Dehradun: Nanhi Dunya ‘The International (Intercultural) Movement of Children and their Friends’ completes its
75 years of its foundation on 17th November 2021. 75 years ago on 17th November 1946, Prof Lekh
Raj Ulfat (founder) sowed the seeds of this movement intending to nurture childhood and serve
humanity. A week-long grand event is being celebrated to mark this huge accomplishment.
The event began with Chief guest Shri Tarun Vijay who is a Politician Indian author, social
worker, and journalist, lighting the lamp along with the Smt. Kiran Goyal the Chief Promoter of
Nanhi Dunya Movement Mr. Alok Ulfat Life & Mr. Vijay Goyal Member of Nanhi Dunya and Satvika
granddaughter of Ulfat jee.
Shri Tarun Vijay’s in the following address mentioned his deep connection with Nanhi Dunya since
childhood. He said, “It’s here where my cultural training began”. He mentioned, “I learnt a lot of
values from Ulfat ji (Prof Lekh Raj Ulfat) and I cherish them till l the date”. After the cultural program,
he felt overwhelmed and said in the culminating address “I am speechless. I have no words to describe
how am I feeling. Children have given a mesmerizing performance. I wish to take this performance to
the honorable Prime Minister Modi jee. The tireless efforts and precious contributions of Nanhi Dunya
for last 75 years need to be supported”.
Despite having met with an accident he came to attend the event while he was still limping. Smt. Kiran
Ulfat Goyal while expressing her gratitude in the concluding speech in the process of developing Nanhi
Dunya the support and participation from all corners of society are welcome.
Alok Ulfat, the Chief Education Coordinator remembered his parents and said “My father’s dream of
contributing towards the deprived section of the society has come true and we need to carry it forward”.
One of the members of Nanhi Dunya Trust Shri Ramesh Sharma ji, a renowned Gandhian said “If we
need to keep the spirit of diversity and transformation alive, we need to nurture little worlds (Nanhi
Dunya) of the youth and children”.
Letters of blessings, appreciation, and support have poured in from of messages from the Vice honorable
President of India Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Honourable Shri. Om Birla (Speaker Lok Sabha), Chief
Ministers and governors of different states, and many organizations that are working in the field of child
and women welfare.
The colourful cultural program on the 17th began with the performance of the inspirational song by
Alok Ulfat, ‘Chalo Chale’ performed by the children from Nanhi Dunya’s Vikas Nagar and Inder Road.
The meaning of the song inspires everyone to build and create together. The song is now an anthem for
Nanhi Dunya’s another important event and the intercultural festival called Rang Himalaya.
Children of Nanhi Dunya from the age of 7 to 17 under the guidance of Satvika Goyal performed a
medley of 20 folk dances from different cultures of the world. The children included coming from Nanhi
Dunya’s Vikas Nagar branch. Some of them also under the leadership of Satvika Goyal has been part
of the team that represented India in Brave Kids – an international cultural festival for children in Poland
for two consecutive years. Satvika Goyal has studied at Nanhi Dunya and now serves as Artistic
Instructor, Chief Communications and Outreach Coordinator. Satvika Goyal designed the event and
worked tirelessly to make this event successful.
“Running Along The Sky” is a song sung by Ojasya Soham Ulfat, lyrics & Composition by Alok Ulfat,
Guitar by Sangeet Charles, and Vipul, Programming & Sound engineering Shubham Sahota was
released on this very special day. Prof Ulfat’s grandson Ojasya while talking about his song said “in an
attempt to gift a song to Himalayan mountains, he instead received a gift n the form of this song from
the mountains. This song is an outcome of inspirations and impressions I got from my memorable visits
into the mountains and, its people and cultures”
A book on Nanhi Dunya was also inaugurated by the chief guest Mr. Tarun Vijay jee, which was
designed by Gunjan Sethi a volunteer of Nanhi Dunya under the guidance of Alok Ulfat.”
The celebration of the Rainbow Platinum Jubilee began on the evening of 15th November, in the city
of Dehradun with an enriching poetry session held at Nanhi Dunya Motherhouse Inder Road. The Chief
Guest of the poetry session.
A poetry session with a handsome gathering kicked started the celebrations today evening at Nanhi
Dunya Motherhouse situated at Inder Road. The names of the poets are Dr. Ram Vinay Singh, Mr.
Shahadab mashhadi, Mr. Rakesh Jain, Ms. Mira Naveli, Mr. Subodh Bajpayee, Mr. Danish Raja
Dehalvi Very prominent members of the city attended the poetry recital.
Dr. Harak Singh Rawat, the honorable minister for Forest & Environmental Protection, Climate
Change, Labour, Skill Development & Employment, Ayush, Ayush Education, Energy. He was very
insightful yet very engaging. Very sensitively he kept his presentation directed mainly towards children
present today. His stories were very motivating and taught us high moral values. During his
presentation, Dr. Rawat said “The sound ‘Nanhi Dunya’ touches the heart. Nanhi Dunya reminds me of
my childhood and many wonderful heartfelt stories of my childhood and college days.”
Seeing Nanhi Dunya’s commitment and ability to serve children, research in wholistic education and
efforts towards environmental replenishment Dr. Rawat presented Rupees 1 lac as a personal gift to the
Nanhi Dunya Trust and declared to further contribute a sum of Rupees 5 lac as a gesture of support
from his department.
Kiran Ulfat Goyal, Chief promotor of the movement expressed her deepest gratitude to the Chief guest,
people, children, and members of the Nanhi Dunya community. She later gave a small token of
appreciation to all the people who performed this evening. On the occasion Alok Ulfat, the Chief
Education Coordinator said that this is a remarkable start to this delightful event because poetry is the
highest form of human artistic expression, and we are fortunate to find moments like these to nurture
creativity and deep human emotions.
Nanhi Dunya movement was founded in 1946 by Prof Lekh Raj Ulfat (1920-1991) with 8 children
listening to stories and playing games sitting under a tree in Dehradun, in the foothills of the Himalayas,
in northern India. In 1953 he was joined by his wife Smt. Harbans Sadhana Ulfat (1925- 2001). Together
with their colleagues they attended to people’s greatest needs and strove to expand this movement. Soon
many activities and new centers started to emerge. Nanhi Dunya began with the intention of contributing
to a peaceful, sustainable, and integrated world, where all living beings can live and grow in universal
harmony. They serve as schools, as well as recreation centres, and centres for ongoing learning through
workshops for women and young people (including those with special needs). 1200 beneficiaries are
attending these centres between the ages of 3 and 16.
The Rainbow Platinum Jubilee celebrations that started with this poetic evening will have various
activities as part of its celebrations. About 50 children from Nanhi Dunya’s Vikas Nagar branch arrived
yesterday to prepare performances to be showcased during the festival. These children come from rural
backgrounds. Some of them have been part of the team that represented India for two years in an
international festival for children. This children’s festival is called Brave Kids held in Poland every
year.
As a ritual like every year, some members of the Nanhi Dunya community, children, teachers and
volunteers walked across the Rispna gutter which was once a river. Normally, over 100 children and
other members of Nanhi Dunya walk together each year, singing songs, sharing stories, dreaming for
an interdependent and interconnected future. After the Hawan a play RED & BLUE by Abhinav Goyal
and directed by Dr. Suwarn Rawat. Actors included Prerana Bhalla, Aarti, Aadeep.
Members of Nanhi Dunya, Mr. Alok Jain, Mrs. Chaya Sharma, Mr. Rohit Shukla, Mr. and Mrs. Ashish
Jain, Mrs. Kanta Oberoi, Dr. Rahul Sachan, Daunta (from Poland), Mr. Yogndra Kumar, other
volunteers (Shubham, Himanshu, Diya, Surya Prakash, Atul Yadav, Prakash, Raman Rawat), teachers
(Rekha, Kavita, Bhavna, Babita), old students of Nanhi Dunya, educationists and social workers were
part of the evening. The show was hosted by Manu Ahuja.
