Created in 1946, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organisation (UNESCO) is one of the specialised agencies of the uNited Nations family composed of 125 Member-States. The purpose of the Organisation as defined in its constitution is: "To contribute to peace and security by promoting colaborations among the nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental fredoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distniction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations." The constitution further says: "Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the dfences of peace must be constucted." The range of activities falling within the ambit of UNESCO is wide; in fact, this Organisation has been called "the least specialised of the Specialised Agencies."

However, the three main functons of UNESCO are: (i) international intellectual co-operation; (ii) assistance of Member-States; and (iii) promotion of peace and human rights and mutual understanding among peoples. International Intellectual co-operation in the fields of education, science, culture and communications is the basis of all UNESCO's work. The activities include co-operation of international scientific efforts, standardisation od documntation procedures, clearing house services, etc. A great number of new nations which have achieved independence since UNESCO was created, have acted as a spur to redoubled efforts in operational assistance to the needy States. Such aid to Member-States at their reqest now occupies the major part of UNESCO's staff and financial resources. While all UNESCO's activities contribute, directly or indrectly, to the promotion of peace an human rights and mutual understanding, certain specific programmes in this field including scientific research of problems of race, discrimination and prejudice, encouragement of teaching about the U. N. and education for intrnational understanding, etc. are carried out by the organisation.

The Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the U. N. General Assembly in 1948 was drafted with the co-operation of UNESCO. In India, UNESCO has collaborated in a number of ventures falling within the ambit of its activities. In a project financed by UNDP, UNESCO has been providing the services of foreign professors for the regional engineering colleges in India. UNESCO/UNDP have also been closely associated in the exicution of a number of scientific projects in the various institutions under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India. UNESCO has also provided assistance for strengthening of teaching and have also assisted in the research programmes undertaken at the at the centres of advanced studies at the Universities of Delhi, Punjab, Bombay and Madras and at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Earlier, the Universities of Osmania, Calcutta and Jadavpur had received assistance under this programme. The international campaign undertaked by the UNESCO to save the monuments of Nubia at Abu Simbel is well known.

UNESCO is also associated with another international campaign for saving the glories of Florence and Venice for humanity. In India, UNESCO is actively associated with a project for the preservation of paintings in the Ajanta And Ellora Caves. UNESCO is also associated with the possibilities of rehabilating the temples at Srirangam. India is one of the Founder-Member of the UNESCO and is actively participating in the world-wide celebrations of the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the UNESCO.

The Indian P &T Department are privileged to be associated with these celebrations on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of UNESCO. The commemorating stamp being brought out on the occasion, in India depicts a painting in the Ajanta Caves, where a UNESCO project for preservation of these paintings is in progress.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India