Who was the first Indian-Born recipient to receive the Nobel Prize for Peace?
VerifiedAnswer: Kailas Satyarthi
Explanation:
Kailash Satyarthi became the first Indian-born recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. Born on January 11, 1954, in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, he shared this prestigious award with Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education.
Satyarthi's journey as a child rights activist began in 1980 when he left his career as an electrical engineer to dedicate his life to ending child labor. He founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save Childhood Movement), which has rescued over 90,000 children from exploitation, slavery, and trafficking across India.
His remarkable contributions include developing a successful model for education and rehabilitation of former child laborers. He established Bal Mitra Gram (Child Friendly Village), a model for child protection at the grassroots level, and Bal Ashrams (Children's Homes) for the care and rehabilitation of rescued child laborers.
Satyarthi's activism extends beyond India's borders. He has led and supported various social movements for children's rights across the globe, including the Global March Against Child Labor, which covered 103 countries and directly led to the adoption of ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labor.
It's important to note that while Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, she was born in North Macedonia (then part of the Ottoman Empire) and became an Indian citizen later. Therefore, Satyarthi holds the distinction of being the first Indian-born Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
The Nobel Committee recognized Satyarthi's peaceful methods in fighting for children's rights, stating that showing great personal courage, he has headed various forms of protests and demonstrations, all peaceful, focusing on the grave exploitation of children for financial gain. His work continues to inspire millions worldwide in the fight against child labor and for universal education rights.
