Vidisha: As news of Bachpan Bachao Andolan activist Kailash Satyarthi getting the Nobel Peace Prize reached his hometown here on Friday, celebrations broke out with people distributing sweets and bursting firecrackers.
An atmosphere of celebration and jubilation prevailed at Satyarthi's 'Choti Haveli' residence located at the Kile Andar area in Vidisha town.
An engineer by training, Satyarthi completed his school and college education from Vidisha town which was represented in the Lok Sabha by political stalwarts like former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Ramnath Goenka, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
The Bachpan Bachao activist completed his Bachelor of Engineering (BE) degree from Samrat Ashok Technology Institute (SATI) in Vidisha.
Satyarthi's elder brothers namely Jagmohan Sharma who is a medical doctor, Narendra Sharma, late Chandramohan Sharma and his sister Leelabai's family still lives in Vidisha.
Elated over his younger brother's achievement, Jagmohan Sharma said, "Kailash has made Vidisha famous all over the world. His relentless efforts resulted in this day".
Recalling his crusade against child labour, Jagmohan Sharma said that in 1996-97, Kailash had raided a circus in the town to rescue bonded child labourers including a few kids of Nepali origin.
His niece, Anita Choube, who is a professor of chemistry in Bhopal's Government Maharani Laxmi Bai (MLB) College, also recalled her uncle's relentless efforts in eradicating child labour from society.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also congratulated Satyarthi for winning the coveted award.
"It is a day of great pride for Madhya Pradesh (MP) and India. Congratulations to Shri Kailash Satyarthi born in Vidisha for winning Nobel Peace Prize," Chouhan said in a tweet.
