intensify its activities.
The presence of the Fraternal Delegates enabled the Commission to establish closer relations with sister organisations in Asia and Africa. The delegation from Egypt extended an invitation for the
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next conference of Asian and African National Commissions to be held in their country.
The following paragraphs sum up activities of the Commission during the period under review:
Education The Commission collaborated with Unesco in the supply of such information and literature as the organisation required from time to time. The Government of India has under active consideration a proposal for the setting up of a National Centre for Fundamental Education. The Government of India and the State Government of Mysore are cooperating with Unesco in running a centre for the training of specialists in Fundamental Education at Mysore, Steps have been taken for the widest possible dissemination of information regarding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights throughout the country. The Declaration has been translated into almost all Indian languages and Human Rights Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm throughout India. On this occasion the Commission circulated relevant literature and filmstrips received from Unesco.
Natural Sciences
Arid Zone Programme The Government of India have been closely associated with Unesco's programme for research relating to the development of Arid Zones. In this connection, the Commission has supplied Unesco with all necessary information regarding research on Arid Zone problems in this country. The Jaswant College, Jodhpur, which has been doing some research on these problems has been included in the Unesco System of Associated Projects and is receiving financial assistance from Unesco.
The Government of India have agreed to organise in 1954, a symposium on Wind and Solar Energy in India in cooperation with Unesco.
Science Exhibitions The Commission has always supported Unesco's efforts for the organisation of Travelling Science Exhibitions which provide to the common man opportunities for appreciating the role of science in his daily life. The Commission has invited Unesco's Science Travelling Exhibition entitled 'Our Senses and Knowledge of the World', and this Exhibition will be circulated in various States of India. The Commission has also accepted the Unesco Exhibition entitled 'Man and the Jungle' which will be sent round the country in cooperation with the Central Tractor Organisation.
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Norwegian Unac Committee Funds The Commission received 105 radio sets from the Committee. These have been handed over to Delhi State to be utilized in their Social Education Campaign. Recently 30 more sets were received from the same Committee for distribution to suitable institutions in India.
Unesco Coupons Scheme This Scheme of Unesco, helps countries to purchase books and scientific equipment from hard currency areas in their own currency. India has till now obtained under this Scheme, book coupons worth $ 233,000 and coupons for scientific material and educational and scientific films worth $ 290,000 and $ 30,060 respectively. This scheme is very popular with scientific and educational institutions in this country.
Culture
Exhibitions of Art As a part of their programme for the popularization of Arts, Unesco has prepared an exhibition of the reproductions of the paint- ings of Leonardo da Vinci. One set of the reproductions has been purchased by the Government of India and will be available for circulation.
The Indian National Commission has also sent out representative collections of paintings and drawings of Indian children for exhibi- tion in other countries. Such collections were sent for exhibition to Ceylon and Italy.
Translation Project Unesco has under consideration a project for the translation of Eastern, and particularly Indian, Chinese and Japanese literary works of outstanding merit into English and French. The Government of India have decided to participate in the scheme by providing a sum of Rs. 15,000 as their contribution for the translation of Indian Classics into English and French. It is expected that Unesco will also make a suitable contribution for financing this project.
Mass Communications All India Radio has publicised the activities of the United Nations and its Specialized Agencies. A suitable programme was broadcast on the occasion of United Nations Day and Human Rights Day.
Unesco Conference In accordance with the decision taken by the General Conference at its Seventh Session, an Extraordinary Session of the General Conference was held during 1953. India participated in the Conference
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and the Indian Delegation was led by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Vice- President of India. Besides transacting other business, the General Conference elected Dr. Luther H. Evans as the new Director-General of Unesco.
The Government of India participated in the 16th International Conference on Public Education held at Geneva. The Conference discussed educational progress in the various countries of the world and examined the organisation, curricula and other details of the educational systems of participating countries. The Indian Delegation presented a report on the progress of education in India.
The Eighth General Conference of Unesco will be held at Monte- video in 1954. In accordance with the constitution of Unesco, member States are required to participate in the General Conference of Unesco, which is now held biennially. The Government of India will have to send a delegation to this Conference. There will also be important seminars and meetings of the committees as recommended by the General Conference at its Seventh Session. A Sum of Rs. 1,25,000 has been provided for this in the budget estimates for 1954-55.
EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS
Collection of Statistics The annual collection of statistics on various aspects of education and consolidation of data with the help of Hollerith Punchers was continued during 1953-54. The new items of collection included "Conditions of Service and Pay Scales of College and University Teachers" and "Compulsory Education in States in India".
Short Course in Educational Statistics To improve the quality of educational data, another short course- the fourth in the series was organised for the benefit of the nominees of State Governments. Seventeen candidates from various States of the country attended the course.
Publications (a) The following statistical publications were brought out during the period ending January 1, 1954:
(i) Libraries in India, 1951;
(ii) Education in India, 1948-49;
(iii) Education in the States of the Indian Union, 1949-50;
(iv) Institutions for Higher Education in India, 1953; and
(v) Passes in Matriculation and other University Examinations in India, 1948-52.
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(b) The following publications are in press and are expected to be out before the end of the financial year:
(i) Report on Neglected and Delinquent Children in States of the Indian Union, 1950;
(ii) Education in Universities in India, 1950;
(iii) Education in States of the Indian Union, 1950-51; and
(iv) Education in Universities in India, 1950-51.
(c) The following publications will be sent to press shortly:
(i) Institutions for Higher Education in India, 1954;
(ii) Education in India, 1949-50;
(iii) Education in Universities in India, 1951-52;
(iv) Education in States of the Indian Union, 1951- 52;
(v) Statistics of Child Welfare in India, 1951-52;
(vi) Conditions of Service of Teachers in India, 1952-53; and
(vii) Statistics of Tuition Fees in Schools and Colleges in India, 1952-53.
Statistical Enquiries A large number of enquiries from national and international organisations, foreign governments, educationists and others on edu- cational statistics were attended to.
Educational Charts A number of charts were prepared for display in seminars/ exhibitions held in the country and abroad. It was decided to print a set of ten wall-charts on various aspects of education.
Budget Provision The contingent expenditure on Art material did not exceed the usual provision of Rs. 1,000. For the year 1954-55 a provision of Rs. 2,000 has been made for the purchase of Art Materials, Hollerith Cards and the preparation of Zinc Line Blocks.
Programme for 1954-55 The programme for 1954-55 includes, besides the usual collection, collation and consolidation of educational statistics, the holding of the Fifth Short Course in Educational Statistics, the preparation of six regular publications "Education in India, 1950-51"; "Education in India, 1951-52"; "Education in the States of Indian Union, 1952-53"; "Education in Universities in India, 1952-53"; "Institutions for Higher Education in India, 1955"; and "Education in Centrally Administered and All-India Institutions, 1952-53" and two ad hoc publications "Conditions of Service and Pay Scales of University and College Teachers, 1954" and "Report on Compulsory Primary Educa-
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tion in States in India, 1954". It is also proposed to bring out 12 charts, graphs and pictorial diagrams dealing with varied aspects of education.
EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION SERVICE Mimeographed sheets regarding facilities for study in institutions in India and abroad were brought out on a number of subjects and old information was revised and brought up-to-date. A large number of queries on various aspects of education in India and abroad were answered.
Efforts were made to equip the reference library with up-to-date calendars, prospectuses and other informative literature regarding educational institutions in India and abroad. More than 1,000 persons have visited the Information Library during the year.
The Information Section participated in two important exhibitions the Five-Year Plan Exhibition held in October, 1953, and another held in connection with the Annual Meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education in November, 1953.
Steps are being taken to establish an advisory panel of experts to help this Ministry in guiding students on advanced studies.
CENTRAL SECRETARIAT LIBRARY
Budget During the year under report, the total amount sanctioned for the purchase of publications was Rs. 35,000. The number of books added to the Library was 3558 bringing the total stock to 1,04,516 (as on January 5th, 1954).
Recent Additions 39 classified fortnightly lists of recent additions were prepared and circulated.
Exchange About 5,000 publications were received from the U.S.A. and about 1,300 publications of the Government of India have been sent to that country in exchange. More than 500 U.S.A. publications were distri- buted to Central Board of Revenue, Judge Advocate General's Library and Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre. etc.
In-Service Library Training Course The Third Session of the In-Service Library Training Course comprising 19 students was inaugurated on December 9th, 1953.
By far the most important improvement introduced during this year is the liberalisation of rules relating to the borrowing of books by the officials of the Government of India resident in Delhi. Under
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the new scheme, Government servants are given greater facilities than they have so far enjoyed to borrow books for private reading. So far about 2,000 members have been admitted.
Hindi Section About 3,95,400 books, reports and periodicals were consulted in the Library and about 14,500 books were issued during the period under survey. A number of special bibliographies were prepared on different topics including one on 'Current Politics'.
THE HISTORY OF THE FREEDOM MOVEMENT IN INDIA In order to compile an authoritative and comprehensive History of the Freedom Movement in India, a Board of Editors was set up in December, 1952, under the Chairmanship of Dr. Syed Mahmud. The composition of the Board is as follows:
Dr. Syed Mahmud-Chairman.
Dr. S. N. Sen.
Prof. D. V. Potdar.
Prof. K. A. Nilakanta Sastri,
Prof. M. Habib.
Dr. R. C. Majumdar (later replaced by Mr. Feroz Chand).
Shri Balwantray G. Mehta.
Acharya Narendra Deva.
Shri S. M. Ghose, Honorary Member-Secretary.
The Board is a non-official autonomous body and its expenses are met entirely by the Government. The Board met for the first time on January 2nd, 1953, and has since met three times, in April, August and December, 1953. The earlier portion of the work will be the collection of material both from India and abroad.
The History, as tentatively proposed, is to be divided into three phases, namely (1) From the days of the East India Company to 1885, (2) From 1885 to 1919 and (3) From 1919 to the attainment of Independence.
It is expected that the Board will complete the work within a period of three years and the total estimated expenditure on the project is about Rs. 4 lakhs.
The Board's expenditure is regulated by a Finance Committee consisting of two members of the Board and a representative of the Government of India.
A sum of Rs. 20,000 approximately was spent on the Board's activities in 1952-53 and a provision of Rs. 1.25 lakhs has been made for 1953-54. For 1954-55 a provision of Rs. 1,50,000 has been made.
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TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC EDUCATION
'E' Regional Offices The Regional Offices at Bombay and Calcutta have completed their fourth year. Their main activities relate to the (a) arrangement for practical training facilities in industries for Engineering and Technological graduates and diploma-holders, (b) maintenance of liaison between industries and educational institutions, (c) survey of existing facilities in the region, (d) assessment of requirements of the institutions for maintenance of proper standards and of the impact of grants given to the institutions.