Kailash Satyarthi

Nobel laureate who revolutionized child rights activism in India

Kailash Satyarthi (born 11 January 1954) became the first Indian Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2014 for his pioneering work against child exploitation. His organization Bachpan Bachao Andolan has rescued over 90,000 children from forced labor since 1980.

What makes Satyarthi revolutionary is his "Rugmark" certification system (now GoodWeave International) that ensures child-labor-free carpet production. This market-based solution reduced child labor in India's carpet industry by 80% within two decades.

His innovative Bal Mitra Gram (Child-Friendly Villages) concept created 350 villages where children's education takes priority over work. Satyarthi's 2017 "100 Million for 100 Million" campaign mobilized youth globally to fight child exploitation.