Superstar Shah Rukh Khan received an award for his leadership in championing children’s and women’s right in India.
It was the 24th Annual Crystal Award at the world economic forum in Davos. He received the award along with Cate Blanchett and singer Elton John
The actor extensively spoke about his social initiative Meer Foundation, which he names after his Father’s name.
“To disfigure a woman by throwing acid on her face, to me, is one of the basest, crudest acts of subjugation imaginable. At the source of it lies the view that a woman does not have the right to assert her choice, say no to the advances of a man or a group of people,” Khan said.
He went on to say how the victims taught him how courage can catalyse victimhood into heroism, how “solidarity — rather than charity – enables the human will to overcome, how equality is not a concept but a truth that encompasses all living beings, how service of others is not a choice anymore for any of us but it is a duty that all of us must fulfill in the name of humankind”.
The actor received the award for showing an exemplary commitment to uphold human dignity through his non-profitable Meer Foundation.
His speech about women and child rights had the world’s top policymakers and executives cheering for the actor.
The superstar also thanked his late mother, wife and his daughter for inspiring him.