Beyond its prominent World Heritage Sites, Intangible Cultural Heritage list, and Memory of the World Register, UNESCO engages with India through a wider array of initiatives aimed at fostering cultural development, promoting diversity, and building peace. These efforts span crucial areas such as supporting cultural industries and the creative economy, preserving endangered languages, promoting intercultural dialogue, and establishing academic partnerships through UNESCO Chairs in cultural fields. India, as a significant cultural power and a founding member, actively participates in and benefits from these diverse programmes, leveraging them to strengthen its cultural sector, safeguard its linguistic heritage, and contribute to global understanding.
UNESCO recognizes cultural industries and the creative economy as powerful drivers of sustainable development, economic growth, and social cohesion. These sectors include film, music, performing arts, publishing, design, fashion, crafts, and digital cultural content.
UNESCO's Mandate
The Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005) is the cornerstone. It asserts the sovereign right of States to adopt measures to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions and recognizes their dual cultural and economic nature.
Creative Cities Network (UCCN)
This is the most direct and prominent initiative. Indian cities are recognized for leveraging their specific creative fields for urban development and promoting creative industries.
Examples: Jaipur (Crafts), Varanasi (Music), Chennai (Music), Mumbai (Film), Hyderabad (Gastronomy), Srinagar (Crafts), Gwalior (Music), Kozhikode (Literature).
Policy & Capacity Building
UNESCO works with the Indian government to develop evidence-based cultural policies, including workshops on cultural statistics, creative entrepreneurship, and intellectual property rights.
Source: UNESCO 2005 Convention; UNESCO Creative Cities Network website; Ministry of Culture, PIB; UNESCO Delhi Office reports.
UNESCO is a leading advocate for linguistic diversity, recognizing languages as indispensable carriers of cultural heritage, knowledge, and identity. The organization actively works to preserve endangered languages worldwide.
UNESCO's Role & Atlas
UNESCO's Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger identifies and maps languages facing extinction. Its strategy focuses on documentation, revitalization, multilingual education, and policy advocacy.
India is one of the world's most linguistically diverse countries, but also faces the threat of many languages becoming extinct (People's Linguistic Survey identified over 780 living languages).
Support in India
UNESCO collaborates with and advises Indian institutions like the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru, which spearheads India's Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages (SPPEL).
Current Affairs Link: The UN International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032), led by UNESCO, provides renewed impetus for safeguarding linguistic diversity.
Source: UNESCO Atlas of Languages in Danger; CIIL website; Ministry of Education; PIB.
At its core, UNESCO aims to build peace through mutual understanding. Intercultural dialogue is crucial for achieving this by fostering respect for cultural diversity, human rights, and the rule of law.
UNESCO's Mechanisms
- Conventions: 2003 (ICH) and 2005 (Cultural Expressions) inherently promote dialogue.
- Global Platforms: 'International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures'.
- Cultural Routes: Silk Roads Programme promotes shared heritage.
- Education: Global Citizenship Education (GCED) fosters critical thinking and mutual respect.
India's Engagement
- Participation: Active in UNESCO's international dialogues on diversity.
- Transnational Inscriptions: Nawrouz festival (ICH) and Archives of the Dutch East India Company (MoW) showcase shared cultural practices.
- ICCR's Role: The Indian Council for Cultural Relations actively promotes India's cultural heritage abroad, aligning with UNESCO's goals.
Source: UNESCO Intercultural Dialogue section; ICCR website.
The UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme, launched in 1992, fosters inter-university cooperation and networking to enhance institutional capacities through knowledge sharing and collaborative work. In India, several universities host UNESCO Chairs, including those focused on cultural fields.
Purpose of Chairs
- Serve as research and training hubs.
- Facilitate knowledge transfer and exchange.
- Contribute to UNESCO's priorities.
- Promote interdisciplinary approaches.
Examples in India (Cultural Focus)
- SPPU, Pune: Philosophy for Intercultural Dialogue.
- NCHSE, Bhopal: Culture, Habitat and Sustainable Development.
- MGNCER, Hyderabad: Community Based Research (often cultural).
- EFLU, Hyderabad: Inclusive Language Learning & Teaching.
Significance for India
These Chairs enhance research capacity, promote specialized studies, facilitate international academic collaborations, and help integrate global best practices into Indian higher education, directly contributing to UNESCO's cultural mandate.
Source: UNESCO UNITWIN Directory; respective university websites.
| Initiative | Primary Aim | India's Engagement/Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Cultural Industries & Creative Economy | Promote creativity for sustainable development, economic growth | 2005 Convention, UCCN (8 cities like Jaipur, Varanasi, Mumbai, Gwalior), policy dialogue, capacity building. |
| Preservation of Endangered Languages | Safeguard linguistic diversity, cultural identity | Collaboration with CIIL (SPPEL), promotion of Mother Language Day, part of UN Int'l Decade of Indigenous Languages. |
| Promotion of Intercultural Dialogue | Foster mutual understanding, peace among cultures | Participation in global forums, transnational ICH/MoW (Nawrouz, Dutch East India Co. Archives), ICCR collaboration, GCED. |
| UNESCO Chairs in Cultural Fields | Enhance research, knowledge sharing, inter-university cooperation | SPPU (Philosophy for Intercultural Dialogue), NCHSE Bhopal (Culture, Habitat, Sustainable Dev.), EFLU (Inclusive Language Learning & Teaching). |
UNESCO's engagement with India's cultural landscape extends far beyond the iconic World Heritage Sites and vibrant Intangible Cultural Heritage. Its multifaceted initiatives actively support the dynamic interplay of culture and development, from nurturing creative economies in urban centers to safeguarding the precious diversity of languages and fostering dialogue among peoples. For India, these partnerships are vital. They not only provide international recognition and technical expertise but also align with national goals of sustainable development, cultural preservation, and projecting India's soft power globally.
The way forward involves:
- Deepening Collaboration: Strengthening partnerships between UNESCO, central and state governments, academic institutions, and local communities.
- Strategic Policy Integration: Ensuring that UNESCO's frameworks and recommendations are effectively integrated into national and local cultural policies.
- Digitalization: Leveraging technology for wider access to cultural resources, documentation of endangered languages, and promotion of creative content.
- Resource Mobilization: Securing adequate financial and human resources to sustain these diverse cultural initiatives.
- Community Empowerment: Prioritizing the involvement and benefit of local communities as custodians and beneficiaries of cultural initiatives.
By embracing these broader cultural engagements, India can continue to contribute significantly to UNESCO's vision of building peace through intellectual and moral solidarity, while also enriching its own diverse cultural fabric.
- Cultural Industries & Creative Economy:
- Based on 2005 Convention on Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
- UCCN (Creative Cities Network) is key initiative: India has 8 cities (Jaipur, Varanasi, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Srinagar, Gwalior, Kozhikode).
- Endangered Languages:
- UNESCO's Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger.
- India's CIIL (Central Institute of Indian Languages) and SPPEL (Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages of India) align with UNESCO's goals.
- International Mother Language Day (Feb 21).
- UN International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032).
- Intercultural Dialogue:
- Core to UNESCO's peace mandate.
- Promoted via 2003 (ICH) and 2005 (Cultural Expressions) Conventions.
- Silk Roads Programme is an example of cultural routes.
- ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) also promotes this.
- UNESCO Chairs:
- Part of UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme (1992).
- Located in Indian universities (e.g., Savitribai Phule Pune University, NCHSE Bhopal, EFLU Hyderabad).
- Focus on research, training, knowledge sharing in cultural and related fields.
- Beyond Lists: Emphasize that UNESCO's cultural work extends beyond the famous heritage lists to capacity building, policy development, and fostering dynamic cultural sectors.
- Interlinkages: How promoting cultural industries (UCCN) can create sustainable livelihoods for communities involved in ICH and traditional crafts. How linguistic diversity supports the richness of oral traditions.
- Challenges:
- For Cultural Industries: Competition from global players, formalization of informal sectors, intellectual property protection, sustainable financing.
- For Endangered Languages: Rapid assimilation, lack of economic incentive, documentation challenges, limited policy implementation.
- For Dialogue: Rising nationalism, cultural misunderstandings, digital echo chambers.
- For Chairs: Sustained funding, impactful research dissemination, bridging academic work with policy.
- Synergy with National Policies: UNESCO's initiatives align with India's goals of 'Make in India' (for crafts), 'Digital India' (for cultural content), 'Skill India' (for traditional skills), 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (promoting local creativity), and 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' (cultural unity).
- Soft Power: India leverages its cultural diversity through these initiatives to enhance its global standing and promote understanding.
- Role of NGOs and Private Sector: Highlight the increasing importance of non-governmental organizations and the private sector in supporting these cultural initiatives alongside government efforts.
- October 2023: Inscription of Gwalior (Music) and Kozhikode (Literature) in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, directly showcasing support for cultural industries and fostering creative economies in Indian cities.
- December 2023: Garba of Gujarat added to the ICH list, reinforcing UNESCO's broader engagement with living traditions and providing another avenue for intercultural dialogue.
- International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032): This ongoing UN initiative (led by UNESCO) has prompted increased focus on documentation and revitalization efforts for India's numerous endangered languages by institutions like CIIL.
- Cultural Diplomacy Events: India, through the ICCR and Ministry of Culture, continues to host and participate in international cultural events and exchanges that align with UNESCO's intercultural dialogue mandate.
A. Prelims MCQs
UPSC Prelims 2019: With reference to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, which of the following Indian cities was/were included in the network in 2019?
(a) Jaipur and Varanasi
(b) Chennai and Mumbai
(c) Mumbai and Hyderabad
(d) Srinagar and Jaipur
Answer: (c)
UPSC Prelims 2023: In the context of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Yoga was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.
- Kumbh Mela was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2017.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c)
B. Mains Questions
UPSC Mains 2019 (GS I): Highlight the significance of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage for India.
UPSC Mains 2021 (GS I): Discuss the challenges and opportunities of integrating traditional knowledge with modern scientific systems in India.
Which of the following statements about UNESCO's engagement in India are correct?
- UNESCO's Creative Cities Network (UCCN) focuses on promoting creativity for sustainable urban development.
- The Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) is the primary nodal agency for UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme in India.
- UNESCO Chairs in Indian universities facilitate international academic cooperation in cultural fields.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct (UCCN aim). Statement 2 is incorrect; CIIL is for languages (and works with UNESCO on endangered languages), while the National Archives of India is key for MoW. Statement 3 is correct (UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs aim).
In the context of UNESCO's promotion of intercultural dialogue, which of the following initiatives or concepts are relevant?
- International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures
- Promotion of Mother Language Day
- Transnational nominations to the Intangible Cultural Heritage list
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
Explanation: All three contribute to intercultural dialogue. The Decade directly promotes it. Mother Language Day fosters respect for linguistic diversity. Transnational ICH (like Nawrouz) highlights shared cultural practices across borders, leading to dialogue.
"Beyond safeguarding heritage sites, UNESCO's broader cultural initiatives empower local communities and strengthen creative economies in India." Elucidate this statement, discussing how the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and efforts towards preserving endangered languages contribute to India's socio-economic development. (15 marks, 250 words)
Key Points/Structure: Acknowledge UNESCO's expanded role. Explain how UCCN boosts local creative industries, economic benefits, and community empowerment. Discuss how endangered languages are carriers of traditional knowledge vital for sustainable practices, their importance for cultural identity, and role in mother-tongue education. Conclude that these initiatives foster inclusive development and harness culture as a resource.
"Intercultural dialogue is not merely a cultural exchange but a prerequisite for peace and sustainable development in a globalized world." In this context, discuss UNESCO's role in promoting intercultural dialogue in India, highlighting specific mechanisms and the importance of academic partnerships. (10 marks, 150 words)
Key Points/Structure: Define intercultural dialogue and its significance. Detail UNESCO's mechanisms (Conventions, Transnational Elements, Cultural Routes, GCED). Emphasize the role of UNESCO Chairs as research hubs fostering intellectual exchange and training. Conclude on building a more peaceful and tolerant society.