When ever you think of slavery, you think of it as a resolved problem, you think of African Americans and about the Civil War and its abolition in 1865.What, you don’t think about is the number of children who are being exploited, sexually abused, and forced into labor every single day. Slavery is not a modern term. Unfortunately, it is still a modern problem people are oblivious to. Kailash Satyarthi saw the problem for what it is- unethical, unjust, and downright cruel.
So, he chose against standing idly by and decided to take action.
In 1980, Satyarthi started Bachpan Bachao Andolan. By starting it, Satyarthi exposed India to a new way of action- BBA was the first organization of its kind in India. Satyarthi started his movement with one thing in mind: a better, safer, world for children. However, starting a revolt can never be easy. Thinking for oneself and standing up for others is not something for the weak of mind.
It is dangerous, and in this case, life threatening. On his strive towards achieving a more child friendly world, Satyarthi was met with countless obstacles.
For example, Satyarthi along with the other activists would get death threats and even get assaulted. However, all of that took a turn for the worst when two of Satyarthi’s friends, and members of the BBA, were assaulted and then murdered in cold blood for choosing to no longer be bystanders. Their deaths were mourned, however, Satyarthi took it as an opportunity to fight even harder.
Now, he would do it not only for the lives of thousands of children but also his friends who risked their lives for a better world. Now, Satyarthi is choosing to triumph amidst all the tragedies and is breaking countless barriers, no one ever thought could be ever broken. Not only has Satyarthi founded BBA, but he has also organized many protests- some even all around the world- and even won a Nobel peace prize for “focusing attention on the grave exploitation of children for financial gain”.
Everything Kailash Satyarthi has done has been through peaceful and hardworking activism, and that is the type of legacy one aspires to leave behind. The type of legacy that will go on forever in the families and in the stories of all the kids he has managed to save and rehabilitate throughout the years. Whenever it is good, there is, although unfortunate, bad. Kailash Satyarthi has led a peaceful movement since the 1960s and ever since, has received countless death threats and assaults. In fact, in an interview with The Better India, Satyarthi revealed that BBA members “have been attacked plenty of times. One of my colleagues was shot dead. Another was beaten to death. I myself have a broken shoulder and scars all over my body”. As one of the most tragic things to happen to any of the members of the BBA, Kailash did not let that stop him from his journey to help children in need. Now, instead of doing it for just the children, he is now also doing it for his friends who gave their lives for the cause.
Kailash Satyarthi is a man who saw all the tragedies happening to the innocent and chose to help. In his own words, “What our children are facing is not an ordinary crime. This is a moral epidemic haunting our country as well as the rest of the world. We cannot accept it”. Instead of conforming to his country’s view on child labor, Satyarthi has chosen to fight the tragedies and break through barriers with many, many people on his side. There are many things Kailash Satyarthi should be proud of. Winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 alongside Malala has been one of his many unexpected achievements yet. In fact, in his acceptance speech, his most famous line from it is, As a child, I had a vision of tomorrow… Now, that tomorrow has become TODAY… Today, beyond the darkness, I see smiling faces of our children at the blinking stars. Today, in every wave of every ocean, I see our children playing and dancing. Today, in every plant, tree, and mountain, I see that little cobbler’s boy sitting with me in the classroom. I want you to see and feel this “today” Inside you. However, one of the best things for his campaign was founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan and creating a webpage for it.
Founded in 1980, “Bachpan Bachao Andolan is India’s largest movement for the protection of children that works with law enforcement agencies and policymakers to strengthen the system”. The website, thankfully, has helped spread awareness of the cause throughout the world and even keeps count of how many adolescents have been rescued thus far. It’s safe to say that satiety is contributing to a better tomorrow for the future of the world: children. Kailash Satyarthi has constantly put his life on the line for the sake of children’s rights. However, his fight is not over; he is still building his legacy to this day. In fact, recently, Satyarthi conducted a worldwide march as a protest to child labor. And, in the words of the Nobel peace prize website, “To achieve a peaceful world, it is crucial that the rights of children and young people be respected.
The Legacy of Kailash Satyarthi Is the Freedom of Children. (2022, Apr 24). Retrieved from https://paperap.com/the-legacy-of-kailash-satyarthi-is-the-freedom-of-children/