Licypriya Kangujam – Wikipedia

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Indian climate activist (born 2011)

Licypriya Kangujam

Licypriya Kangujam at the United Nations Asia-Pacific Climate Week 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand on 5 September 2019.
Born

Licypriya Kangujam

(2011-10-02) 2 October 2011 (age 11)
Occupation(s) Student, environmental activist
Years active 2018–present
Known for Rising Voice to Combat Climate Change
Movement The Child Movement
Parents
  • Bidyarani Devi Kangujam Ongbi (mother)
  • KK Singh (Kanarjit Kangujam) (father)
Relatives Chinglensana Kangujam (uncle)
Awards
Recorded on 6 February 2020 from the BBC Radio World Service Program – How I became an 8-year-old climate activist in London, UK. BBC – OS[1]

Licypriya Kangujam (Meitei pronunciation: /lī-sī-prī-yā kāng-ngū-jam/ ; born 2 October 2011) is a child environmental activist from India.[2] She is one of the youngest climate activists globally and has addressed world leaders at the 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid, Spain asking them to take immediate climate action. She has been accused of faking multiple awards to bolster her image.[3][4] Licypriya has been campaigning for climate action in India since 2018, to pass new laws to curb India’s high pollution levels, and to make climate-change literacy mandatory in schools.[5][6][7][8][9]

She has been regarded as India’s Greta Thunberg, though she does not like the usage of this term.[10]The Times of India published an exclusive report titled “Is India’s Greta Thunberg a pawn in the hands of an unscrupulous father?” on the various controversies surrounding Licypriya.[4] The report exposes the credibility of the awards claimed to be received by Licypriya.[4] Another media outlet has also questioned the credibility of these awards.[3]

Licypriya started advocating against climate change in July 2018.[11] On 21 June 2019 inspired by the climate activist Greta Thunberg, Licypriya started spending a week outside the Indian parliament House to draw the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pass a climate change law in India. On 31 August 2019, Licypriya received the “World Children Peace Prize 2019” handed over by Charles Allen, Director of Partnerships of Global Peace Index – Institute of Economics & Peace (IEP), Australia in an event organized by the Regional Alliance of Fostering Youth and Ministry of Youth Sports and Community Empowerment, Government of Maldives. However, The Times of India reported, “Even the World Children Peace Prize Award given to Licypriya in 2019 and promoted as an honour granted by the Global Peace Index turned out to be a sham after the Institute for Economics and Peace clarified on Twitter that “we do not issue awards”.[12][4][13]

She was also honored with the title “Rising Star” by the Earth Day Network headquarters based in Washington, D.C., USA.[14][15][16]

On 19 November 2019, she received the “SDGs Ambassador Award 2019” at Chandigarh University by Dainik Bhaskar in collaboration with NITI Aayog, Government of India. Licypriya also received the “Global Child Prodigy Award 2020” on 3 January 2020 in New Delhi by Lieutenant Governor of Pondicherry Kiran Bedi.[17]

On 18 February 2020, she addressed the TEDxSBSC held in Delhi University, New Delhi, India. On 23 February 2020 she addressed the TEDxGateway held in Mumbai and received a standing ovation for her speech. She addressed TEDx talks for the six times by the time she was nine years old.[18][19][20]

Licypriya Kangujam was born on 2 October 2011 in Bashikhong, Manipur, India, the eldest daughter of Kanarjit Kangujam and Bidyarani Devi Kangujam Ongbi,[21] in a family of Meitei ethnicity.[22] She began raising her voice to combat climate change and disaster risk reduction, when she was seven. In June 2019, she protested in front of the Parliament House of India addressing the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to enact the climate change law in India.[23][24][25][26] Her father Kanarjit Kangujam Singh was arrested on 31 May 2021 as he had allegedly duped several self-help groups, hotels and individuals of more than Rs 19 lakh for a Global Youth Meet that he had organised in Imphal in 2014.[27] Nearly a hundred children from 12 countries claim Kanarjit Kangujam scammed them.[28]

2018–2019 activism[edit]

Kangujam addressing UNESCO Partners’ Forum 2019 (Biennial Luanda) in Angola on 20 September 2019.

Visits to Mongolia[edit]

In 2018, Licypriya attended a UN disaster conference in Mongolia along with her father. This inspired her to get involved in activism. In an article in the BBC News she stated “I got lots of inspiration and new knowledge from the people giving speeches. It was a life-changing event.” Licypriya founded the “Child Movement” soon after the event to raise awareness to protect the planet by tackling climate change and natural disasters.[14]

Visits to Africa[edit]

Kangujam attended the UNESCO Partners’ Forum 2019 (Biennial Luanda) in Luanda, Angola invited by UNESCO, African Union & Government of Angola. She addressed on climate change along with President of Angola João Lourenço, President of Mali Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, President of Malawi Hage Geingob, President of Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso, First Lady of Angola Ana Dias Lourenço, First Lady of Namibia Monica Geingos, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2018 Denis Mukwege, UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay, Deputy Prime Minister of Guinea François Lonseny Fall and all Culture Ministers of Africa.[29][30][31][32]

Kerala Flood 2018[edit]

Licypriya donated her savings of Rupees 100,000 to the Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan on 24 August 2018 to help the flood victim children of Kerala Massive Flood. Two years later she received the acknowledgement letter from the Kerala Government.[33]

Licypriya’s donation to the Chief Minister supported their work in protecting children hit by the flood. She felt her small contribution would help make a difference to the children during the tough time.

Great October March 2019[edit]

On 21 October 2019, Licypriya started the “Great October March 2019” at India Gate, New Delhi with nearly thousands of her supporters. The Great October March took place from 21 to 27 October in various locations to request immediate action on climate change and to enact the climate law in India.[14][34][35]

Survival Kit for the Future[edit]

Licypriya brought out a symbolic device called SUKIFU (Survival Kit for the Future) to curb the air pollution on 4 October 2019. SUKIFU is an almost zero budget kit designed from trash to provide fresh air to breathe when pollution is bad. This wearable plant is a recognition of the Green Movement for air pollution.
Anybody can build up this concept at home from the recycling trash to instill fresh air directly into our lungs. She launched it in front of the Punjab & Haryana Legislative Assembly House as a symbol of demonstration before the oath taking ceremony of newly elected Haryana MLAs & Ministers. She draws the attention of the leaders to find urgent solution for the current crisis of air pollution in Delhi & National Capital Region.[36][37]
“[38]

Further she added that the project is inspired by the air pollution problem in Delhi, and that she doesn’t want its message to only be about the environment. Instead, it’s about the same adaptability that caused her to come forward with a mission, the qualities of resilience that it takes to survive now and in the future. She developed the model with the support of Chandan Ghosh, professor at Indian Institute of Technology Jammu (IIT).”[39]

COP25[edit]

Licypriya Kangujam addressed at COP25 urging the world leaders to act now on climate change. The United Nations Climate Conference was held to discuss the international action on climate change. 26,000 people from 196 countries attended this event. The event was held from 2 December to 13 December at IFEMA, Madrid, Spain, hosted by Government of Chile with the logistics support Of Government of Spain under the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).[40]

Kangujam met the UN Secretary-General during The UN Climate Change Conference COP25 and submitted a memorandum “on behalf of the children of the world.” The memorandum stated that she wants to create a better place for all children of the world. She was praised by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Greta Thunberg and several other global leaders participated during the event.
[41]

2020 activism[edit]

World Economic Forum 2020[edit]

In 2020, Licypriya published a letter to the participants at the World Economic Forum with activists Greta Thunberg, Luisa Neubauer, Isabelle Axelsson, and Loukina Tille, calling on companies, banks and governments to immediately stop subsidizing fossil fuels.
In an opinion piece given to The Guardian they said, “We don’t want these things done by 2050, 2030 or even 2021, we want this done now – as in right now. We call upon the world’s leaders to stop investing in the fossil fuel economy that is at the very heart of this planetary crisis. Instead, they should invest their money in existing sustainable technologies, research and in restoring nature. Short-term profit should not trump long-term stability of life.”[42][43]

Campaign for teaching climate change in schools[edit]

She has been campaigning to make lessons in climate change mandatory in schools and as per her request the government of Gujarat has included climate change in school education.[44]

Earth Day 2020[edit]

In 2020 Licypriya addressed the gatherings globally on Earth Day 2020 at Washington, D.C., United States. The event was virtual, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. She featured with 50 other global leaders, influencers, celebrities, athletes and musicians including Pope Francis, Sylvia Earle, Denis Hayes, Bill McKibben, Global Advisory Committee Member Albert II (Price of Monaco), Alexandria Villaseñor, Al Gore, Patricia Espinosa, Christiana Figueres, Michelle Dilhara, Jerome Foster II, John Kerry, Thomas Lovejoy, Ed Begley Jr., Zac Efron, Anil Kapoor, Van Jones, Ricky Keij, Paul Nicklen and Alex Honnold, giving a message of hope to fight the ongoing climate crisis.[45][46]

Controversy[edit]

In a report done by The Times of India in June 2021, it was revealed that all of Licypriya’s awards from her initial days were given to her by her father’s organisations.[4]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ “India climate activist Licypriya Kangujam on why she took a stand”. BBC News. 2020-02-06. BBC OS. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  2. ^ Sudevan, Praveen (2020-11-30). “India should make climate education compulsory: Nine-year-old activist Licypriya Kangujam”. The Hindu.
  3. ^ a b “Did 8-year-old Licypriya Kangujam’s father fake awards to bolster his daughter’s achievements?”.
  4. ^ a b c d e “Is India’s Greta Thunberg a pawn in the hands of an unscrupulous father? – Times of India”. The Times of India.
  5. ^ “Meet Licypriya Kangujam, the 8-yr-old Indian ‘Greta’ who is urging leaders at COP25 to save the planet”. The Economic Times. 2019-09-20. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  6. ^ “Eight-Year-Old Licypriya Kangujam Is Flying India’s Flag at COP25”. The Wire (India). 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  7. ^ “Indian 8-year-old challenges world leaders to act on climate change at COP25 in Madrid”. The Hindu. 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  8. ^ “Meet Licypriya Kangujam, the 8-yr-old Indian ‘Greta’ who is urging leaders at COP25 to save the planet”. The Economic Times. 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  9. ^ “Home”. licypriyakangujam.com.
  10. ^ Banerji, Annie (2020-02-08). “‘Don’t call me India’s Greta Thunberg and erase my story’: Eight-year-old Licypriya Kangujam”. Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 2021-02-06. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  11. ^ Licypriya Kangujam [@LicypriyaK] (2020-01-27). “Dear Media, Stop calling me “Greta of India”. …” (Tweet). Retrieved 2020-05-13 – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ https://twitter.com/mohuadazz/status/1401383869845282821[bare URL]
  13. ^ https://twitter.com/globpeaceindex/status/1221873299870715904[bare URL]
  14. ^ a b c “India climate activist Licypriya Kangujam on why she took a stand”. BBC News. 2020-02-06. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  15. ^ “One year on, child climate activist, 8, continues strike outside Indian parliament”. The Straits Times. 2020-02-06. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  16. ^ “This 7-Yr-Old Girl Stood Near Parliament Urging PM Narendra Modi To Pass The Climate Change Law Now”. The Times of India. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  17. ^ “Licypriya Kangujam from India – the world’s youngest climate activist – stands with Greta Thunberg and demands three new policies”. Business Insider. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  18. ^ “Licypriya Kangujam”. Retrieved 2020-02-23.
  19. ^ “Young ones to take centre stage at TEDxGateway tomorrow”. The Hindu. Retrieved 2020-02-23.
  20. ^ “Licypriya Kangujam”. Archived from the original on 2020-03-22. Retrieved 2020-02-22.
  21. ^ “About – Licypriya Kangujam”. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  22. ^ Richards, Lauren (2022-12-06). “‘Another World Is Possible’: Interview With 11-Year-Old Climate Activist Licypriya Kangujam”. Impakter. Retrieved 2023-02-26. Licypriya Kangujam: I belong to a small indigenous community in India called the Meitei…
  23. ^ “A 7-Year-Old Takes Stand Near The Parliament Urging PM Modi To Pass The Climate Change Law”. ScoopWhoop. 2019-06-22. Retrieved 2019-06-22.
  24. ^ “Angola backs Licypriya’s green world campaign”. Poknapham. 2019-09-24. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  25. ^ “Seven-year-old becomes the youngest green activist”. Daily News and Analysis. 2019-09-09. Retrieved 2019-09-09.
  26. ^ “Aged 7, Licypriya Kangujam stands outside Parliament to urge Prime Minister, MPs to pass climate change law”. Mirror Now. 2019-06-22. Retrieved 2019-06-22.
  27. ^ Mohua Das (2021-05-31). “On the run since 2016, child activist Licypriya Kangujam’s father arrested from Delhi | India News – Times of India”. The Times of India. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  28. ^ “Is the Father of ‘India’s Greta Thunberg’ Scamming Other Child Activists?”. www.vice.com. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  29. ^ “Biennale of Luanda – Pan-African Forum for the culture of peace”. UNESCO. 2019-09-20. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  30. ^ “Biennale of Luanda: Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace”. African Union. 2019-09-20. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  31. ^ “Licypriya Kangujam met with The President of Namibia”. India Education Diary. 2019-09-20. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  32. ^ “Licypriya draws attention of world leaders on her maiden climate change movement in Angola”. Rediff Realtime. 2019-09-20. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  33. ^ “Licypriya Kangujam Donated ₹1,00,000 to Kerala Government to Support Victim Children of Kerala Massive Flood in 2018 but Acknowledged after almost 2 Years”. Saarcyouth.org. 2019-10-22. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  34. ^ “Meet Licypriya Kangujam, The Indian Climate Activist”. SheThePeople.TV. 2020-01-29. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  35. ^ “Licypriya Kangujam kicks off worldwide protest, demands on climate action”. Pragativadi. 2019-10-22. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  36. ^ “Licypriya Kangujam launches solution to curb air pollution”. Pragativadi. 2019-11-04. Retrieved 2019-11-04.
  37. ^ “8 yr olds solution to tackle air pollution”. Pragativadi. 2019-11-05. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  38. ^ “8-years-old Licypriya Kangujam launched solution to curb air pollution”. The Northeast Today. 2019-11-05. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  39. ^ “Time to act against pollution, says 8-yr-old climate activist”. The Tribune. 2019-11-05. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  40. ^ “UN Chief lavishes praise on India’s 8-yr-old activist”. Deccan Herald. 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
  41. ^ “India’s 8-yr-old activist at COP25 reminder of world’s obligations to future generations:UN Chief”. Outlook. 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
  42. ^ Greta Thunberg; et al. (2020-01-10). “At Davos we will tell world leaders to abandon the fossil fuel economy”. The Guardian. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  43. ^ “At Davos we will tell world leaders to abandon the fossil fuel economy”. World Economic Forum. 2020-01-10. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
  44. ^ “BBC World Service – BBC OS, BBC OS, How I became an 8-year-old climate activist”. BBC. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
  45. ^ “Join Celebrities, Musicians, Activists and the Pope for an All-Digital Earth Day and 24 Hours of Action”. Cincinnati CityBeat. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
  46. ^ “Join Celebrities, Musicians, Activists and the Pope for an All-Digital Earth Day and 24 Hours of Action”. Condé Nast Traveller. Retrieved 2020-02-09.

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