Activists Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yusoufzai share 2014 Nobel Peace Prize
Announcing child rights activists Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai as winners of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, the jury drew attention to the joint award for "a Hindu and a Muslim", which instantly sparked a debate.
The Nobel Committee said it was "an important point for a Hindu and a Muslim, an Indian and a Pakistani, to join in a common struggle for education and against extremism."
BBC journalist Andrew North tweeted Kailash Satyarthi's response: "#NobelPeacePrize to me + #Malala is msg to India + Pak we shud live in peace says Kailash Satyarthi."
The two have been named joint winners of the 1.1 million dollar prize for their "struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education," the jury said.
It is the first time that an Indian and a Pakistani will share the Peace prize, but for work that is non-political and non-religious, many have pointed out.
The Nobel jury's statement has raised eyebrows at a time India and Pakistan are in the middle of a standoff over the worst violence at the border in more than a decade.
"Nobel Committee regards it as an important point for a Hindu and a Muslim, an Indian and a Pakistan...Why the religious, political tone?" tweeted strategic expert Brahma Chellaney.
"The Nobel Peace prize committee, having disgraced itself by hastily honoring Obama, stoops to play the Indian-Pakistan, Hindu-Muslim game," he added.
Journalist Shekhar Gupta commented, "Grt choice on #NobelPeacePrize but why that "Hindu-Muslim" line? Gratuitous, silly profiling of subcontinent. What if Kailash was a Muslim?"
Not everyone was critical. Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tweeted, "#NobelPeacePrize for two people from India and Pakistan who worked for children, is a message for change in this region."
"Love the part of #NobelPeacePrize release about nationality & religion of winners," posted New York-based journalist Sree Sreenivasan.