Shri Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Prize Winner 2014 Visits BITS Pilani
30 January 2015
Mr. Kailash Satyarthi the Nobel Peace Prize Winner 2014 visited BITS, Pilani (Pilani Campus) on January 29, 2015. He was accompanied by his wife Smt. Sumedha Satyarthi. He started his tour of the campus on an auspicious note by visiting Saraswati Temple in the campus and the temple of learning, the Library of the institute.
Prof B N Jain, Vice Chancellor BITS, Pilani introduced the Directors and senior faculties of Goa, Hyderabad and Dubai Campuses and explained BITS system of education in Tele Presence Room to Mr Satyarthi.
A close interaction took place been him and the students of BITS, Pilani working in the campus for National Service Scheme (NSS) and and NGO "Nirman" during with the student representatives briefed him about the activities of these two initiatives in Pilani Campus, which were appreciated by him.
Mr Satyarthi's also delivered one and a half hours talk to the students, faculty and invited guests in the institute auditorium. He focused on his personal experiences and his constant struggle against child labor and the related issues all over the world. He asked the young people to focus on 3Ds - Dream, Discover and Do for the sake of the better world and the humanity. He said the growth of a nation is dependent upon Education, Employability, Entrepreneurship, Equity, Ethics and sustainable environment.
Under his leadership, since 1986 till today, Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) has built alliances with more than 750 organizations, teachers, organizations, trade unions, faith leaders, celebrities, media as well as politicians across the country to progress the demand of total ban on child labour. BBA has proven through sustained efforts that total elimination of child labour is possible, achievable and affordable even in the remotest villages of India.BBA on the one hand has physically liberated 80,000 child/bonded labourers, with the help of authorities, on the other it has created over 300 child friendly villages with the genuine participation of children, parents, teachers and communities where all children have been withdrawn from the child labour, enrolled in schools and empowered to participate in democratic decision-making.
BBA is confident that millions of children would have an amended legislation in their favor soon. This is the one important tool in the hands of all those who want to make child labour a history.
Mr Satyarthi also declared the registration web site of Apogee (the annual academic festival of Pilani Campus) open in the campus guest house.
Prof G Raghurama, Director BITS, Pilani, Pilani Campus thanked Mr Satyarthi and the organizing team of the event at the end of his address.