Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi has been selected for the Harvard Humanitarian of the Year Award for his contributions towards child reforms and his inspirational work against child abuse. Kailash Satyarthi has taken the sphere of social activism in India to a greater level through his dedication and hard work. He has been one of the greatest social reformers India has seen in modern times.

Harvard Humanitarian of the Year Award

• It is an annual award that recognises the works that have improved the quality of life for all mankind.
• Previous winners of this prestigious award include Malala Yousafzai, United Nation’s Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, his predecessor Kofi Annan, Lionel Richie, Sharon Stone, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and many other stalwart.

• This award is given in the memory of Reverend Professor Peter J. Gomes, who was the plummer professor and minister in the Harvard Memorial Church.

• The Dean of Harvard College and the President of Harvard University, USA, authorises the award.

Kailash Satyarthi

• He gave up his career as an electrical engineer in 1980 and founded the Bachpan Bachao Andolan or Save the Childhood Movement.
• With the Andolan’s initiatives, Satyarthi has been able to secure the rights of around 83,000 children across 144 countries.
• He is the first India-born person to win a Nobel Peace Prize. Mother Teresa, who was born in Albania, was the first Indian to get the award in 1979.
• He has also been a member of a UNESCO-run committee that works against child labour system and operates an initiative called ‘Education for All’.