On 20 October, Ambassador of Ukraine to India Dr. Oleksandr Polishchuk had the honour of visiting Bal Ashram in Viratnagar, Rajasthan, at the kind invitation of Nobel Peace Laureate Mr. Kailash Satyarthi, to participate in A Convening of Cultures at Bal Ashram, organised by the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion.
The visit coincided with the completion of the first month of residential learning for the inaugural cohort of The Satyarthi Fellowship. During the visit, the Ambassador explored the remarkable legacy of Bal Ashram, met with the Satyarthi Fellows and exchanged views on their experiences, aspirations and the challenges facing our world.
Learning more about Mr. Satyarthi’s extraordinary life journey and his decades of tireless dedication to children’s rights was truly inspiring. His efforts have helped rescue more than 138,000 children from exploitation, trafficking and child labour. Behind these numbers are thousands of lives transformed and childhoods restored. We are truly fortunate to have people like Kailash Satyarthi among us, reminding the world that compassion is not merely a feeling, but a powerful force for change.
In the spirit of this shared commitment to protecting children, the Ambassador also spoke with the Fellows about the realities faced by children in Ukraine, whose childhoods have been profoundly affected by the ongoing war. He highlighted the disruption of education, the destruction of schools, the displacement and separation of families, and the psychological toll of living under constant threat. The discussion underscored the importance of protecting every child’s right to safety, education and a peaceful childhood, wherever they may be.
The visit was made even more memorable by the celebrations of #Dussehra (Vijayadashami). Guests enjoyed a traditional Ramlila performance depicting scenes from the Ramayana, followed by Ravan Dahan, the symbolic burning of Ravana’s effigy representing the triumph of good over evil. The Ambassador had the special honour of joining the performer portraying Lord Rama in this ritual.
Our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Kailash Satyarthi, Mrs. Sumedha Kailash, Ms. Asmita Satyarthi, Mr. Sudeep Mittal and the entire Bal Ashram family for their exceptionally warm welcome, kindness and hospitality.
We deeply value this friendship and look forward to further strengthening our cooperation with the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion.
We also wish the inaugural cohort of The Satyarthi Fellowship every success as they embark on the next stage of their journey, turning the knowledge, experiences and ideas gained at Bal Ashram into meaningful Compassionate Action Projects that empower communities and bring lasting positive change around the world.