Haldwani, India—UPF-India commemorated the UN Global Day of Parents 2017 by organizing an event on the theme, “Ideal Parents Build Ideal World of Peace,” in Haldwani, a city in Uttarakhand state in northern India, on June 1, 2017. Around 100 people, including parents and youth, participated in the program.
The event began with a welcome song, sung by volunteers of UPF, and was followed by welcome remarks, given by Mr. Bharat Singh Bisht, coordinator of the Uttarakhand chapter of UPF-India.
Dr. Jogendra Singh Rautela, mayor of Haldwani Municipal Corporation, the civic body that governs the city of Haldwani, attended the occasion as the chief guest and gave remarks, in which he said, “As it is clear from theme of the program, there is no doubt that an ideal world can be built only when parents become more ideal people. He added, “The family is the smallest unit and building block of world of peace, but the pillars of the family are parents.” The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Krishna Adhikari, secretary general of UPF-India. He highlighted the significance of the Day and explained that UPF Founder Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon had proposed the establishment of a Global Day of Parents in a speech he gave at the United Nations in New York on August 18, 2000. In 2012, the Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly with resolution A/RES/66/292.
Among the other speakers were Mrs. Meenakshi Sharma, director of Vishwa International Academy; Mr. Joshua Jena, president of Indian New Life Society; and Mr. Nalin Balutia, a youth leader in Haldwani.
The program closed with a vote of thanks, given by Mr. Bhuwan Tiwari, an analysis officer of the government of Uttarakhand state.