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Kailash Satyarthi was born on 11 January 1954 in Madhya Pradesh, India. He has devoted his entire life to fight for children's rights. At a young age, he recognized the importance of education and equal opportunities for all children. During his own childhood, when public schooling was not free, Satyarthi established a football club with like-minded friends to raise funds for underprivileged children who couldn't attend school. The money collected from membership supported these children's education expenses.
After pursuing advanced degrees in electrical engineering and working as a teacher, Satyarthi realized his true calling is in championing children's rights. In 1980, he left his career and founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), also known as the Save Childhood Movement, to combat child labor and exploitation. BBA has been instrumental in rescuing over 82,000 children from exploitative conditions and advocating for anti-child labor and anti-trafficking legislation.
The Impact of Bachpan Bachao Andolan’s Campaign Against Child Labor
In 1997, Bachpan Bachao Andolan established Bal Ashram in Rajasthan, providing a long-term alternative for former child laborers. Recognizing the need for broader awareness, BBA organized its first campaign against child labor in 1993 which undertook a 2,000-kilometer march from Bihar to Delhi. This march effectively raised public consciousness regarding child exploitation in the carpet industry.
Notably, the historic Global March Against Child Labor in 1998 covered 80,000 km across 103 nations, with extensive public support and international recognition. This influential movement led to the adoption of the Convention Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in 1999.
A Champion for Children’s Rights
Kailash Satyarthi's dedication extended beyond India, which led to the formation of the South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude (SACCS) in 1989. Through partnerships with NGOs and unions in neighboring countries, such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, SACCS aimed to combat child labor and exploitation collectively. Satyarthi also initiated RugMark (now GoodWeave), an initiative aimed at certifying that ensured carpets were not produced by child labor.
In 2014, Kailash Satyarthi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with Malala Yousafzai, for their fight against the suppression of children and their right to education. He selflessly dedicated the prize money to the advancement of children's rights. In 2015, he handed over his Nobel medal to the President of India. Today, it is proudly displayed at the President's House Museum in New Delhi.
Kailash Satyarthi firmly believes that violence has no place in a civilized society, particularly when it comes to children. He emphasizes the impact of denying education, forcing child labor, subjecting them to poverty, and hindering children's progress and development. His lifelong mission continues to inspire and drive positive change for the well-being and empowerment of children worldwide.
Written by Harshita Kumar
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