Who is the Youngest Nobel Prize Winner?
Invented by Swedish industrialist, Alfred Nobel, Nobel Prize is an award given annually to the intellectuals for physics, chemistry, physiology, medicine, literature, and peace. It has been awarded to many people and the youngest individual to get the Nobel Prize is Malala Yousafzai.
Malala Yousafzai is a name heard by many yet not all know her story. On October 9, 2012, Malala, a teenage from Pakistan, was 17 years old when she was shot at from point blank range while she was in her school bus. She was shot by a Taliban gunman as a punishment for writing and broadcasting a diary on BBC which she wrote about her life under the Taliban rule and how the Talibans tried to take away her and others girls’ right to education.
Two of Malala’s friends, KainatRiaz and ShaziaRamzan, were also injured in the shooting but they were stable enough to provide the reporters with the details of the incident. After the incident, Malala was airlifted to the hospital in Peshawar the same day for the treatment. On 15 October 2012, she went to United Kingdom for further treatment.
After recovering from her injuries, Malala started her campaign as an education activist and spoke in front of United Nations, Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace, Harvard University and many other places. Later, she also met with the then president of United States, Mr. Barack Obama and his family.
On July 12, 2013, Malala gave her first speech, and turned 16th the same day. This day was then called as “Malala Day” by the United Nations. Malala has been fighting against the oppression of children and everyone’s right to education. On 10 October 2014, Malala Yousafzai was awarded the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize and hence, became the youngest Nobel Prize winner.
Since then, Yousafzai has been given many awards and she has been included in the list—“150 of the most influential female leaders in the UK.”
Featured Image Credit: nobleprize.org
Team at World Infi