Kailash Satyarthi Slams Trump Over Nobel Prize Obsession at Jaipur Lit Fest
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi delivered one of the most talked-about moments at the Jaipur Literature Festival after reacting sharply to reports surrounding a Nobel Peace Prize being symbolically offered to former US President Donald Trump. Calling the episode shocking, Satyarthi remarked that he had “never seen anyone so crazy for the Nobel Prize,” drawing loud applause from the audience.
Speaking during the launch of his book Karuna: The Power of Compassion, Satyarthi addressed the controversy that has sparked global debate about the values and meaning attached to the Nobel Peace Prize. His comments were widely interpreted as a critique of attempts to politicise one of the world’s most prestigious honours.
Nobel Prize Not Transferable
Referring to media reports without initially naming Trump, Satyarthi spoke about the incident involving Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado, who was reported to have physically handed her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump during a meeting in Washington. The gesture, which Trump publicly praised, triggered questions about whether such an act held any official standing.
Satyarthi reminded the audience that the Nobel Committee had clearly stated that the Nobel Peace Prize is non-transferable. While a medal may be symbolically shown or handed over, the honour itself cannot be passed from one individual to another.
Quoting the clarification, Satyarthi said it had been made “very clear” that the prize belongs solely to the individual to whom it is awarded. His remarks were met with laughter and applause, as he underlined that the Nobel Prize represents moral authority and humanitarian values, not political endorsement or personal ambition.
A Contrast With His Own Nobel Journey
Satyarthi then offered a deeply personal reflection on how he handled his own Nobel Peace Prize after receiving it in 2014. He recalled being invited to Rashtrapati Bhavan by then President Pranab Mukherjee, who told him that he was the first Indian-born Indian to bring the Peace Medal to the country.
According to Satyarthi, he felt that the medal should not belong to him as an individual but to the people of India. When informed that there was no existing protocol to hand the Nobel medal over to the nation, he persisted, even suggesting that it be placed at Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi.
Eventually, a new protocol was created, and the Nobel Peace Prize medal was formally entrusted to the President of India to be kept on behalf of the nation. Satyarthi said the act symbolised his belief that such honours are earned through collective struggle and service, not personal glory.
Moral Weight of the Prize
The session concluded on a powerful philosophical note. Author Amish Tripathi, who was hosting the discussion, summed up the moment with a line that resonated strongly with the audience. He observed that while some individuals gain honour because they receive a prestigious prize, others elevate the honour of the prize itself through their actions and values.
The remark drew one of the loudest rounds of applause at the session and was widely seen as a clear contrast between humanitarian ideals and political spectacle. Satyarthi’s comments have since sparked intense discussion online, with many praising his stance on preserving the dignity and purpose of the Nobel Peace Prize.
The episode has reignited debate over the politicisation of global honours and the responsibilities that come with them, reinforcing the idea that the true value of the Nobel Prize lies not in personal ambition, but in lifelong commitment to peace, compassion, and justice.