An example of incredible real-life human being !!

What if they killed me, we are all gonna die someday. A bullet kills a body, but it can't kill a dream.

This is Iqbal Masih, born in a poor Pakistani family and was sold to the carpet factory owner to paid off the loan, taken by his father. The loan was meant to be paid off by four-year-old Iqbal's hard labour for many years.

Four years old Iqbal, in school dress, 1988.

Inside factory, he was chained to a manual loom (weaving machine) and made to work as much as 14 hours a day. He was fed little and beaten, more than other children because of his attempts at escaping. One day, the little boy had a high fever, and on refusal to work, his owner tied his feet together and hanged him upside down from the ceiling fan.

On that instant I decided that I had enough, Iqbal said.

Early one morning in October 1992, when shift supervisor was taking children to the work, Iqbal jumped from the back of a running tractor and escaped. 9 years old Iqbal was rushing on the roads, bare-footed, not to save himself, but to create a difference. His mind, his ambition, and his spirit were burning brightly.

He secretly started contacting human right activists and soon he joined an association, Bonded Labour Liberation Front (BLLF) and became first youngest human right activist who risk of his own life, and led the BLLF to the carpet looms where they rescued 3000 children.

BMM school Grade 7 staff photo with Iqbal (middle) on 2nd December 1994, United States.

Later on, he visited other countries, including Sweden and the United States, to share his story, attended several international conferences to denounce the hardships of child labourers. He encouraged others to join the fight to eradicate child slavery. In 1994 he received the Reebok Human Rights Award in Boston, US.

A bronze sculpture in the middle of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, in homage to Iqbal Masih.

During April 1995, he came back from US to visit his family. On 16th April, while he and some friends were cycling in their village, two unknown gunmen fatally shot him with 12 gauge shotgun, at point-blank range. The young hero died on the spot from single shot, at the age of 12.

Iqbal's cause inspired the creation of numerous human right organizations around world. His legacy, which he left on humans, is much bigger than his age. He is absolutely an incredible human. His killers were so influential and were never apprehended, and the case is still open.

General Note:

Raise your voice now, if you are a victim of abuse. When the whole world remains silent, even a single voice seems powerful. Stand up now, be your own biggest push, create your voice and speak for those who are voiceless. Now it's your turn to act, against all odds.