NIFAA----An Epitome  

Our Vision 

NIFAA intends to be a bellwether in motivating Youth for Socio-cultural revolution and infuse in them unfathomed sense of Social Responsibility.

Our Mission

1. Inspiring global youth towards active participation in volunteerism and social services.

2. Educating and developing volunteers for enhanced potential realization.

3. To reach out to the global community and benefit the less fortunate in society.

4. To make sure that no one is “more equal” than others.

5. To serve the cause of universal brotherhood, communal harmony and world peace through socio cultural exchange programmes.

6. To promote gender equality in the society and make the world a better place for the fair sex.

7. Working relentlessly for the formation of evil free society and just world. 

Our Motto 

 YCC: Youth for constructive change. 

Believing in ancient Indian adage “Vaisudhev Kutumbkam”, (the whole world is a family) we the proud soldiers of NIFAA came together in September-2000. Since its inception NIFAA has done tremendous work towards a better society and that has made great difference. NIFAA is an army which include highly qualified professionals and grass root workers, working relentlessly together to make world a better place to live.  

At the outset NIFAA was strictly a non political social organization and it was flagged up as National Institute of Fine Arts Samiti.  This society was created by a prominent social activist, Mr. Pritpal Singh Pannu.  With the passage of time it got a new name, National Integrated Forum of Artists and Activists i.e. NIFAA.  Since its inception NIFAA has done tremendous work in plethora of fields like abolition of social evils, upliftment of weaker section of society, promotion of patriotic love and national integration, promotion of Indian folk arts, Indian folk culture, environment safety programmes, women empowerment and child welfare, adventure excursions and especially cultural based expansive thrilful activities.  In a couple of years it found its place in hearts of the masses and attracted people from all strata of life to engage in various activities run by NIFAA. 

NIFAA functions through two wings.  Former is Artists wing and the latter is Activists wing.  Artist wing is engaged in promoting Indian cultural activities and enhancing coordination among artists of various states and countries. Latter one is playing the role of a watchdog over governmental and non governmental activities.

      NIFAA has become a beacon in the fields of social and cultural activities. NIFAA was recommended for National Youth Award in the year 2005 & 2006 and placed 2nd in country for two consecutive years. This year (2008) NIFAA has been selected for National Youth Award (organisation category) by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Govt. of India as the best youth organisation of the country.  The award was felicitated to S. Pritpal Singh Pannu chairman NIFAA on 12th January 2008 at Chennai, Tamilinadu by the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Sh. Mani Shankar Aiyar. Mr. Pritpal Singh Pannu was honoured with a trophy, a scroll, a gold medal and draft of Rs. one lakh in favour of NIFAA. It is also worth mentioning that NIFAA is the only organization from the Haryana State, which has been awarded this prestigious award.  

NIFAA organized fortnightly programmes to celebrate Indian Independence Day, where great sons and daughters of Mother India were remembered. Plethoras of programs were organized with a mission to make people aware of the sacrifices made by great souls of India. NIFAA organized a National camp on National Integration, with the help of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. National level seminars were held during the camp, in which 150 young volunteers from 14 provinces of India participated and they discussed various challenges facing India.

      NIFAA is playing an active role in the upliftment of the weaker section of society by imparting free Insurance Cover and giving proper aid to the poor and needy students to continue their studies. 

      NIFAA is playing an active role in the field of social and cultural activities and also is always ready to assist governments during natural calamities.  During Tsunami NIFAA went door to door to try mitigating the pain of victims and deposited 51000 rupees to Prime Minister’s relief fund, collected clothes and eatables for the victims. 

NIFAA is always ready to provide economic help to the families who can’t manage marriage of their daughters. NIFAA is giving regular aid to the ailing people and those people who can not afford medicines and hospital charges for major diseases.  In the remote areas of the country girls are being educated at stitching centers and computer centers run by NIFAA and hundreds of girls have already benefitted via this channel. 

The organization is always helpful to orphans and garbage pickers. We provide needy sports persons with financial help from time to time, e.g., Mallika Sharma who later became Asian Champion by getting gold medal for India in power lifting.  She was financially assisted with full expenditure of rupees 60000. 

NIFAA is playing an active role on international matters of Indian concern.  NIFAA raised its voice for the safe release of Indian war victims including innocent Sarabjeet Singh lodged in Pakistani Jails. A peace march was taken from Karnal to Delhi and a demonstration was held at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. Later on, a memorandum was presented to the High Commissioner of Pakistan for immediate release of Sarabjeet and other war victims. To enrich cultural relations between India and Pakistan, internationally renowned Pakistani singer Reshma was invited and a cultural evening was held in the name of Ek Sham Hind Pak Dosti Ke Nam.  The programme was inaugurated by His Excellency Dr. A. R. Kidwai, Hon’ble governor of Haryana and He admired the active programmes of NIFAA in bringing the two nations close. 

NIFAA initiated to make India’s relations with other countries more cordial.  In this regard Indo-Japan mini concert “Glimpses-2005” was held during the Japan cultural month in collaboration with International Institute of Perfect Arts and with support from Embassy of Japan and the Japan foundation.  World fame Arpa player of Japan Elena Tomioko enthralled the audience with the magic of her fingers on Arpa as well as with melodious voice of Arjun Jaipuri of India.   IIPA president Mrs. Shahana Nandi alongwith the Japanese artists shared panel theatre with school children and general masses. NIFAA Chairman Pritpal Singh Pannu also visited Japan to participate in youth development programme under the aegis of Japan International Cooperation Agency. 

Further strengthening the bonds, NIFAA organized an INDO-JAPAN friendship cultural concert in collaboration with International Institute of Perfect Arts and Embassy of Japan in the city beautiful Chandigarh in the year 2007.  The event was supported by the Commonwealth Youth Programme Asia Centre and sponsored by Liberty Trend a business house in Karnal, Haryana.  Significantly the year was earmarked as the Indo-Japanese friendship year in India and the Embassy of Japan endorsed this programme as their official programme. The following three concerts were held commemorating Indo-Japan friendship ties:- 

8th December -     at Ganga International School New Delhi,

10th December -   at Punjab Kala Bhawan Auditorium, Chandigarh

11th December -   at Doon Valley Institute of Engineering and Technology Karnal

World famous ARPA player Ms. Elena Tomioko enthralled the audience with the magic of her fingers on Arpa which is South American musical instrument.   

During the Japan cultural month in 2008, Embassy of Japan and Japan Foundation selected NIFAA as its cultural partner and organized two days Japanese film festival at Karnal.  A photo exhibition on Indo Japan relations was also displayed during these two day programmes.  This programme played an important role in bringing people of both the countries closer. Ms Mizuho Hayakawa, the Ist Secretary to Embassy of Japan in India and Mr. Toroyuki Hoshina, Director Japan Foundation were among the guests of honour in the opening ceremony of Japanese film festival at Karnal 

In the year 2006 a special cultural delegation of NIFAA visited Mauritius on invitation of Mr. Suresh Ramburn, chairman Federation of Hindu organizations of Mauritius. NIFAA artists presented Indian folk dances for 7 days in different parts of the island. A special invitation was called upon by Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation in the studio for recording and it was telecasted on M.B.C. channel of Mauritian Government. Delegation of NIFAA was extended a warm welcome by H.E. Sir Anerood Jugnauth hon’ble president of Mauritius by inviting in presidential house. Environment Minister of Mauritius Mr. Anil Bechoo also invited NIFAA delegation in his ministry and admired a lot.     

On demand of masses of Mauritius a branch of NIFAA was announced under the headship of Mr. Suresh Ramburn. Again a delegation of 24 members and artists of NIFAA visited Mauritius from July 12, 2007 to July 19, 2007 on the invitation of Uttar Bhartiya Sangh of Mauritius. This cultural exchange tour was duly patronized by Ministry of Art and Culture of Mauritius and got support from Indian High Commission at Mauritius. NIFAA artists presented a light and sound drama based on the life and teachings of Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh in the international auditorium of Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Mauritius. Folk dances from India were also presented. Dr. Vasant K. Banwari, Hon’ble Minister of Labour, Industrial Relation and Employment Mauritius, who was present on this occasion specially gave direction to Govt. Channel of Mauritius to record the whole programme and on his direction Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation specially arranged the recording of Light and Sound drama and other cultural items of NIFAA team and they broadcasted the entire programme on National channel. NIFAA also got the opportunity to perform on Parwasi Bhartiya Ghat, a world heritage site of UNESCO in the presence of Art and Culture Minister and Justice Minister of Mauritius. 

His Excellency Sir Anerood Jugnauth, the President of Mauritius and Lady Jugnauth visited India on a ten day visit on the invitation of NIFAA as the ambassador of Indo – Mauritius friendship ties. As part of the tour he visited Delhi, Karnal, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jallandur, Shimla and Lucknow.  Cultural events were organized by NIFAA to promote Indo-Mauritius ties. It was a great pride for NIFAA that Mr. Pritpal Singh Pannu, chairman NIFAA was given the honour to coordinate whole tour of Honourable President of Mauritius. 

NIFAA chairman Pritpal Singh Pannu arranged a tour to Mauritius along with famous Japanese harpist Elena Tomioka and Indian singer Vibhas Arora.  Under the joint concert of India, Japan and Mauritius these artists performed at various places in Mauritius.  The most prestigious moments in the cultural history of NIFAA were created when H.E. President of Mauritius Sir Anerood Jugnauth invited NIFAA artists for performance at Presidents House.  Musical programme was presented during the august presence of hon’ble president, Lady sarojni jugnauth, several ambassadors and high commissioners at Mauritius and other prominent citizens of Mauritius.  President hosted a special Lunch in honour of the visiting NIFAA delegation. 

NIFAA is marching as a responsible body in all directions whether it is against global terrorism or raising voice against social evils by organizing documentary film festival based on social issues or seminars on environment conservation, female foeticide, child labour, child marriage, drug addiction and AIDS.  NIFAA is actively fighting against these social evils.  In Indian tradition people celebrate the Lohri festival on the birth of male children but NIFAA kept itself a step ahead in the year 2006 by celebrating group lohri festival for 114 newly born female babies. Last year again this programme was organized throughout the state and about 1200 families across the State came forward to honour their girl child by celebrating their 1st Lohri. Target for the current year Lohri Celebration is for about 5000 new born girls.

      NIFAA added a new chapter and gave a new definition by using religion as a weapon to abolish social evils and it was fantastically started by organizing Kirtan Darbar based on Manas Ki Jaat Sabai Eike Pahchanbo, which means all human being are equal.  In the year 2006 NIFAA again organized a KIRTAN DARBAR based on So Kyon Manda Akhiye-Jit Jammeh Rajan- in which importance of women is considered.  Theme for 2007 Kirtan Darbar was castiesm.  Similarly seminars on prominent Hindu, Muslims and Christian saints were also organized to highlight prominent issuing facing society.  

The year 2008 being 300 year of Gurta Gaddi Diwas of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji, is celebrated at mass level through out the world.  The main function was held at Nanded in Maharashtra state of India where about 2 million people from all over the world assembled to mark this historically and religiously important event.  NIFAA produced a light and sound drama, “Marg Suhela” to spread the holy message of Guru Granth Sahib Ji against the social evils of present era.  The drama written by NIFAA chairman Pritpal Singh Pannu and directed by Gaurav Sharma of Chandigarh was staged at Nanded in the presence of a mammoth gathering.  On the one hand this drama depicted the history and teachings of great Sikh Gurus while on the other hand it successfully awared the masses about the holy message of Guru Granth Sahib Ji against the social evils of female foeticide, dowry, drug addiction, HIV AIDS, communalism, terrorism, castiesm, disrespect to elderly people etc. 

Environment protection, yoga based programmes, Police public relation programs etc. were held just to change the negative attitude of the peoples and emphasized the citizens to join positive attitude to make the country progressive and prosperous. Human rights as well as minority rights programs are also in the agenda of NIFAA. 

To achieve the desired target from the above said social activities NIFAA has empowered an innovative cultural team.  Today various artists of NIFAA like Supriya Sharma, Sakshi Madan, Jasleen Kaur, Sheifali Chopra, Komal Sharma, Akhilesh Kadian have performed in National level competitions and bagged National reputed awards in various folk and classical dances like Rajsthani Kalbelia, Haryanvi Damal, Kathak, Panjabi Gidha as well as Bhangra team of NIFAA has been a top ranker in Cuttak, Shimla, West Bangal, Utter Pardesh and always bagged Ist position in their performance at National level.  NIFAA’s mimicry King Tarlochan Singh has been declared many a times winner at National level.  His mimicry was so exact that people were amazed to believe. Another artist of NIFAA Amritpal Singh was given prestigious Rafi award in singing.  In the drama team of NIFAA, there are 25 talented artists playing street plays on various issues of social importance. Surjeet Singh Subhri, Pritpal Singh Pannu, Manjeet Kaur, Mahak Jyot, Riyaz Singh, Gurbhej Singh, Karanbir Singh, Jaspal Singh, Kevin, Mukesh Kumar, Anil Singhania, Vikas, Atinder Pal are the few names of this drama team.

      NIFAA produced a light and sound drama based on life and teachings of Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh on his birth centenary and 75th martyrs day.  The Ist staging of this drama took place in the presence of S. Tarlochan Singh, worthy chairman of National Commission of Minorities.  S. Kiran Jeet Singh and S. Abhay Singh Sandhu, both nephew of the great martyr were also present on the occasion.  Stage show of this light and sound drama is being held in various corners of India and also on foreign land.  NIFAA is planning to stage up light and sound drama on international level.

      To continue fight against social evils NIFAA has started a Herculean task MISSION-2010 i.e. a mass awareness movement against the social evils of female foeticide, dowry, drug addiction and AIDS. It is a movement in which more than 2000 representatives of social organizations and more than 500 representative of Panchayti Raj Institutes have been inducted.  NIFAA has taken the challenge to reach every door of Haryana with the MISSION-2010. In this regard Ist phase of Mission 2010 was started on 22nd Oct. in the form of Chetna Yatra from Karnal, which covered almost all districts of Haryana and Delhi and halted at Kurukshetra on 27th Oct.  The 25 active volunteers of NIFAA organized street plays, poetry recitation, speeches, folk songs and distributed brochures covering all four social evils in whole Haryana and lacs of people were benefited from the message.

      This phase was so successful that approximately 2500 social volunteers and Panchayti Raj representatives came ahead and pledged to make this great movement a grand success. Hon’ble Union minister for Panchayti Raj, Youth Affairs and Sports admired the active efforts of NIFAA as mission 2010 and promised to give every type of support needed to achieve the targets of Mission 2010.  NIFAA organized various activities till date to achieve the desired target of MISSION-2010.  In the current year a state level one day workshop was held at NDRI Auditorium of Karnal with the help from Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, Haryana in which about 1000 female social volunteers across the state assembled and they all were inspired by the prominent speakers to work for the women empowerment and to abolish the social menace of female foeticide.  

      When anti National forces tried to derail the peace talks between India and Pakistan by killing innocent travellers in Attari Express, NIFAA organised a peace march from Diwana Railway    Station (Panipat) to Attari Railway Station from 17th to 18th March, 2007 to encourage peace between India and Pakistan. The train bomb blast was a heinous task against humanity. It was most shameful activity committed by terrorists to derail the bilateral peace talks between two nations.  It was mournful time for the awams. NIFAA peace march successfully showed that Indians were equally anguished as Pakistanis were. Indian masses have the same pain and grief over the Attari express bomb blast as their Pakistani counterparts. NIFAA through this peace march tried to balm the pain of victims of this blast.  To achieve this humanitarian task, peace messages from administration,  politicians, general masses of all 20 districts of Haryana State were collected on white banners and these 20 banners (each 15 meter) were presented to Pakistani officials on Wagha check post as a peace message to the people of Pakistan.    

NIFAA is regularly organizing various social and cultural programmes in District Prison and in the series of such type of projects NIFAA organized a patriotic dance drama workshop at Karnal Jail where budding dance director from ASSAM Gaurav Hazarika inspiring the hard core criminals for better citizens. The prisoners daily spent 6-8 hours to learn this art from Gaurav Hazarika.  Most of these prisoners were undergoing life imprisonment after being convicted for murder, rape or attempt to murder. 

NIFAA organized two day state level workshop for the empowerment and promotion of adolescents in which experts of adolescents issues enlightened more than 200 young minds who were assembled from all over the state.  After this workshop NIFAA started one day seminar series in 20 villages of Karnal district where prominent resource persons intracted with parents and community people on the various issues of adolescents.  After this series NIFAA organized 5 day workshop in 10 villages of Karnal in which common issues related to adolescents were taken for discussion.  

A National Integration Camp was also organized at Panchayat Bhawan Karnal where 100 participants from 10 different states of India assembled for one week programme.  Social and Cultural volunteers from different states of India on the one hand showed rich cultural heritage of their respective states while on the other hand participated in extensive debates on the various nationally and internationally important issues.  During this week long camp the moments of laurels came for the participants when world fame WWF wrestler The Great Khali visited the camp on the invitation of NIFAA.  He motivated the participants to work hard for the overall development of their country and society.  NIFAA conferred, Pride of India Award on The Great Khali.