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Summary: Outlook Speak Out Award Winner Mr. Shamshad Khan, a Ghandhian devoted himself fully for the cause of Hindu dalits. After studying for a M.Sc. (Ag.) from University of Udaipur, Rajasthan in 1972, he got involved in Kanker in Bastar district of M.P. mobilising tribes in their forest and promoting land rights. Outlook Speak Out Award Winner Mr. Shamshad Khan, a Ghandhian devoted himself fully for the cause of Hindu dalits. After studying for a M.Sc. (Ag.) from University of Udaipur, Rajasthan in 1972, he got involved in Kanker in Bastar district of M.P. mobilising tribes in their forest and promoting land rights, which brought about opposition from land and forest mafias. He is also credited for raising issue of child labour and bonded child labour in the carpet industry in early 1980's. At that time, the industry was estimated to employ more than two lacs child labourers, hence child labour was not an issue. For more than 25 years he has been relentlessly pursuing the problem of child labour, bonded child labour, land rights and other legal entitlements, and has made perceptible impact in his project areas in Mirzapur-Bhadohi the carpet belt, where he has been working since 1982 through CREDA. His research on child labour have been widely quoted and referred to. More than 72,000 child labourers have been educationally mainstreamed under his leadership. However, it has not been smooth sailing for him. He went through all sorts of travails and faced numerous threats and allegations from vested interests. It is not easy to relate all the instances but he has remained steadfast and has adopted a constructive approach. He has succeeded in sensitising and mobilising the oppressed and vulnerable in targeted areas in Bihar, M.P. and U.P. Mr. Shamshad Khan was awarded Outlook Speak Out Award, which was presented to him by the Congress President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi on the 8th of October. The Outlook Group instituted the 'Speak Out Award' to honour upright individuals who showed personal courage, integrity and enthusiasm. These men and women stood up for what they believed was just, despite all the odds. The award has been given to six persons, five of whom are women. The objective was to involve readers in nominating unsung people of courage for the Speak Out Awards. Nominations from readers were invited through an extensive campaign in the print and electronic media. Readers/viewers were asked to propose the names of those people they believed spoke out and stood up for a cause.