Kailash Satyarthi dedicates Nobel prize to fellow citizens

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Child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi, who jointly won the Nobel Prize yesterday along with Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, has dedicated his award to the people of India and called on everyone to fight the scourge of child labour.

"This prize is not just for me, but for all the 125 crore citizens of India. It is also their moral responsibility to eradicate this scourge from the nation's face and to make sure that no child is forced into slavery and every child gets freedom and education," the Nobel laureate told ANI.

While Malala has stated that she would like both Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the award ceremony this December in Oslo, Satyarthi said he hoped to take along some children who had been rescued from slavery.

"I would try to take some children, who have been rescued from slavery and are now fighting it, along with me. I would be very happy if any political leader or Prime Minister comes along," he added.

Satyarthi also explained that he would strive to promote peace between India and Pakistan, along with Malala, whom he referred to as his daughter.

"I talked to Malala yesterday. She is like my daughter. She is also a very brave and sweet child. I told her that we will continue our work against child labour, terrorism and for girls' education but since we have been selected for the peace prize, we have to promote peace between Indian and Pakistan as well as the entire world."

Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday for "their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education".

This is the first time when an Indian and a Pakistani have shared the Nobel Peace.

The Nobel Committee said that Malala Yousafzai had already fought for several years for the right of girls to education, and Kailash Satyarthi, maintaining Mahatma Gandhi's tradition, had headed various forms of protests and demonstrations, all peaceful, focusing on the grave exploitation of children for financial gain.