Celebration Amid Tension
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: Ocotber 11, 2014 -

While India and Pakistan are reeling under high tension in the aftermath of ceasefire violation along the Line of Control (LOC), the two neighbouring nuclear-power nations now have a common thing for celebration—to honour the joint winners of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, namely Indian child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi and Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai.

It is high time for these two beleaguered nations to put off the war-like situation along the LOC, and reinstate ceasefire as mark of respect to these new Nobel laureates who have managed to work for the people’s welfare in their respective countries against all odds.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education.

Children must go to school and not be financially exploited. In the poor countries of the world, 60 per cent of the present population is under 25 years of age.

It is a prerequisite for peaceful global development that the rights of children and young people be respected.

In conflict-ridden areas in particular, the violation of children leads to the continuation of violence from generation to generation.

Kailash Satyarthi has been declared as the Nobel Prize recipient for showing great personal courage.

Satyarthi has maintained Mahatma Gandhi';s tradition, has headed various forms of protests and demonstrations, all peaceful, focusing on the grave exploitation of children for financial gain. He has also contributed to the development of important international conventions on children';s rights.

On the other hand, Malala Yousafzai has been awarded for having fought for several years for the right of girls to education, and showing by example that children and young people, too, can contribute to improving their own situations.

She has done under the most dangerous circumstances. Through her heroic struggle she has become a leading spokesperson for girls'; rights to education.

The Nobel Committee also noted that it is an important point for a Hindu and a Muslim, an Indian and a Pakistani, to join in a common struggle for education and against extremism.

Many other individuals and institutions in the international community have also contributed. It has been calculated that there are 168 million child labourers around the world today.

In 2000 the figure was 78 million higher. The world has come closer to the goal of eliminating child labour.

The struggle against suppression and for the rights of children and adolescents contributes to the realization of the "fraternity between nations" that Alfred Nobel mentions in his will as one of the criteria for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Indeed, this year’s Nobel Peace Prize is a historic one. India and Pakistan should not indulge in mindless violence along the LOC which will cause heavy casualties among the civilians.

The two neighbouring countries must try to strengthen their diplomatic ties and resolve their differences at the earliest. There are so many peace-loving activists like Satyarthi and Malala in both India and Pakistan.

When these two ordinary persons can achieve such remarkable feat, it will not be impossible for the Indian and Pakistan governments to chalk out ways to come to a peaceful term.