Iqbal Masih

While some people believe that money makes you happier than others, this photograph counters this untrue myth. People all over the world encounter debt; however, what makes them happier than those with money is their compassion and gratitude for every little aspect of life. An example of a compassionate person is Iqbal Masih. Iqbal Masih overcame many obstacles in his life while staying humble in the most stressful events anyone, both young or old, and poor or rich can handle. He was rescued from bondage in Pakistan by the Bonded Labor Liberation Front at the age of ten. After he passed four years of school in two years, he became an international hero. Iqbal always performed tremendously beyond average compared to the mature adults that he worked with in the Bonded Labor Liberation Front on topics dealing with inspirational speaking and even leadership. Throughout all of the obstacles thrown at Iqbal, he always overcame all of his obstacles except for the last obstacle in his life leading to his death. Iqbal Masih, a young and compassionate boy, demonstrates traits of a hero through his sacrifice for others, his courage, and his influential values.

Iqbal battled many obstacles in order to save thousands of other children that were experiencing forced child labor. At the age of four, Iqbal Masih was sold to a carpet manufacturer to assist in the repaying of the family’s debt from their other son’s wedding. For six years, Iqbal worked more than 15 hours a day tying knots in carpets without food or water. In 1992, Iqbal had become aware of the Bonded Labor Liberation Front and began to slowly contact the organization that eventually rescued him from bondage. After the members of Bonded Labor Liberation Front inspired Iqbal, he joined the organization and became an international hero while being awarded the Reebok Human Rights Youth Action Award in 1994. The following year, Iqbal was murdered on Easter day. Iqbal is not only an international hero, but a survivor of forced child labor and a person with true character.

Iqbal Masih sacrifices his life in the attempt to rescue others from bondage which reveals an exceptionally marvelous characteristic that he displayed continuously. No matter how dangerous, “[Iqbal Masih]…led the BLLF [Bonded Labor Liberation Front] to the carpet looms where they rescued hundreds of children…” (Third World Traveler). Iqbal Masih was rescued from bondage, however he returns to the same hostile environment of misery and violence to help rescue more children that are in a similar scenario as himself dealing with bondage. Whether Iqbal had to run somewhere or jump into a helicopter to help save more children, he would do it. Iqbal’s dedication to his work is far more than the dedication Martin Luther King put into his mission. Iqbal demonstrates sacrifice for others because he is willingly taking a risk of being killed or captured and tortured to help save children across the globe from bondage. Iqbal continuously sacrifices himself to help others when, “… [He] was gunned down…” (Third World Traveler). Iqbal became an extraordinary and dedicated Bonded Labor Liberation Front member who sacrificed his life from being rescued by the Bonded Labor Liberation Front until death for others that were imprisoned by bondage. Throughout Iqbal’s life, he always took the risk of dying for others which helps show why Iqbal became an international hero. Iqbal’s murderer is still unknown to this day. However, the murderer has been assumed a carpet manufacturer; “…after his visit to the U.S., Iqbal was murdered…” (Pats-eduent). Iqbal Masih was thirteen years old when he died. Once he was rescued from bondage, he sacrificed the rest of his life, saving thousands of children worldwide from bondage. Iqbal Masih demonstrates heroism through sacrifice for others and also demonstrates heroism through courage.

Iqbal Masih displayed courage both during bondage and after bondage. Taking the risk of being humiliated and rejected, “…asked the kids to try to educate people and to get people to stop buying rugs that are made using children as workers” (Pats-eduent). Iqbal traveled to the United States to speak to a 7th grade class in Massachusetts about the tragedy that he went through as a child and how they can help stop forced labor and make an impact in the world. Iqbal displayed courage because he was talking to strangers about a very personal event that changed his life. Iqbal Masih also demonstrated courage as, “… Iqbal jumped at the chance to study at a BLLF [Bonded Labor Liberation Front] school in Lahore, not far from his home village in Muridke “(Pats-eduent). Iqbal Masih is a phenomenal person who always strives. After being rescued from bondage, Iqbal took full advantage of going to school and completed four years of material in only two years. Iqbal was courageous because he could have hid in a dark corner but instead he immediately jumped into the spotlight and exceeded everyone’s expectations. Iqbal Masih demonstrated courage that no other person has ever displayed in history when, “In 1994, Iqbal Masih, appeared on American TV networks… He told his audience that he would devote his life to liberating children from forced labor…” (Pangaea). Iqbal Masih declares his life long dream of continuously working to free other children on nation television. This act took extraordinary courage because he not only talked to the public but also to his arch-rivals. Iqbal’s appearance on American television was another event that frustrated the carpet manufacturers giving them another reason for wanting Iqbal Masih dead. Iqbal was not only a courageous young boy, but an international inspiration to all.

Iqbal is an inspirational hero to everyone because of his influential values. Even though Iqbal had a troubling early childhood, he was still able to reach his highest potential when, “…in 1994[Iqbal Masih joined the]…BLLF [Bonded Labor Liberation Front]” (Ryan). Iqbal Masih demonstrates the ability to overcome his past and to strive by joining the Bonded Labor Liberation Front. Iqbal is an inspiration to anyone that is willing to learn about the devastation that occurs in many countries like Pakistan. Although many people belong to the Bonded Labor Liberation Front, Iqbal will always be one of the organization’s best members because of his compassion for the children he spoke to: “As a worker with the BLLF [Bonded Labor Liberation Front], he spoke to children about their rights under laws that outlawed bonded labor, and he freed as many as three thousand children from bondage” (Third World Traveler). Iqbal Masih demonstrates another example of influential values because his compassion for helping children that is still in bondage. His values are heroic and inspiring to not only the public eye but also to the children that are still imprisoned by bondage. Iqbal Masih was like an angel on Earth because he became focused and dedicated to making the world better and to freeing more children. He strived for success after being rescued from bondage. An example of his success was when, “…he [Iqbal Masih] was invited to the United States to receive the Reebok Human Rights Youth Action Award” (Pats-eduent). Iqbal is a heroic and inspirational person because he overcomes obstacles like being sold at the age of four into bondage. His values are both influential and inspiring because Iqbal travels all over the world to help free children, stop carpet manufacturing production with child labor, and teach others about child labor and how they can make a positive impact on abolishing forced labor. Iqbal Masih is an inspirational hero that sacrificed his life for others, was courageous, and had influential values.