Kailash Satyarthi Age, Height, Family, Career, Net Worth, Lifestyle & Facts

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Birth Name: Kailash Sharma

Profession(s): Engineer, Social Activist, Author

Famous for: Winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014

Date of Birth: 11 January 1954 (Monday)

Age (as of 2025): 71 Years

Birthplace: Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, India

Zodiac sign: Capricorn

Nationality: Indian

Hometown: New Delhi

Religion/Religious Views: Hinduism Note: According to Kailash, even though he is a Hindu, he does not visit temple frequently. He worships kids as he believes them to be the face of the God. He, in an interview, said, “I am not a religious person. I’ve not gone to a temple or mosque in the last 40 years. I don’t worship in temples because i worship children — by giving them freedom and childhood. They are the true faces of God and that is my strength.” [2] The Times of India

Caste: Brahmin [3] Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation

Food Habit: Vegetarian [4] Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation

Marriage Date: 8 October 1977

Place of Marriage: New Delhi

Age: 71 Years

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EDUCATION

School: Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh

College/University: Samrat Ashok Technological Institute (SATI), affiliated with Bhopal University (now known as Barkatullah University), Vidhisha

Educational Qualification(s): • BTech in Electrical Engineering at SATI • Post-graduate diploma in Engineering • Diploma (Kovid) in Sanskrit at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan [1] The Guardian

PHYSICAL STATISTICS

Height (approx.): in centimeters – 180 cm in meters – 1.80 m in feet & inches – 5’ 11”

Eye Colour: Dark Brown

Hair Colour: Salt and Pepper

FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS

Marital Status: Married

Affairs/Girlfriends: Sumedha Kailash (social activist) Note: Kailash and Sumedha dated for nearly a year after meeting in Delhi, where she worked as a co-editor for an Arya Samaj magazine. Despite objections from Sumedha’s family due to Kailash’s local reputation from social activism, they married after Sumedha insisted. [7] The Economic Times

Wife/Spouse: Sumedha Kailash (social activist)

Children: Son – Bhuwan Ribhu (social activist) Daughter – Asmita Satyarthi (social activist)

Parents: Father – Ramprasad Sharma (retired Madhya Pradesh police constable) Mother – Chironji Sharma

Siblings: He has an elder brother.

Wife: Sumedha Kailash

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Awards, Honours, Achievements: • The Aachen Peace Prize by the Government of Germany (1994) • The Trumpeter Award by the National Consumers League (1995) • Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award by the RFK Human Rights Foundation (1995) • Golden Flag Award (Netherlands) (1998) • De Gouden Wimpel Award (Netherlands) (1998) • La Hospitalet Award (Spain) (1999) • Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Award (Germany) (1999) • Wallenberg Medal by the University of Michigan (2002) • Freedom Award (USA) (2006) • Included in the US State Department’s list of Heroes Acting to End Modern Day Slavery (2007) • Gold Medal by the Italian Senate (2007) • Alfonso Comin International Award by the Alfonso Comín Foundation (Spain) (2008) • Defenders of Democracy Award by the Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) (2009) • Nobel Peace Prize for focusing attention on the grave exploitation of children for financial gain (2014) • Honorary Doctor of Philosophy Degree by Alliance University (2014) • Honoris Causa in Science by Amity University, Gurgaon (2015) • Humanitarian of the Year Award by the Harvard University (2015) • Member-Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management (2016) • Doctor of Humane Letters by the Lynchburg College (USA) (2016) • Doctor of Law (LLD) by the West Bengal University of Juridical Sciences (2016) • Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by the Panjab University (2016) • P.C. Chandra Puraskaar for his global crusade against child slavery and exploitative child labour (2017) • Guinness World Record for Largest Child Safeguarding Lesson (2017) • Doctor Honoris Causa by the EL Rector Magnífico de la Universidad Pablo de Olavide (Spain) (2017) • Doctor Honoris Causa in Science by Amity University (2018) • The Santokbaa Humanitarian Award by Shree Ramkrishna Knowledge Foundation (SRKKF) (2018) • Lifetime Achievement Award by the Wockhardt Foundation Limited (2019) • The Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice (2019) • Doctor Honoris Causa by the Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (2019) • Dr. Bhai Mohan Singh trophy (2020) • Rotary Award of Honor by Rotary International (2022)

OTHER INFORMATION

Bike Collection: He owns a Royal Enfield.

INTERESTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Kailash Satyarthi, an esteemed Indian electrical engineer, book author, and fervent social rights activist, is globally recognized for his unwavering commitment to children’s rights. Born into a middle-class family in Madhya Pradesh, his journey into social advocacy began at a remarkably young age, when he was still in the fifth grade. A poignant moment that shaped his mission occurred when he witnessed a child forced into cobbling by his father, who could not afford to send him to school. This stark contrast between their lives ignited a flame of purpose within Satyarthi, propelling him to collect old and used books for underprivileged children. His efforts were fruitful, leading to the collection and distribution of over 2,000 books, which he shared with the help of his school headmaster. This initiative soon gained traction in Vidisha, sparking the establishment of a “book bank,” allowing children from impoverished backgrounds access to literature free of charge.

While pursuing his BTech degree in Madhya Pradesh, Satyarthi became involved in student politics and began penning articles on social activism for *Jangyan*, a magazine associated with the Arya Samaj. His college years were marked by a determination to bridge societal divides, as he organized events advocating for the inclusion of Dalits within the broader societal fabric, sometimes incurring criticism from traditionalists. The societal backlash was intense, and he faced a boycott from his family after hosting an event where he dined with Dalits, an act deemed unacceptable by high-caste elements. This experience culminated in his decision to abandon his surname Sharma in favor of Satyarthi, meaning “seeker of the truth.” He recounted this journey in an interview, expressing how the stigmatization he endured only fueled his resolve to break free from the shackles of caste discrimination.

After graduating, Satyarthi briefly served as a college professor but soon left academia to devote himself to activism full-time. He founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) in 1980, one of India’s pioneering movements aimed at protecting children from labor exploitation and trafficking. His early successes included liberating countless children from grueling labor conditions in Punjab, despite facing numerous threats to his life. In the early 1980s, he was assaulted by a criminal organization in Uttar Pradesh, resulting in personal injuries and significant loss. Undeterred, he continued to spread awareness through the magazine *Sangharsh Jari Rahega* and played a crucial role in the enactment of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act of 1986. His dedication to children’s rights further materialized with the establishment of the South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude in 1989, which sought to combat child trafficking across South Asia.

Kailash Satyarthi’s activism reached a global audience with initiatives such as the Global March Against Child Labour in 1996, culminating in the adoption of the ILO Convention 182. He organized various campaigns, including the Shiksha Yatra in 2001, which was instrumental in making education a fundamental right in India. His unwavering commitment to children’s rights earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. Satyarthi dedicated this honor to India, handing the medal over to then-President Pranab Mukherjee during a ceremony in New Delhi. His advocacy extended to international platforms, where he spoke on child rights and collaborated with organizations worldwide to promote education and protection for marginalized children. Through the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation, he has continued to launch impactful initiatives, including the Bharat Yatra campaign in 2017, which traversed over 12,000 kilometers to raise awareness about child exploitation, ultimately aiding in the enactment of the 2018 Criminal Law Amendment Act and the Anti-Human Trafficking Bill.

As a passionate advocate, Satyarthi has also expressed his thoughts through various publications, writing several books that address children’s rights and social issues. Recognized for his relentless efforts, he has been invited to speak at numerous global forums, including the Peace and Sport Middle East Forum in Riyadh, where he continues to champion the cause of children’s rights. His journey, marked by personal sacrifices and profound commitment, serves as a testament to the power of activism in bringing about meaningful change for vulnerable populations. Through his work, Kailash Satyarthi embodies the spirit of resilience and compassion, striving to create a world where every child can thrive free from exploitation.

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Note: All biographical information compiled from publicly available sources.