Amity School of Film & Drama (ASFD) and Amity School of Communication (ASCO) in Collaboration with Kailash Satyarthi Children Foundation hosted the Screening and Discussion on the movie ‘The Price of Free’ at Amity University Uttar Pradesh (AUUP), Noida Campus on 07 August, 2019.
Addressing the students, Nobel Laureate Shri Kailaish Satyarthi acclaimed the work done by Dr Ashok K Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Education Group and the entire family in the field of education. He also shared how Indians have the capabilities and have been demonstrating their achievements all over the world and all they needed is an opportunity to excel and showcase their mettle. Calling the nation as a land of 1 billion solutions, he asked the students to take an oath to help ban child labour. “We don’t have to venture out for solutions as every students is a solution and it is just a matter of providing opportunities, education and ethics & values,” advised Shri Satyarthi.
He expressed concern over the recent growth of Digital Child pornography and that the country needs an international law to ban digital child pornography wherein his organization is working on a UN Convention against Pornography and Sexual abuses of children online. “I have met global representatives and political leaders all across the world and have made remarkable progress. I am very sure that we will be able to stop all the data service providers from putting up such acts and also no one is able to download them. However, by only stopping websites, these maladies won’t go away. We want to remove them by their roots as it is spoiling the entire generations. And if we have to save the global character then to stop online pornography and sexual abuse, voices have to be raised together. We hope to be prepared with our efforts by the next UN General Assembly Convention and India will be able to lead from the front to tackle this issue.”
Shri Satyarthi urged the students to work together in creating knowledge following the four C’s of Clarity of Mind, Courage, Conviction and Compassion to bring about a change in the society. He told the students to have the courage to break all complacencies and use the social media to bring about a change and end this menace of child labour and exploitation. “100 million young people are victims of violence. But there are another 100 million that are willing to take the charge and be a part of this social movement,” said Shri Satyarthi calling upon students of Amity to be a part of the ‘100 million for 100 million in India’ campaign. He also shared how $1.3 Trillion were being annually spent as military expenditure and just 4.5 days of this expenditure could solve the problem of illiteracy in the world.
Shri Styarthi regaled the students and the jam packed gathering with his vision and the journey that made him earn the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2014. ‘The Price of Free’, which has won an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Social Issue Documentary, is about the life, work and mission of Shri Kailash Satyarthi. Directed by Derek Doneen, about Shri Kailash Satyarthi, the film, formerly known as Kailash, premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize. The film depicts how Shri Kailash Satyarthi, left a career in Electrical Engineering and started Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save the Childhood Movement) to rescue children from slavery.
Welcoming the guests, Ms Pooja Chuahan, Chairperson, Amity School of Film & Drama shared how Mr and Mrs Satyarthi are a true inspiration for all students. “The dais today has the presence of dignitaries that have the power to change the world for the best,” said Ms Pooja Chauhan.
Welcoming the Nobel Laureate, Shri Kailash Satyarthi, Dr. Ashok K Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Education Group said that “Kailash Ji’s achievements over the years are nothing less than a miracle. Through his persistent effort, will, zeal and courage, he took his campaign to a global level and was able to save more than 88,000 children from the shackles of slavery.” He also shared that just like the noble initiatives of Shri Kailash Satyarthi, Amity has also been actively involved with the mission to bring a great change in the society. Schools driven by Amity such as Atulasha and Amitasha, help the underprivileged children to attain education. He also added that students of Amity have the power to change the world and they study in a culture that makes them different from students of other universities.
Congratulating Shri Kailash Satyarthi on his achievement Dr. Atul Chauhan, Chancellor, Amity University said that the feat that he has achieved through his campaigns and initiatives is unparalleled and will continue to inspire the future generations. He expressed his gratitude to Shri Satyarthi for radiating his positivity to the students and guiding them through his wisdom and experience. He called upon the students to follow the footsteps of Shri Kailash Satyarthi and create a difference in the society.
Also present on the occasion was Ms Sumedha Satyarthi, wife of Shri Kailash Satyarthi and a noted child right’s activist; Dr Ashok K Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Education Group, Dr. (Mrs.) Amita Chauhan, Chairperson Amity International Schools; Dr. Atul Chauhan, Chancellor, Amity University UP & President, Ritnand Balved Education Foundation (RBEF); Ms Pooja Chuahan, Chairperson, Amity School of Film & Drama; Baroness Sandip Verma, Conservative Member of the House of Lords, and former Minister of State for International Development and Energy.