Kailash Satyarthi
Kailash Satyarthi (born January 11, 1954) is an Indian children's rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He has been at the forefront of the global movement to end child slavery and exploitative child labor for over four decades.
| Kailash Satyarthi | |
|---|---|
| |
| Birth Name | Kailash Sharma |
| Born | January 11, 1954 |
| Origin | Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Cause | Child Rights, Education, Anti-Child Labor |
| Organization | Bachpan Bachao Andolan, Global March Against Child Labour |
| Years Active | 1980–present |
| Notable Campaigns | Global March Against Child Labour, Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation |
| Awards | Nobel Peace Prize (2014), Padma Shri |
| Website | Kailash Satyarthi Foundation |
Early Life
Born Kailash Sharma in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, Satyarthi developed an early awareness of social injustice. He completed his engineering degree but chose to dedicate his life to social activism rather than pursuing a career in his field.
Activism Career
Bachpan Bachao Andolan
In 1980, Satyarthi founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save the Childhood Movement), which has rescued over 100,000 children from bonded labor, trafficking, and exploitation.
Global March Against Child Labour
In 1998, he led the Global March Against Child Labour, an 80,000-kilometer march across 103 countries that raised awareness about child labor and led to the adoption of ILO Convention 182.
Rugmark/GoodWeave
Satyarthi pioneered the first voluntary labeling program for products made without child labor, known as Rugmark (now GoodWeave), which certifies child-labor-free carpets.
Key Achievements
| Year | Achievement |
|---|---|
| 1980 | Founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan |
| 1994 | Launched Rugmark labeling initiative |
| 1998 | Led Global March Against Child Labour |
| 2014 | Nobel Peace Prize (shared with Malala Yousafzai) |
| 2016 | Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation established |
Nobel Peace Prize
In 2014, Satyarthi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with Malala Yousafzai "for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education."
Key Campaigns
- Fair Share for Children Campaign - Advocating for child-friendly budgets
- 100 Million Campaign - Mobilizing 100 million young people for child rights
- Bharat Yatra - Cross-country march against child sexual abuse
Philosophy
Satyarthi believes:
- "Every child has the right to be free"
- Child labor is not just an issue of charity but of justice
- Ending child exploitation requires global cooperation
Awards and Recognition
- Nobel Peace Prize (2014)
- Padma Shri (1999)
- Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award (1995)
- Wallenberg Medal (2002)
- Defenders of Democracy Award (2006)