The Nobel Peace Prize 2014 - Kailash Satyarthi

The Nobel Peace Prize October 10, 2014 - Kailash Satyarthi

Kailash Satyarthi …

Kailash Satyarthi, child's right activist, won the Nobel Peace Prize.

“Bonded labor is a form of modern-day slavery, where ordinary people lose the most basic freedom of movement, the freedom of choice. They are forced to work long hours with little rest.”

"Child slavery is a crime against humanity. Humanity itself is at stake here. A lot of work still remains but I will see the end of child labor in my lifetime"

“These children have been in bondage ever since the time they can remember. Liberty for them is an unfamiliar word. They don’t know what it is like to be "free."

“Our demonstrations have about 200 to 250 marchers, half of whom are children-children who have been freed from bondage and slavery. They act as living examples of the dire need to educate people about both the negative impact of the bonded labor system

“If you decide to stand up against such social evils, you have to be fully prepared-not just physically or mentally, but also spiritually. One has to pull oneself together for the supreme sacrifice-and people have done so in the past. Robert F. Kennedy did, Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, John Kennedy-the list can go on endlessly.”

Kailash Satyarthi …

Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) founded by Mr. Kailash Satyarthi is the ray of hope in millions of hearts, the first dream in their eyes, and the first smile on their faces. It is the sky and wings together for innumerable children, excluded from human identity and dignity, with a desire to fly in freedom.

Kailash Satyarthi (born on January 11, 1954) is a human rights activist from India who has been at the forefront of the global movement to end child slavery and exploitative child labor since 1980 when he gave up a lucrative career as an Electrical Engineer for initiating crusade against Child Servitude. As a grassroots activist, he has led the rescue of over 78,500 child slaves and developed a successful model for their education and rehabilitation. As a worldwide campaigner, he has been the architect of the single largest civil society network for the most exploited children, the Global March Against Child Labor, which is a worldwide coalition of NGOs, Teachers' Union and Trade Unions.

Here are 5 quotes from Mr Satyarthi, 60, on his fight to free thousands of children from slave-like labour:

1.    "If not now, then when? If not you, then who? If we are able to answer these fundamental questions, then perhaps we can wipe away the blot of human slavery," Mr Satyarthi has said in the past, summing up his philosophy.

2.    "I think of it all as a test. This is a moral examination that one has to pass... to stand up against such social evils," he said in an interview years ago.

3.    "Child slavery is a crime against humanity. Humanity itself is at stake here. A lot of work still remains but I will see the end of child labor in my lifetime," he has vowed.

4.    "I am thankful to the Nobel committee for recognising the plight of millions of children who are suffering in this modern age," he said today.


5.    "I am really honoured but if the prize had gone to Mahatma Gandhi before me I would have been more honoured," he said. Mahatma Gandhi was nominated for but never won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Accolades

The life and work of Kailash Satyarthi have been the subject of a number of documentaries, television series, talk shows, advocacy and awareness films, Magazines and news items of all leading print and electronic media worldwide. Satyarthi's contribution has been recognized through several prestigious international awards. These include:

- Defenders of Democracy Award (2009-USA)

- Alfonso Comin International Award (2008-Spain)

- Medal of the Italian Senate (2007-Italy)

- Heroes Acting to End Modern Day Slavey by US State Department (2007-USA)

- Freedom Award (2006-USA)

- In October 2002, Satyarthi was awarded the Wallenberg Medal from the University 

  of Michigan in recognition of his courageous humanitarian work against the exploitation of 

  child labor.

- Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Award (1999-Germany)

- La Hospitalet Award (1999-Spain)

- De Gouden Wimpel Award (1998-Netherlands)

- Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award (1995-USA)

- The Trumpeter Award (1995-USA)

- The Aachener International Peace Award (1994-Germany)