Nobel Peace Laureate and renowned human rights activist Kailash Satyarthi praised Bhutan’s achievements in free education, deeply rooted in the principles of Gross National Happiness (GNH), during the inaugural Jigme Singye Wangchuck (JSW) Lecture Series yesterday. The lecture celebrated the vision of Bhutan’s Fourth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, and provided a platform for Satyarthi to share his insights on the role of education in shaping a compassionate and just world.
Satyarthi, who has spent decades fighting against child slavery and exploitation, expressed his deep admiration for Bhutan’s education system and its alignment with the nation’s unique GNH philosophy. He commended His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo for his visionary leadership, describing him as a model leader who “practices what he preaches”—a rare quality in today’s global leadership, Satyarthi noted.
Since receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for his work in combating child labour, Satyarthi has continued to advocate for the rights of children worldwide. He reiterated his lifelong commitment to ending child exploitation, highlighting the alarming reality that 250 million children are still denied access to education, with many falling victim to child labour and trafficking. Furthermore, 468 million children have been displaced by conflicts, depriving them of educational opportunities despite global efforts to address the issue.
In his address, Satyarthi stressed that education is not just a right, but a crucial tool for delivering justice to the world’s most underprivileged children. He urged nations to adopt a collective sense of compassion, stating, “Education should be a beacon of wisdom for the future,” adding that compassion fostered through education is key to a better, more equitable world.
Satyarthi also lauded Bhutan’s commitment to free education, crediting the country’s successive monarchs and governments for their role in advancing the education sector. He emphasized the need to cultivate a national culture of compassion, encouraging educators and policymakers to lead by example for future generations.
However, Satyarthi also cautioned against the risks posed by the digital divide and the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) in classrooms. He warned that these technological advancements, if left unchecked, could widen the gap between wealthy and impoverished nations and disrupt learning environments. Satyarthi urged governments to invest in education and regulate the use of technology to prevent its misuse for spreading false propaganda, hate speech, and other harmful content that could lead to societal discord.
“The government should invest in education to ensure that the future is safe in the hands of educated individuals,” he said, reinforcing the importance of human intervention in shaping a responsible and compassionate society.
The JSW Lecture Series, named in honour of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, serves as a tribute to his enduring contributions to Bhutan and the world. It aims to create a platform for innovative thinkers to share ideas and foster creativity in the pursuit of a better future, in line with His Majesty’s vision for a harmonious and prosperous nation.
