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| Tawakul Karman displaying the memento she received from the Shantiniketan Indian School at the reception |
The Yemeni Nobel laureate said equal citizenship and equal justice should be the basic characteristics of democracy. Karman is the second Muslim woman and the youngest Nobel Peace Laureate.
“Human rights are the birth rights of every individual, irrespective of cast, creed and colour. People who are against such values are against their personality,” she said.
“People in Libya, Egypt, Syria and Yemen were struggling for freedom, dignity, democracy and a happy life, resulting in popular revolutions against the dictators of those nations,” she told the students.
“Before the revolution they were without respect, without dreams, weak and unable to do anything. Such attitudes were detrimental for the people. We must be strong, confident and determined to say no to evil,” she told her young audience.
“The youth must come together to stop wars, poverty and terrorism from creating insecurity,” she said.
Karman said she was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. “Gandhi is the father of peace and my role model for achieving noble aim through non-violence. Violence leads to pain, poverty, bloodbath and death, while peace means success even if it takes time,” she said.
The Nobel laureate praised India’s tradition and culture and encouraged the children to think about their own country and do the best for the home land.
School president K C Abdul Latheef presented Karman with a memento as a token of its appreciation for her visit. Principal Mohamed Ismail proposed a vote of thanks.
