 COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED 
NATIONS EDUCATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND
 CULTURAL ORGANIZATION

A. INDIAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR UNESCO

The Indian National Commission for Cooperation with Unesco continued to work actively for the fulfilment of aims and objectives laid down in its constitution, namely, to promote among the people of India understanding of the aims and policies of Unesco, to serve as a link between Unesco, and institutions working in this country in the fields of education, science and culture and to function as an advisory body to the Government of India on matters relating to Unesco. A resume of the important activities of the Commission during the period under review is given below:

2. The Commission's projects for the promotion of aims and objectives of Unesco among the people are centred round three groups of activities, viz., dissemination of Unesco's publications and materials; popularising Unesco; and implementation of Unesco programmes.

DISSEMINATION OF UNESCO PUBLICATIONS AND MATERIALS

3. Unesco Publications:

In promoting understanding of the aims and objectives of Unesco, publications play an important role. The Indian National Commission for Unesco received and distributed a variety of Unesco publications. The activity was intensified this year and a number of special publications in connection with the twentieth anniversary of Unesco were distributed to a larger number of institutions and organisations in India.

4. Visual Materials and Information Manuals :

Among the visual materials received from Unesco, mention may be made of the poster-sets entitled "Two out of Five" and "Unesco-20 Wars Service to Peace". etc. About 500 copies of sets were distributed to schools and other organisations. Information

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materials about Unesco including its manual "What is Unesco" and a few other important publications were also widely distributed. A small pamphlet on "Unesco-What It Is, What It Does and How it Works" was translated into Hindi, Bengali, Marathi and Tamil to ensure wider public reading.

5. Sales Agency:

Since 1962, the Commission has been functioning as a sub-agency for the sale of Unesco publications, in India. The Commission continued to promote the sales of Unesco publications among State Governments, educational institutions, libraries and concerned organisations. The promotion and publicity drive for increasing the readership of the Unesco magazine, the "Courier" was intensified.

6. Publications of the Commission :

The Commission continued to bring out its two periodicals the Newsletter and The World in the Classroom.

7. 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 studies in Member States. Some of the important books which are being translated are "Education for International Understanding, Examples and Suggestions for Classroom Use", and "Web of Progress".

8. Library: The Library of the Commission, which functions as a depository library was further reorganised and strengthened during the year under review. At present, it has 48,000 books and documents and receives over 775 periodicals and other serial documents. It circulates nearly 250 publications and on an average deals with 600 queries per month. The library also took up documentation work.

POPULARISING UNESCO AND SPREADING ITS MESSAGE

9. Exhibitions :

Exhibitions received from Unesco or as- sembled in India played a significant part in promoting knowledge about Unesco as also in bringing about understanding between different countries. The Commission arranged an exhibition of Unesco publications and visual materials at a Teachers' Workshop in Madras and at a National Seminar in New Delhi in November, 1966.

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10. Establishment of Unesco Centres :

In order to enlist co- operation of voluntary organisations and universities to function as centres of information, the Commission continued to promote the establishment of Unesco Information Centres/ Clubs. The number of centres functioning in university libraries and State Central Libraries and other important institutions in different parts of the country stood at 85 during the year. The Commission feeds these centres with publications and visual materials produced by the UN, Unesco and the Commission itself. The centres are expected to organise lectures, discussions, exhibitions, etc.

11. Implementation of Unesco's Programmes:

In regard to, the implementations of Unesco's programmes in India, mention may be made of the following projects:

EAST-WEST PROJECT

12. Indo-US Bi-laterial Project-Second Phase :

The first phase of the bilateral project adopted in 1958 by the National Commissions of the United States of America and India to promote mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries had been complted by bringing out papers on: (i) Traditional Values in American life and (ii) Traditional Values in Indian life. These papers were printed and exchanged for use.

13. The second phase of the project comprises discussions of the subject and ideas presented in the two statements by groups of competent scholars in India and the USA. In consultation with the US National Commission a proposal to prepare another paper on American life, by knowledgeable Indians and on Indian life by knowledgeable Americans is under way. With financial assistance from the Commission, the paper on American life is being prepared by the India International Centre, New Delhi.

14. Exchange of History Textbooks:

The Indian National Commission for Unesco launched a significant project for exchaging history and geography textbooks with selected national commissions so as to review the current textbooks from the point of view of accuracy, objectivity and reliability of the treatment of one country in the textbooks of the other. Under this project, one textbook on goegraphy received from the Polish

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National Commission for Unesco has been got reviewed and appropriate comments forwarded to the Polish National Commission. Some books on history and geography have also been received from the UK National Commission for Unesco and these are under scrutiny.

15. Research Projects by the Council for Cultural Studies:

The Research Council for Cultural Studies established at the India International Centre, New Delhi, as one of the four Unesco-sponsored International Associated Institutions for the study and presentation of the World's cultures, has completed the following projects during the period under review:

(i) A Study of Attitudes Towards Work, Technology and Modernization: This project, undertaken in 1963, was extended to its second phase under another contract with Unesco. While the 1963 study was confined to the problems relating to work on the one hand and to the rural and industrial workers on the other, the second phase related to the attitude towards work, industrialisation and modernisation among the elites, as well as high school and college students. The study was conducted in three countries of South: and South-East Asia, viz., Nepal, India. and the Philippines. The report of the study was finalised at a meeting of the Research Associates from 3 countries held in New Delhi in September, 1966 and was sent to Unesco, Paris, in November, 1966.

(ii) images and International Understanding: This was also a continuation study. The' first phase, undertaken in 1963, was limited in its scope to a study of the images which the elites of India, Thailand, and the Philippines entertained of themselves and about one another regarding various problems. The aim of the second phase was to cover the attitudes, the opinions and the values of the elites of India, Tailand and the Philippines. The report of the project was despatched to Unesco in November, 1966.

(iii) Tradition of Non-Violence: Ibis was also a continuation study. The project was taken up in 1963 and aimed at a comparative analysis of the tradition of non-violence and, peace and an empirical study of volumes and attitudes of the elite groups of India Nepal and, Ceylon in regard to non-violence In the second phase, the scope of the study was enlarged so as

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to include non-elites and students within the elite groups. The report of the project was sent to Unesco in December, 1966.

(iv) Science and Technology in relation to Cultural Values and Institutions of South and South-East Asia: This is a new project and its aim is to study the place and role of science and technology in two oriental civilizations. The study envisaged making a systematic inquiry into the problems of how some of the basic institutions and values in India and Ceylon influenced the development of science and technology in these countries. The report of the study was sent to Unesco in November, 1966.

16. programme of Education in International Understanding:

Under a national project undertaken by the Commission in support of Unesco's world-wide 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 round three fundamental programmes, viz., teaching about other countries; teaching about the UN and its Specialised Agencies including Unesco; inspiring respect for Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The Commission continued to organise workshops to enable teachers of participating institutions in different States to come together and exchange views on the working of the programme. A teachers' workshop was organised at Madras from 7th to 12th November, 1966, for the teachers of 34 participating institutions of Madras State.

17 The Commission continued the Publication of its bulletin entitled "the World in the Classroom" which serves as a forum for dissemination of information regarding activities of the institutions participating in the project in this country.

18. On a request from the Commission, Unesco deputed Mr. Terence Lawson, Secretary, Council of World Citizenship, London, for a period of 3 months for assisting and guiding the Commission in the further development of the programme of Education for International Understanding in Schools. During his stay for three months in India Mr. Lawson visited many participating institutions, delivered lectures at teacher training

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colleges, directed one teachers' workshop at Madras and also a National Seminar in New Delhi.

19. With financial assistance from Unesco, the National Commission organised a National Seminar on Education for International Understanding at New Delhi from 22nd to the 27th November, 1966. It was attended by 69 delegates including officials from State education directorates, teachers from participating institutions and observers from international agencies and non-governmental organisations. The main purpose of the seminar was to review the progress made in the programme of Education for International Understanding, to consider the difficulties impeding the implementation of the programme and the ways and means to overcome them and also consider the further extension of the programme with special reference to the sector of primary education.

20. On a request from Unesco, the Indian National Commission forwarded the names of 11 selected primary schools for participation in the Unesco's Associated Schools Project on Education for International Understanding.

21. A Study Kit on India to the USA:

A Study Kit on India consisting of sets of books, paintings, brochures, handicrafts, posters and photographs assembled by the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with Unesco was supplied to the University of the State of New York, Albany, New York. Similar study kits are under preparation for transmission to National Commisisons of several other countries.

22. Twentieth Anniversary of Unesco:

In response to an appeal made by the Commisison to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Unesco, a large number of educational institutions organised programmes including debates, discussion, exhibitions, study groups etc. Besides, with financial assistance from the Commission, a seminar on "Unesco and Peace" and series of lectures on various facets of Unesco were organised by the India International Centre, New Delhi, and a survey of information and opinion on Unesco, entitled, "Unesco's Image in India" was carried out by Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi. A "get-together" of Unesco "alumni" i.e., persons who had received Unesco fellowships or had been otherwise connected with Unesco was also arranged on November 5, 1966

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at New Delhi. To mark this event, the Commission also brought out two publications entitled, "Unesco and India" and "Selected, Unesco Features".

23. The Unesco, Reading Materials Project:

This project aims at providing and aiding in the development of reading materials in the countries of the South Asia region for all levels of readers. Eleven countries are covered by the project. A number of activities were organised in India to implement the programme, of which a few are mentioned below:

(i) Meeting of Experts on Book Production and Distribution in Asia: Unesco convened a meeting of experts on book production and distribution in Asia at Tokyo from 25th to 31st May, 1966 to assess Asia's long-term needs for books, assist formulation of systematic national policies to integrate book development into over-all economic and social planning, help in fuller co-ordination of bilateral aid programmes, and stimulate greater international aid for Asian book development. The meeting was attended by experts from different countries of the region including India.

(ii) Production of Pilot Editions with Unesco Assistance: Unesco has agreed to give the National Book Trust of India a subvention of Rs. 11,280 for preparing and publishing 6 pilot editions of books for neo-literates-4 in Hindi and 2 in Tamil. That Organisation has also agreed to pay the National Commission Rs. 2,350 for translating into English a book published earlier in Hindi under Unesco's pilot editions-"Relgious Stories".

(iii) Book Distribution Campaign in Rural Areas of North India: The Indian National Commission for Unesco has secured from Unesco a contract for the All-India Hindi Publishers Association, Delhi, for carrying out a campaign to promote Mass distribution and circulation of books in the languages of North India in order to create and to stimulate the desire to buy and to own books among the potential reading public in rural areas. Unesco's assistance for this project would be Rs. 11,875.

(iv) Development of Rural Reading Rooms: The Indian National Commission entered into a contract with Unesco for the reparation and publication of a pamphlet on rural libraries

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and a list of titles for readers in rural areas as also for developing and building a container for storage and display of books through the All-India Hindi Publishers Association with the aim to develop a system of reading rooms in rural areas. For these activities, Unesco is giving an assistance of Rs. 7,500.

(v) Survey on Ways to Achieve Low-Cost Books: A seminar on "Ways to Achieve Production of Low-Cost Books in India" was organised with assistance from Unesco. Unesco contributed a sum of Rs. 3,750 towards its expenditure.

(vi) Training Course for Book Illustrators and Designers for Childrens' Books: Under a contract with Unesco the Children's Book Trust, New Delhi, organised and conducted a training course for book illustrators and designers at New Delhi in November, 1966. Unesco's assistance for this project was Rs. 11,250

(vii) Training Course for Book Illustrators by the Southern Languages Book Trust, Madras: The Southern Languages Book Trust, Madras, organised and conducted in December, 1966 a training course for about 40 trainees from South Indian States on promotion of children's books. Unesco gave assistance to the extent to Rs. 15,000 for this purpose.

(viii) Unesco Expert for Children's Book Trust: Under the Expanded Technical Assistance Programme, Unesco, provided through the Commission the services of an expert, Mr. Joop Van Couwelaar, to the Children's Book Trust from 21st September, to 16th December, 1966.

(ix) Unesco Regional Workshop on Book Promotion and Readership Development: The Unesco Regional Centre for Reading Materials in South Asia, Karachi, conducted a regional workshop on 'Took Promotion and Readership Development, at Karachi in December, 1966. India was represented at this workshop by 3 experts in the field.

(x) Assistance for Publication of Tamil Encyclopaedia for Children: The Tamil Academy, Madras, has embarked on the preparation of an encycIopaedia in Tamil for children. On the recommendation of the Commission, Unesco has sanctioned a grant of $ 2,000 each for the project for the years 1965 and 1966.

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24. Unesco's Exchange of Persons Programme :

There has been a steady increase in the number of scholars visiting India under Unesco's exchange of persons programme in different fields. The Commission is responsible for providing to the visitors on their arrival in India necessary facilities and contacts to enable them to fulfil their specific assignments. During the year, the Commission received the following visitors:

(a) Major Project on Mutual Appreciation of Eastern and Western Cultural Values: (i) Prof. Raul Estuardo Cornejo, Director of the Institute of Languages and Literature, Faculty of Letters and Education, National University of Ica of Peru for completing research in Comparative, Oriental Studies.

(ii) Prof Tosar Errecart, Professor of Music Composition, Conservatory of Music, Puerto Rico, for the study of the tradition of music and folklore in India. (iii) Prof. Z. Yusuf of Bagdad University, Iraq, for the compilation of material for the publication of a complete bibliography of Arab musical manuscripts.

COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION