Page 2 - Unesco

Garba of Gujarat included in Unesco's Intangible Cultural Heritage list

Gujarat''s popular Garba dance has been included in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity by UNESCO, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said on Wednesday. The inclusion has been made under the provisions of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage during the 18th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage which began in Kasane, Botswana on Tuesday. Garba of Gujarat is the 15th ICH element from India to join this list. This inscription underscores Garba's pivotal role as a unifying force that fosters social and gender inclusivity. Garba as a dance form is entrenched deeply in ritualistic and devotional roots, involving people from all walks of life and it continues to thrive as a vibrant living tradition bringing communities together, an official release said.

India not just observing future unfolding, actively shaping it: Amb Kamboj

India, home to the world's largest youth population, is actively shaping the future and its young minds are leveraging technology as a powerful tool to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, India's envoy to the UN has said. In her special address to the annual 1M1B Activate Impact Summit', India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said that India truly believes in the transformative power of youth. We recognise that the path to achieving the SDGs by 2030 is through harnessing the energy, the creativity and the innovation of our young population, she said on Thursday. India is home to the world's largest youth population, which is very unique. So we are not just observing the future unfolding, we're actually actively shaping it, she said. Kamboj said that India's young minds are leveraging technology as a powerful tool to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She said that projects by the country's .

New book creates comprehensive directory of active archives in India

A new book, "Mapping of the Archives in India", aims to offer a "near encyclopedic picture" of active archives and their collections across the nation. Written by Ramesh Chandra Gaur, director of Kalanidhi Division of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), and research scholar Vismay Basu, the book is the result of collaboration between IGNCA and UNESCO to create a directory of archives in India. Through extensive literature surveys, the researchers identified 600 institutions across the country housing archives, resulting in the creation of 424 directories within the book. "These directories encompass comprehensive profiles of the contained archives, shedding light on aspects of conservation, digitisation, and archival perspectives. There is a dire need for Archival Science education in India, and these archives represent our legacy and must be safeguarded," Gaur said at the book launch on Thursday. In addition to basic information, thematic details like the nature of

Committee formed to prepare Bengali plaque on Unesco honour to Santiniketan

Visva Bharati University on Monday said a committee has been formed to finalise the new Bengali plaque in place of the earlier one on UNESCO recognition to Santiniketan as a heritage site. The committee will also look through the already prepared Hindi and English texts of the new plaque to see that it is according to the instructions of the union education ministry, spokesperson of the central university, Mahua Banerjee said in an official statement. She said the acting Vice-chancellor Sanjoy Kumar Mallick has been advised that the installation of the official text of the UNESCO statement recognizing Santiniketan as a heritage site is of "immediate priority" and the ministry was assured that the university has no intention for unnecessary delay in carrying out the work. The ministry was informed that soon after the receipt of the draft statement, a committee was formed to finalise the Bengali version of the text of the plaque and to look through the texts for those in Hindi and ...

What is World Heritage Week? Here's all you need to know about the week

Every year World Heritage Week is celebrated from November 19 to November 25, 2023. The ASI has exempted the entry fee for preserved monuments, including the Taj Mahal on November 19

Many plaques installed earlier did not bear Tagore's name: Visva Bharati

Visva-Bharati said many plaques installed on the campus in the past did not bear the name of Rabindranath Tagore, the university's founder, like the recent ones erected after Santiniketan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. The statement came amid controversy over three recent plaques that did not bear the name of the Nobel laureate, who had founded the institute over a century ago. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier urged the Centre to remove the plaques as they bear the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ex-officio Chancellor, and the VC but not that of Tagore. As no action was taken in this regard, workers of her party, the Trinamool Congress, staged a sit-in near the campus. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP had also called upon Visva-Bharati authorities to set right the omission of Tagore's name in the plaque as it involved the sentiments of millions of Bengalis. In a statement on Monday, Visva Bharati spokesperson Mahua ...

UNESCO's tag for Kozhikode testament to rich literary heritage: CM Vijayan

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said UNESCO's recognition of Kozhikode as a 'City of Literature' is an honour for the state and a great pride for its people. UNESCO made the announcement on its official website on Tuesday. The CM congratulated the people of Kozhikode on the achievement. "It's an honour for #Kerala that the beautiful city of #Kozhikode has been designated as a #UNESCO City of Literature. Kozhikode is the first city in India to receive this prestigious title, and it is a moment of great pride for all of us. This recognition is a testament to the city's rich literary heritage and vibrant cultural scene. "Let's celebrate this incredible achievement and continue to promote the love for literature and creativity in our state. Congratulations to the people of Kozhikode," he said on a post on social media platform X. Kozhikode is where literary greats like the late S K Pottekkat and Vaikom Muhammad Basheer hailed from. The UNESCO recognition consolidat

Cultural vibrancy shines on globally: PM on inclusion of 2 cities in UCCN

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hailed the inclusion of Gwalior and Kozhikode in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) and said India's cultural vibrancy "shines brighter on the global stage". In a post on X, he also asserted that as India celebrates this international recognition, the nation "reaffirms its commitment" to preserving and promoting its diverse cultural traditions. Gwalior and Kozhikode are among the 55 new cities which have joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, UNESCO made the announcement on its official website on Tuesday. While Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh has made it to the coveted list in the 'Music' category, Kozhikode in Kerala has earned the place in the 'Literature' category. "India's cultural vibrancy shines brighter on the global stage with Kozhikode's rich literary legacy and Gwalior's melodious heritage now joining the esteemed UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Congratulations to the people of Kozhikode and Gwalior on this remarkable ...

PM lauds inclusion of Gwalior, Kozhikode in UNESCO Creative Cities Network

Earlier, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, G Kishan Reddy said the inclusion of two more Indian cities to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network is a proud moment for the country

Work on to make new plaque under ASI norms: Visva-Bharati VC to Bengal CM

Visva-Bharati vice-chancellor on Sunday said work was underway to "prepare" a plaque retaining UNESCO's declaration of Santiniketan as a world heritage site and in adherence to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) guidelines. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday urged the Centre to remove the plaques on UNESCO World Heritage Site status to Santiniketan for not bearing the name of Visva-Bharati founder Rabindranath Tagore. In a letter to Banerjee, vice-chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty called upon her "not to continue to form your opinion on the basis of what your sycophants convey". "I wonder whether you are perturbed that in the plaque, Rabindranath does not figureI just would like to draw your attention to our difficulties," Chakraborty said. Urging Banerjee to "please apply your mind," the VC said, "UNESCO declared Santiniketan as a World Heritage Site and we need to follow the ASI instructions while preparing the plaque and we are doing it, the result of which wil

Durga Puja's Unesco spark ignites pandal art, business and more

West Bengal's cultural extravaganza sees higher sponsorships, heightened creativity

Karnataka's Hoysala temples inscribed on Unesco World Heritage List

"More pride for India! The magnificent Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas have been inscribed on the @UNESCO World Heritage List," PM Modi wrote on X

Understanding UNESCO World Heritage List, selection and global impact

With the addition of Santiniketan, India now has 41 official world heritage sites. Italy has the highest number of heritage sites at 58

Fitting tribute to our first Nobel laureate: EAM on tag for Santiniketan

Santiniketan was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list during the 45th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Saudi Arabia on Sunday

West Bengal's Shantiniketan makes it to UNESCO World Heritage list

Established in 1901 by poet and philosopher Tagore, Santiniketan was a residential school and centre for art based on ancient Indian traditions

Unesco seeks regulation in first guidance on GenAI use in education

The Paris-based agency also sought to protect the rights of teachers and researchers and the value of their practices when using GenAI

Biden will nominate longtime aide to become US ambassador to UNESCO

A longtime aide to President Joe Biden who is a senior adviser in Vice President Kamala Harris' office is Biden's choice to represent the United States at the United Nations agency devoted to education, science and culture. The U.S. recently rejoined the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization after a five-year hiatus initiated by Biden's immediate predecessor in the White House, Donald Trump. The Democratic president's choice to become the U.S. permanent representative to the Paris-based UNESCO, with the rank of ambassador, is longtime aide Courtney O'Donnell, according to a White House official, who spoke Monday on the condition of anonymity to discuss the nomination before a formal announcement. O'Donnell currently wears two hats: She's a senior adviser in Harris' office and acting chief of staff for Harris' husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, and lends her expertise to a range of national and global issues, including gender equity and countering prejudice again

Telangana, Unesco join hands to implement UN recommendation on ethics of AI

The Telangana government and UNESCO will be collaborating to implement the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) after a Letter of Intent was signed here on Sunday. The collaboration focuses on promoting the ethical development and use of AI awareness raising, capacity building, and contributions to UNESCO's Global Observatory on AI Ethics, a release said. The partnership signifies a shared commitment to an AI-powered future that prioritises societal good and equitable development, it said. "A significant collaboration between the Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (ITE&C) Department of the Government of Telangana and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), is set to shape the landscape of the ethical development of and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)," it said. The Letter of Intent marks the beginning of a strategic partnership aimed at promoting the implementation of UNESCO's ...

UNESCO report urges ban on smartphones in schools, to "Put Learners First"

UNESCO report suggests that excessive use of mobile phones is leading to reduced educational performance, with more screen time impacting the emotional stability of children negatively

UNESCO members expected to approve US entry in UN's cultural agency

UNESCO's 193 members states are gathering Thursday for a two-day meeting in Paris aimed at voting on the United States' plans to rejoin the U.N. cultural and scientific agency after a decade-long dispute sparked by the organization's move to include Palestine as a member. The U.S. announced earlier this month, that it wanted to return, five years after it withdrew from the agency during the presidency of Donald Trump. U.S. officials say the decision was motivated by concern that China is filling the gap left by the U.S. in UNESCO policymaking, notably in setting standards for artificial intelligence and technology education around the world. Approval by member states seems a formality since not a single country has raised an objection to the return of a country that was once the agency's single biggest funder. The vote is expected Thursday or Friday. The U.S. and Israel stopped financing UNESCO after it voted to include Palestine as a member state in 2011. The Trump administration