Wishes pour in from across the world for Satyarthi

Four hours of sleep is what Nobel Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi got as celebrations continued into the morning at his Kalkaji office in south Delhi on Saturday.

Four hours of sleep is what Nobel Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi got as celebrations continued into the morning at his Kalkaji office in south Delhi on Saturday.

Satyarthi left from his Kalkaji office at 2am with few of his staff members, who stayed with him at his house in Alaknanda. His son Bhuvan told HT that they discussed the future course of action and how their responsibility had only increased after winning the award.

The modest office in south Delhi had taken centre stage as curious neighbours could be spotted standing outside —discussing how he won the Nobel prize.

In the afternoon, a number of activists working with the NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) came with their family members to meet ‘Bhaiji’ (Kailash Satyarthi) — their mentor. Even on a Saturday, a number of media persons and well-wishers had come to interview and meet Satyarthi.

Despite having a hectic schedule, the winner spared a few minutes and came down to the basement of his office to meet his staff and their family members. Like Satyarthi, almost all of his staff had stayed late in the office on Friday and had spent most of the time receiving wishes from across the world.

Activists at Satyarthi’s office said he received a call from senior BJP leader and MP Lal Krishan Advani on Saturday morning to congratulate him. “He said that he would be coming soon to meet him. He also got a call from Prime Minister’s office who said he wanted to meet him at 7:30 pm on Saturday,” said an activist.

Family members of Satyarthi said they were yet to sit down and have a meal together.

“Wishes are pouring in from every quarter and we are unable to speak to everyone. It was only for a few minutes during last night that he managed to speak to us. Even then all he said was how we should take this fight forward,” said Bhuvan, Kailash Satyarthi’s son.

“In my lifetime, I want to see this country free of child labour. This is not impossible and all we need to do is to start from our homes. We must boycott food from restaurants if they have employed child labourers and we must not eat at our relative’s house if they have employed a minor. This is how we can end this curse,” Satyarthi told HT.