Friends of Udayan

About the Home

Udayan is a home for the rehabilitation of children of leprosy sufferers in Barrackpore, a lush suburb of Calcutta (Kolkata), India. In Bengali, Udayan means ‘dawn’ or ‘resurrection’ and for the boys and girls there, Udayan does indeed represent the dawn of a new life.

In March 1970 an Englishman, James Stevens, borrowed a truck from Mother Teresa and set out into the Kolkata slums to rescue some of the children of leprosy sufferers. On that first night James Stevens took back to Udayan a mere eleven children. Today Udayan provides for the needs of some 320 boys and girls.

All the children at Udayan have been affected by leprosy in some way. Most were born in leper colonies and have parents who suffer from the disease. About 5% of the children have leprosy themselves. Many of them suffer from worm infestations, tuberculosis, malaria, amoebiasis, rickets and other diseases associated with poverty and malnutrition. With intensive medical treatment and a high-vitamin diet many of these children can be completely cured in just six months.

Udayan supplies this medical care and nutrition. It also provides the children with accommodation in an environment free of the stigma still associated with leprosy in India. They are given an education in both Bengali and Hindi. They have access to a library and to recreational facilities. They have the opportunity to play cricket, learn yoga, dance or play a musical instrument. They are also given vocational training. Mechanical engineering, computer skills, poultry farming, tailoring, batik, embroidery and pisciculture are just some of their options. The aim is that when the children leave Udayan they do so with the education, skills and self-confidence necessary to support their own families and become full members of society.

A History of Udayan

Rev. J. G. Stevens O.B.E.
Founder & Chairman of Udayan

Originally from Gloucester, England, James Stevens was a successful business man before coming to India in 1968 with a French organisation, Freres des Hommes. It was one of the many social organisations working for the sick and the poor in India. Inspired by the work done by Mother Teresa, James sold his gentlemen’s outfitters business, borrowed a truck from her and went into the slums, to gather up his first batch of 11 children. James has left Gloucester far behind. He became a priest and worked in the Diocese of Calcutta serving as vicar of St. Paul’s Cathedral till 1995. He served the Oxford Mission as an Administrator with distinction and retired in 2005. He now resides in a small apartment at Sodepur with his wife Lallita whom he married in 1972. Together over the past 40 years they have built Udayan into the paradise it is today – directly transforming the lives of over 7,000 children in West Bengal and the surrounding region.

Today his work is recognised throughout the world. He was awarded the ‘Legion of Honour’ in 1990 by the French Government.

In 2001 the Queen of England conferred the ‘Order of the British Empire’ (O.B.E.) on Fr Stevens.

1970 – Udayan was founded by Reverend J.G. Stevens O.B.E (Father).

Father travelled into the slums in Kolkata and surrounds, and with the help of a bus loaned from Mother Teresa, rescued 11 children, to whom he promised and delivered, a better life – one with education, food, clothing, and most importantly, opportunity. In these days, there were only a handful of staff members, and of course, Father and Dr Sen. In October of that year, Selina George also began her employment at UDAYAN, which continues to this day.

In these first years, the home was located at 60 Barrack Rd, on the edge of the Barrackpore Cantonment. As the numbers escalated rapidly (from 11 to 80 within two years!), it wasn’t long before ‘UDAYAN’ had to move to larger premises.

1972 – Udayan moves just down to road to 55-56 Barrackpore Rd, which was two houses side by side – ‘Peace Haven.’ The older boys lived in one of the houses, and the small boys and girls in the other. Again, rapidly increasing numbers of children meant that another move, to the current premises, was just around the corner.

1982 – Udayan moves again, to its current premises in Sewli Village, Barrackpore. UDAYAN’s new home is 5 acres of lush surroundings, and has proved to be the perfect environment for the nurturing and education of UDAYAN’s students for the past 30 years.

1982 – After meeting Revd J.G. Stevens, Dominique Lapierre returns to France to found the Action Aid for Lepers’ Children of Calcutta, the initial aim of which was to provide financial support for UDAYAN. To this fund, he himself donates half of all royalties received on his book City of Joy. The support of Dominique Lapierre could not have come at a better time, as the UDAYAN home was in a desperate financial state. This relationship and support continues to this day.

1982 – The first three cottages are built at UDAYAN to house the boys, along with a (smaller) dining hall and kitchen and dispensary.

1985 – The Five ‘godowns’ are converted into the Udayan Vidyalaya, the primary school for Udayan students. In this year, the fourth cottage is also built, a personal gift from Dominique Lapierre.

1998 – Shamlu Dudeja and Father Stevens meet, and a wonderful relationship is created, culminating in the construction of Nivideta Bhavan later this year.

1998 – Through Shamlu Dudeja, Steve Waugh is introduced to UDAYAN and Father Stevens, a relationship which also continues to this day, through the constant support of the Steve Waugh Foundation.

1998 – Nivedita Bhavan is constructed, and inaugurated by Steve Waugh and Shamlu Dudeja. Girls are once again present at UDAYAN!

2006 – Construction of the Sports Centre, funded by the AC Milan Foundation in association with Leonardo De Araujo (ex football player of Brazil and AC Milan)

2007 – Construction and inauguration of ‘CHARINDAA SHISHU KALYAN MANDIR’ building which houses 80 boys from ages 3-8, as well as boasting a music room/art studio and play equipment and garden.

2009 – In an effort to provide employment and training opportunities for the boys and girls of UDAYAN after they have completed their training, this year saw the inauguration of the Placement Cell. Those students who find employment or training in the Kolkata area have the option of staying at our new hostel in Jodphur Park, kindly donated by Mr. Partha Sarathi Banerjee and his wife Deepa Banerjee. The hostel is named the “Geeta-Kalyan Centre,” commemorating Partha’s late parents Geeta and Kalyan.

2010 – Ruby Celebrations! The 40th anniversary of UDAYAN, which now houses and supports more than 300 children, providing them with food, clothing, education and a home. With many new projects and ideas in the pipeline, the future of UDAYAN is certain to be as fruitful and exciting as the past 40 years!