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National Bravery Awards for 17 children

The National Bravery Award-winning children at the PM's house

     New Delhi: Seventeen children have been felicitated and awarded by the government for their exemplary acts of bravery. They were taken out for an elephant ride on Rajpath on Republic Day. They also received awards and gifts from President A P J Abdul Kalam. At a function organized at the Prime Minister's residence, these children were introduced to national leaders. "Such type of bravery that has been shown at the spur of moment, such type of the bravery that encourages others, I really congratulate these children. I am proud of them and I salute them," said the Prime Minister.

     Six children from India's seven north-eastern states were among those who won this year's bravery awards. Ratul Chandra Rabha and Rituparno Boro from Assam were given the top honour of Bharat Award for displaying exemplary courage in nabbing a fleeing militant. The whole country is proud of them. Seventeen-year old Master Putijungshi from Nagaland along with his friends saved the life of a person who was caught in a landslide. Without caring for his own safety he pulled out a middle-aged man from cascading rubble coming down with a mountain stream. Ten-year-old Seidalyne Mawtyllup from Meghalaya won the prestigious Geeta Chopra Award. This girl overawed by media attention saved her sister from fire. Her three-year-old sister was trapped inside a burning hut, and Seidalyne entered the burning house, covered her sister with a shawl and brought her out safely. Kumari Seidalyne Mawtyllup, Bravery award winner from Meghalaya said: "I feel proud for honour given by the Government of India...I want to be an army officer." "I am very happy. I am feeling nice to get the award...When I grow up I want to be an army officer," said the enthusiastic Putijungshi, Bravery award winner from Nagaland. Ten-year-old Kumari Leitanthem Pusparani Devi from Manipur is bravery personified, with childish face and steely determination. She saved a two-year-old. When she heard the cry of the drowning boy from a nearby pond she jumped in, swam towards the boy for about fifteen feet and brought out the semi conscious boy. While Nelson Karam, from Manipur, swam across a strong current about fifteen to twenty feet down stream and pulled out a drowning boy to safety.

     The two awardees from Assam were the cynosure of all eyes. Master Ratul Chandra Prabha and Master Rituparna Boro represented the modern face of Assam. They also represented the anguish of younger generation that has been affected by the culture of violence and uncertainty that the state has been thrown into by the separatist outfits like the ULFA. Rituparno Boro said: "This is the story of the tenth month of 2004. Militants called one of my teachers outside the school and shot him, when the militants started running away we chased them then the militants fired back at us students. Then Ratul moved ahead of me, Ratul went after the militants from one side and I moved from the other side, we saw that the militants are climbing on the mountain. Ratul went after the militants from one side and I from other side. Then Ratul threw a stone on one of the militants he fell down, and then we caught him and started beating him. We brought him down from the mountain and handed him over to the villagers and police." "Whatever militants are doing is bad. They beat up people, they ask for ransom. In the 2004 Dhemaji blast several small kids lost their lives. We the people of India want to get rid of the militants. This is the problem of not only Assam but the whole of the world. We want to live in peace." For these brave boys coming to the capital from the distant Kamrup district of Assam was a wonderful experience. They enjoyed the attention they got in Delhi. Master Ratul Chandra Rabha, another Bravery award winner from Assam said: "I felt happy meeting people. After getting a good education I want to serve the country through the army. I am an Indian and it's my duty to serve the country." The month-long stay in Delhi for these children from northeastern states has been a wonderful experience. They got to meet people from different parts of the country and realized what unity in diversity, a hallmark of the nation, really means.

      Welcoming the national bravery awardees to his official residence, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said that it takes courage to be honest, diligent and self- reliant. "We are here to recognize the bravery of some of our young friends. Bravery shown in the face of adversity. Bravery shown in an unexpected moment. Bravery that was spontaneous. Bravery that was truly inspiring. I compliment them. I feel proud of them. I salute them," said Dr Singh. However, he said, that for every one child whose bravery was being rewarded now, "There are many, many more across our vast land who have shown bravery, courage and honesty in their own way, in their daily lives." Re-emphasising the importance of Republic Day, he said it is a day on which the great sacrifices of "our forefathers and our freedom fighters" are recalled. "I want each one of you to remember that your bravery today will not go in vain. It is never wasted. Future generations will thank you, because the good that you do lives beyond you. There are many aspects to bravery. Bravery is not just about fighting bad people. Bravery is not just about saving a person. Bravery is also about telling the truth and facing the consequences of doing so. Bravery is about working hard to be able to stand on your own feet," the Prime Minister said. "Many times we are tempted to do wrong things. Many times we are tempted to tell lies. Many times we are tempted to be lazy and make others work for us. But, when we resist such temptations, we are being brave. It takes courage to be honest, diligent and self-reliant," he added. Chairperson of Indian Council for Child Welfare, Sonia Gandhi, Human Resource Development Minister, Arjun Singh, Minister of State in Department of Women and Child Development, Kanti Singh and Andal Damodaran and Geeta Siddharth of Indian Council of Child Welfare were among those present on the occasion.
Jan 28, 2006

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