Nobel Peace Prize for India's Kailash Satyarthi, Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai

They have been awarded the peace prize 'for their struggle against the suppression of children'

The Nobel Peace Prize for the year 2014 has been jointly awarded to India's Kailash Satyarthi and Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai.

Satyarthi is a child rights activist based out of Delhi and 17-year-old Malala, who took a bullet from Taliban, is an activist for right to education.

The Nobel committee said that the award has been given "for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education".

Satyarthi runs Bachpan Bachao Andolan Group in New Delhi. He is the second Indian after Mother Teresa, to have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Speaking to NDTV, Satyarthi said, "The voice of crores of children has been heard". 

"I am thankful to Nobel committee for recognising the plight of millions of children who are suffering in this modern age," said Satyarthi to news agency PTI. 

 

Satyarthi gave up his career as an electrical engineer 30 years back and started the Bachpan Bachao Andolan. This non-profit organisation has freed over 80,000 children from trafficking and child labor, also helping in successful re-integration, rehabilitation and education.

 

Speaking to Wall Street Journal in 2011, Satyarthi explains his inspiration behind the Bachpan Bachao Andolan. 

 

"I was personally concerned and involved in child rights-related activities right from my childhood. Then over a period of time I realized that it is not possible that one person can make substantial change; so it is necessary to build an organization of like minded people and sensitize other people to join. I knew right from the beginning that child labor is not just a technical or legal issue and also not merely an economic issue. It’s a combination of several things. It’s a deep-rooted social evil and to wipe it out we have to build a strong movement. Bachpan Bachao Andolan has never been a typical NGO [non-governmental organization] but it has emerged as a movement over a period of time," said Satyarthi. 

Malala at 17 years is the youngest ever winner of the prestigious peace award. Malala shot to fame two years back when she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman for her campaign on right to education for girl children in Pakistan.

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