Kailash Satyarthi
Children’s rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate
- Age
- 72 yrs
- Birthday in 77 days
- Works listed
- 0
- Career highlights
- Honours
- 1
- Most recent 2014
- Profile views
- 0
- 0 followers
Kailash Satyarthi is a children’s rights activist who founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan, which has rescued tens of thousands of children from bonded labour and trafficking. He shared the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize with Malala Yousafzai.
Biography
Early life
Satyarthi grew up in Vidisha, where as a child he was troubled to see a boy his own age working as a cobbler outside his school instead of studying. He graduated in electrical engineering and taught for a short time before devoting himself to activism. Born Kailash Sharma, he took the name Satyarthi (seeker of truth).
Activist
Satyarthi trained as an electrical engineer and taught briefly before giving up his career in 1980 to campaign against child labour. He founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save the Childhood Movement), which carries out raids with authorities to free children from factories, brick kilns and other forms of forced labour.
Global campaigner
He started RugMark (now GoodWeave), a label certifying carpets made without child labour, and organised the 1998 Global March Against Child Labour across 103 countries, which helped bring about the ILO convention on the worst forms of child labour. In 2014 he shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Malala Yousafzai “for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people”.
Methods and impact
Bachpan Bachao Andolan has carried out rescue raids with police on factories, brick kilns and trafficking networks, and campaigned for laws on bonded labour, child labour and the right to education. Satyarthi has faced violent attacks during rescues. Internationally he chaired the Global Campaign for Education and helped secure the 1999 ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labour. After the Nobel Prize he launched the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation and the 100 Million campaign.
Legacy
Satyarthi’s campaigns helped make child labour and trafficking global issues; the Global March Against Child Labour contributed to the adoption of the ILO convention on the worst forms of child labour in 1999. Bachpan Bachao Andolan says it has freed more than 100,000 children from forced labour.
Timeline
-
1954
Born in Vidisha, Madhya Bharat (now Madhya Pradesh)
-
1980
Founds Bachpan Bachao Andolan
-
1994
Founds RugMark (GoodWeave)
-
1998
Global March Against Child Labour
-
1999
ILO Convention 182 adopted
After the Global March campaign.
-
2014
Nobel Peace Prize
Shared with Malala Yousafzai.
-
2016
Launches the 100 Million campaign
Awards and honours
-
Nobel Peace Prize
2014
Did you know?
-
1
He renamed himself Satyarthi, meaning “seeker of truth”.
-
2
He was inspired as a child by a boy working as a cobbler outside his school.
-
3
He has been physically attacked during rescue operations.
Gallery
Connections
Frequently asked
Who is Kailash Satyarthi?
Kailash Satyarthi is a children’s rights activist who founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan, which has rescued tens of thousands of children from bonded labour and trafficking. He shared the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize with Malala Yousafzai.
How old is Kailash Satyarthi?
Kailash Satyarthi is 72 years old, born on 11 January 1954 in Vidisha, Madhya Bharat (now Madhya Pradesh).
Where is Kailash Satyarthi from?
Kailash Satyarthi was born in Vidisha, Madhya Bharat (now Madhya Pradesh).
What is Kailash Satyarthi known for?
Kailash Satyarthi is best known for Bachpan Bachao Andolan; the Global March Against Child Labour; Nobel Peace Prize 2014.
What awards has Kailash Satyarthi received?
Notable honours include Nobel Peace Prize (2014).
Who is Kailash Satyarthi married to?
Spouse: Sumedha Kailash.
References
- Kailash Satyarthi — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Kailash Satyarthi — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Kailash Satyarthi — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Kailash Satyarthi — Nobel Prize facts. NobelPrize.org. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Kailash Satyarthi — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Official website. www.kailashsatyarthi.net. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Kailash Satyarthi (Q3442375) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editors; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal
- First published 26 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Kailash Satyarthi.” TrackFame, last updated 26 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/kailash-satyarthi
Discussion 0
Sign in or create an account to join the discussion.
No comments yet — be the first.
More in Activism & Humanitarian
Politics & Leadership
Mahatma Gandhi
Leader of India’s independence movement and pioneer of non-violent resistance
1869 – 1948
Politics & Leadership
Mayawati
Four-time Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and president of the Bahujan Samaj Party
Born 1956
Politics & Leadership
B. R. Ambedkar
Principal architect of the Constitution of India and India’s first Law Minister
1891 – 1956
Activism & Humanitarian
Mother Teresa
Founder of the Missionaries of Charity; Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Catholic saint
1910 – 1997
Politics & Leadership
Arvind Kejriwal
Founder of the Aam Aadmi Party; Chief Minister of Delhi (2013–14, 2015–2024)
Born 1968