Mumbai: India's child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi and Pakistan’s Malala Yousafzai on Friday shared the Nobel Peace Prize honours for 2014 for their work on promoting child rights in the troubled sub-continent.
60-year-old Satyarthi, who runs an NGO in India has been at the forefront against child labour since the 1990s. His organisation ‘Bachpan Bachao Andolan’ has rescued 0ver 80,000 children from trafficking and slavery. He has also been involved with the ‘Global March Against Child Labour’ and has been credited for enactment of national, international legislations on child labour and education.
Satyarthi, who runs NGO Bachpan Bachao Aandolan (Save Childhood Movement), has maintained the tradition of Mahatma Gandhi and headed various forms of peaceful protests, "focusing on the grave exploitation of children for financial gain," the Nobel committee said.
With the help of NGOs and activists, Satyarthi has organised several raids on factories where children were being made to work by force. Before turning into an activist at the age of 26, Satyarthi was an electrical engineer.
“Extremely delighted. This is recognition of our fight for child rights,” he said after winning the top honour.
Here is how Twitter reacted to Satyarthi receiving the top honour:
Congratulations to Shri Kailash Satyarthi on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The entire nation is proud of his momentous achievement.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 10, 2014Shri Kailash Satyarthi has devoted his life to a cause that is extremely relevant to entire humankind. I salute his determined efforts.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 10, 2014
India is proud of Shri Kailash Satyarthi for winning Nobel Peace Prize 2014. His efforts to save childhood from social evils are commendable
— Anandiben Patel (@anandibenpatel) October 10, 2014What an irony.While we fight in the border, we also get the Nobel Peace prize. India’s Kailash Statyarthi and Pakistan’s Malala
— Rajat Sharma (@RajatSharmaLive) October 10, 2014Congratulations to child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi for winning #NobelPeacePrize!
— Aam Aadmi Party (@AamAadmiParty) October 10, 2014It is day of great pride for MP and India. Congratulations to Shri Kailash Satyarthi born in Vidisha for winning Nobel Peace Prize.
— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) October 10, 2014Bravo. So proud. Amazing.:) @thenewsminute: #BreakingNews- Kailash Satyarthi, Indian Child Rights Activist gets the Nobel Prize for peace”
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) October 10, 2014Congratulations , Kailash Satyarthi , an Indian children's rights activist has been awarded a Nobel peace prize 2014 . Makes India proud !
— Pawan Durani (@PawanDurani) October 10, 2014
