In a world that's ever engaged in plotting cross-border terrorism, loading its guns and aiming missiles across countries peace does not stand a chance. In fact, often you wonder about the probability of nations being friends with each other, all through this mayhem. We send our soldiers to be enemies with the other man, more often than sending a rose across the continents and holding a candle to see each other smile.
If peace is the reason why wars are being fought, the very purpose stands defeated. Because, war can never carve a path to freedom, and harmony. It enslaves one in constant negativity, and hatred towards each other. While we struggle to put this into words, two nations that are constantly at each other's necks have found reasons to celebrate. Just as this year's winners of Nobel Peace Prize were announced, there was an expectant smile about one candidate and a surprise about the other. Eventually, even the surprise turned into a joyous expression.
That was the clear message the world got this year, in a way that a million words couldn't have conveyed. Unless you put courage, commitment and the future of children before everything, this world cannot be at peace. Two nations that look at each other rather suspiciously, can also celebrate its young and committed souls.
Whether it is Kailash Satyarthi or the youngest winner of the prize Malala Yousufzai, both have stood for something that has been a strong step towards bright future of young children in their respective nations, and thus across the world.
The 60-year-old Kailash was a less known name in India when the news about his winning the coveted and most prestigious prize reached media houses. And Malala for her part was a force that the world reckoned with, owing to her commitment and courage against the fundamentalist elements like Taliban which tried to kill her. She nearly died, after she spoke against their attempts to curtail the education of girl children in Pakistan, and specifically Swat valley where she was studying.
When the news came in, the girl was in school, accessing the knowledge which is rightfully hers. She later told the reporters "I was in chemistry class when my teacher came and told me. I was in some state of disbelief, but later accepted it and went ahead with my classes, like any other day at school."
That's called commitment to the cause. A grounded personality, despite being the youngest winner of the prize in the history! However, in her own country, there have been some skeptical responses, but that's a point apart.
Kailash Satyarthi has been crusading against child labour in India since many decades. A low-profile activist, who is much better at his work and finds that a better investment of time than building a 'good rapport' with the media unlike many other social-activists, suddenly became a household name with the announcement of the prize.
Born as son of a police constable, Satyarthi said 'globalisation of compassion' was the need of the hour than that of economy and trade. Indeed, in a country like India where children work in numerous households, and varied workplaces across urban and rural settings, taking up a cause that goes against the norm can be met with firm resistance. That didn't deter him. The crusade has now paid off, but Satyarthi believes a lot more has to be done before he can actually celebrate his achievements.
Just look at the numbers. We are sure no statistician or social psychologist can ever make us understand the impact of work and commitment by these two phenomenal people. When Malala spoke against the Taliban elements through her blog, she was shot in the head and was lying in critical condition for weeks before she spoke at United Nations. That she now lives in UK is a matter of providence and ensured her future is secure.
But, back home, Malala has lit a wicker of the candle of education and relentless crusade to ensure girls get educated. When these girls marry and have their own children, those future citizens are going towards more secure a future than their parents.
Satyarthi has so far rescued more than 80,000 children who will grow up to be excellent citizens and parents too. Now, is it easy to capture the achievement and the promises of tomorrow in mere data? We are sure, few years down the line the world will have a better answer than war -- to give to another nation. War isn't inevitable. It is peace that is inevitable.