Nobel Prize winners

By strange coincidence, this year’s two Nobel Prize Winners, both human rights activists, hail from two neighbouring countries in the sub-continent that have long been at loggerheads with each other. Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan and Kailash Satyarthi of India, were in Oslo to receive the prestigious award in a gala functions that hailed them as dedicated activists of human rights of all. Incidentally both have been working for the rights of children in their own way. While Malala herself has been the victim of violence against female children in a conservative society, Kailash Satyarthi, too, has been working for the emancipation of children and rescuing them from exploitation and child labour in a country that proclaims to be a democracy and human rights observing society.
Malala Yousafzai, the 17 year girl from the Frontier Province of Pakistan is the youngest recipient of this prestigious award. Her story is a great saga of courage and conviction. She was shot in her head by a Taliban activist in the Swat region of Pakistan’s frontier province. She struggled with life and death for a number of days before surgeons operated on her and finally restored her to normal health. Ever since she became a staunch supporters of children’s rights and the United Nations Human Rights Council made her its ambassador of peace. A just 17 year old child seems to be precociously active in supporting human rights for all. One wonders at the strength of character of Malala Yousafzai in promoting rights of children. One can understand her conviction in the rights of children when she says that she is still fighting her younger brothers meaning the militants and extremists who have not ceased their sentiment of gender discrimination and oppression unleashed against the women in her society.
The significance of her sacrifice and mission is that she began her human rights defence career in a country where human rights are trampled under foot especially the rights of women. She hails from a conservative society of Pakistani Muslims in far flung Swat region which has seen bitter fighting between the Taliban fanatics and their victims. She said she was feeling proud to be standing along with Satyarthi who was like a father to her, and receiving the honour. Deeply interested in friendly relations between the two countries of India and Pakistan, she said that the doors for conciliation and joint efforts in service to mankind were never closed.
This immensely significant sentiment of a seventeen-year old girl from Pakistan was warmly reciprocated by her Indian counterpart and indeed the world seemed to be highly satisfied that while the citizens of two countries could come closer, the respective Governments could galvanize all their strength and endeavour towards creating friendly and even cordial relations. In his address, the Indian Nobel Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi said that so many things were happening in the world today. A Pakistani human rights activist girl could stand along the side of an India human rights activist on the platform and jointly convey a message to the world that the rights of children had to be respected and safeguarded. The Indian prize winner went on to say that we had failed in imparting an education to our children that gives the meaning and objective of life and a secure future.
This is a unique example of a teen-aged Pakistani and an elderly Indian, both dedicated to the service of mankind, have appealed from one platform to the world community in general and Indo-Pak community in particular to place highest value on the rights of human beings and the children. Their example could be like a torch showing the path amidst the enveloping darkness of animosity, rancour and ill will. We wish both of them successes in their glorious mission.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here