Author: Eminent Contributors
Publisher: Centre for Cultural Resources and Training
Year: 1997
Language: English
Pages: 229
ISBN/UPC (if available): CCRT/RBLI

Description

This book comprises papers presented by eminent scholars during the National Seminar on Culture and Development to motivate Member Countries of Asia and Pacific Region to evolve measures for the integration of aesthetic and cultural values in the planning of policies in all areas of development.

To crate an awareness amongst scholars, artists, decision makers and the public at large about the objectives of UNESCOs World Decade for Cultural Development (WDCD), the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) has been organising special programmes on the themes of the WDCD. In todays context, the theme chosen is of great importance and relevance to Member Countries like India that have a rich cultural heritage but to some extent are struggling to achieve economic stability. It is a very crucial period as one seeks to find a balance in sustaining the cultural and aesthetic norms and cultural practices that enrich the society on the one hand, and the need for technological advancement, economic benefits on the other. To discuss how this balance can be brought about and special focus on Strategies and Plans of Action that help the survival and sustenance of beauty and creativity as well as the diversity of Indian cultural traditions and thought, the Seminar was organised on the theme of culture and Development.

At this Seminar, experts were invited to present papers based on perceptions from their own field of specialization to emphasise the role of Culture in developmental activities. Papers were presented on subjects relating to Art and Culture, Law, Tourism, Media, Education, etc. The discussion following the presentation of papers highlighted the need for decision makers to understand the cultural ethos of the groups of people being affected by governmental policies and plans. Specialists in art and culture, literature, visual and performing arts, cultural philosophy also discussed the need for a greater interaction between the community leaders, cultural activists and policy makers and administrators.

The World Decade for Cultural Development (WDCD) declared by UNESCO focused on the following six key areas:

: Acknowledging the cultural dimensions of development;
: Relationship between culture, science and technology;
: Preservation of the cultural heritage;
: Man and the mediasphere;
: Participation in cultural life and in development; and
: Stimulation of artistic creation and creativity.

The different themes of each year of the Decade motivated Member Countries to evolve measures for the integration of aesthetic and cultural values in the planning of policies in all areas of development and preparation of Plans of Action to implement such polices at the grass-root level.

Contents

Foreword

Reports

Annexures

Annexure 1 – List of Participants

Annexure 2 – Inaugural Address

Annexure 3

Unescos Perceptions and Ideologies related to the World Decade for Cultural Development

Culture and Womens Development

Cultural Sensitivity and Development: Some Lessons from Indias Tribal World

Culture and Administration

Culture and Development

Socio-Cultural Perspectives of Development

Culture and Development

The Cultural Dimension of Economic Development

Culture as an Essential Constituent of Development

Education and Culture as Two Faces of the Same Coin

The Media and the Arts

Culture and Development: Effects of Modernization on the Creativity and Aesthetics of Indian Crafts

Traditional Performing Arts: Their Survival Today

Dilemma of the Multilingual Society and the Culture of Development in India

Role of the Performing Arts in the Development of Culture

Reintegrating Design with our Lives

Cultural Needs as the Basis for Sustainable Housing Patterns

Architecture in India: The Tryst with Modernism

Culture and Tourism: Firmly Linked by Tradition

Heritage and Tourism

Law and Culture

Effects of Industrialization on the Natural and Cultural Environment

Cultural Traditions of Nature Conservation in India

Role of Indigenous Medicine in the Contemporary Health Scenario

The Scientific Heritage of Indian Culture

Information Management for Culture-
specific Development Plans in Traditional Societies

World Decade for Cultural Development:
Perceptions of UNESCO

About the Authors