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Unesco dissociates itself from World Philosophy Day events

Aarti Dhar

Secretariat not consulted on all aspects: official
Two Indian philosophers to travel to Tehran

NEW DELHI: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has decided to dissociate itself from the World Philosophy Day events scheduled to be held in Iran next week.

“The Iranian government will now host the show,” said Irina Bokova, Director-General of Unesco, last week, and said the Secretariat was not fully consulted on all aspects related to the international event.

The Unesco was hosting the event and an Indian delegation was scheduled to attend the functions at Tehran from November 21 to 23.

“As the Secretariat was not fully consulted on all aspects, the Director-General considers that the conditions necessary to guarantee the effective organisation of a U.N. international conference have not been met,” a statement issued by Ms. Bokova said.

The Day has been celebrated by the UN body every year since 2002, on the third Thursday of November, both at the Unesco headquarters in Paris and in other cities around the world. The General Conference of Unesco established the World Philosophy Day in 2005.

Tehran had been selected by the UN body, but the decision came under a lot of opposition from several quarters for the “lack of freedom of speech and alleged human rights violation'” in Iran.

Following the UN decision, the visit of the Indian officials, too, has been called off but two philosophers — Ramakrishna Rao, Chairman of the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (IPCR) and Member Secretary of the Council Godabarisha Mishra — are travelling to Tehran.

Their visit is being funded by the sponsors. The Delhi-based Indian Council of Philosophical Research is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Human Resource Development which aims to “bring back the entire tradition of Indian philosophy to its pristine and original form and provide the impetus required to nurture and promote new thinking through its intensive programmes of research.”

Unesco's objective is to promote an international culture of philosophical debate that respects human dignity and diversity. The Day encourages academic exchange and highlights the contribution of philosophical knowledge in addressing global issues, the statement said.

“Philosophy, Cultural Diversity and Rapprochement of Cultures” is the theme of this year's celebration at Unesco Headquarters, within the framework of the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures.

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