Kailash Satyarthi

Kailash Satyarthi, an emblematic figure of Indian social reform, emerged as a beacon of hope in the fight against the pervasive issue of child labor. Co-honored with Malala Yousafzai with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, Satyarthi’s journey is marked by a profound dedication to the universal right to education and the eradication of child exploitation. Born into privilege, he decided to renounce his engineering career and the trappings of his high-caste identity, adopting the name Satyarthi, symbolic of his quest for truth and justice. He founded several seminal organizations, including Bachpan Bachao Andolan, the Global March Against Child Labor, and the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation, each dedicated to the noble cause of rescuing and rehabilitating children from the clutches of labor, slavery, and trafficking. 

His work led to the liberation of over 86,000 children in India alone. Notably, his leadership in orchestrating the monumental Global March Against Child Labor, spanning nearly 50,000 miles across 103 countries, garnered international acclaim and catalyzed significant policy reforms. Closer to home, his Bharat Yatra, a nationwide odyssey spanning 12,000 miles in India, aimed to combat the scourge of child rape and sexual abuse, underscoring his commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of children everywhere.