Kailash Satyarthi dedicates His Noble Prize to Nation

Kailash Satyarthi, Noble Peace Prize winner this year along with Pakistan’s Malala Yusufzai, has given his prize to President Pranab Mukharjee. He said that he is dedicating the honor bestowed upon him to the nation. President said that he was very happy that Satyarthi had won the Noble Peace Prize. He was all praise for Satyarti’s gesture to present the medal to him and added that the medal would be kept in Rashtrapati Bhawan. He said that it was indeed a noble gesture to give away the Noble prize as most of the earlier recipients of Noble Prize have chosen to keep it in their own custody or their respective organizations. Rabindranath Tagore kept his Noble Prize inside Viswa Bharti at Shantiniketan.  Incidentally, Tagore’s Noble got stolen from Viswa Bharati in the year 2004 and Sweden had to issue two replicas of the original medal to India. Pranab Mukherjee had attended that ceremony as the Defense Minister of India then.

President praised Satyarthi for his selfless gesture

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that Dr. C V Raman had also dedicated his Noble Prize to the country saying that the prize did not belong to him alone as it was recognition of the scientific talent of the country. President praised the good work being done by Kailash Satyarthi and requested him to continue with his endeavors. Kailash, overwhelmed by the occasion, recited a couplet written by saint Kabir as he handed over the biggest honor that can be won by an individual in modern times. The Noble laureate said, “Mera mujhme kuchh nahin Jo kuchh hai sab tor Tera tujhko sab sounp de Kya lagat hai mor (Nothing that is mine belongs to me All that I have is yours To give all that belongs to you It costs me nothing).” The Noble Prize will be on display in Rashtrapati Bhawan where it can be seen by visitors. There is a museum inside Rashtrapati Bhawan that is open for public on three days in a week.

Satyarthi said that the Noble belonged to the country

Talking about his gesture to give away his Noble Prize to the country, Satyarthi said that he was always clear in his mind, “I am always proud of my nation, my culture, and my people. Whatever I have gained in my life is from India. I know that I am the first-Indian born to get this (peace) prize. I definitely have a strong feeling that this prize goes to the whole nation,” said the Noble laureate. He said that he had written to the President expressing his desire to dedicate the award to the country a few days after receiving the Noble Prize.

Kailash said that he wanted to place the Noble at Raj Ghat. This is something that he actually did. He actually wanted to go to Rashtrapati Bhawan soon after visiting Raj Ghat but he was informed that the President is ill and hospitalized. He then sought an appointment at a later date.

Kailash said that the entire money that he has received as part of Noble Prize would go towards the cause of children in India though he will give it away to other organizations and not use the money through his own organization. ‘’I committed the medal to the country today. All eyes of the world are on India. It should be our collective responsibility that children’s rights are protected,’’ said Kailash Satyarthi.