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Gritty kids win bravery awards

Ankit Rai: Haryana’s little big man National bravery award winner Ankit Rai of Haryana along with his parents in New Delhi on Friday. The boy not only managed to escape from the clutches of his kidnappers but also helped the police nab them. The Prime Minister will honour the boy along with others on January 24. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

New Delhi, January 18
She’s all of 13 but when Congress Kanwar of Rajasthan defied her parents’ diktat to tie the knot and stood firm on her determination to study further, she set an example to many others to raise their voice against child marriage. A hero, Kanwar is one of the 22 children to be honoured with the National Bravery award, 2007.

“One day, when I came home after classes, I saw some strangers having lunch at my house. My parents told me that they were marrying me off...I was shocked. But I refused and told the visitors that if they forced me, I would call the police. Scared, they left,” Kanwar said.

“But after that, my parents left no stone unturned to change my mind. They beat me, locked me in the house and heard none of my pleas. Thankfully, some of my teachers visited my house after some days and talked to my parents. After much commotion, they finally understood,” Kanwar told IANS.

To share her experience, Kanwar along with 500 other girls went to Berlin for a conference late last year.

Six-year-old Manas Nishad from Chhattisgarh is another child to be honoured with the bravery award. He wants to become a doctor. “I saved Tomesh when he fell into the water,” he said, as his father stood by beaming with pride.

In February last year, Nishad along with his mother went to the village pond for a bath when three-year old Tomesh, who was playing nearby, suddenly fell into the pond. Although he was no expert swimmer, Nishad jumped in after him and managed to pull him to safety.

Dreaming big, eight-year old Ankit Rai of Haryana, who not only managed to escape from the clutches of his kidnappers but also helped the police nab them, wants to study further and possibly join the defence forces later.

“I want to guard my country,” he said with confidence.

Of the 22 children to be honoured with the National Bravery Award, 18 are boys and four girls. Four of the awards will be given posthumously.

Lalrempuii of Mizoram was one of the children who gave up their lives fighting till the end.

“Lalrempuii was alone in the house when her neighbour sneaked in and tried to rape her. She must have cried for help, but since her house was isolated, no one heard her. She fought valiantly but the man got the better of her and killed her...later he raped her as well,” said Hming Thangmawaii, 14-year-old Lalrempuii’s aunt who was here on her niece’s behalf.

“The police arrested the culprit later and he confessed to the crime,” she added -- sad but, nevertheless, proud of her niece. Lalrempuii will be awarded the Geeta Chopra Award posthumously.

The coveted Bharat Award will be given to 17-year-old Babita and 15-year-old Amarjeet of Haryana who saved the lives of their classmates when their school bus fell into the Yamuna canal.

Initiated by the Indian Council for Child Welfare in 1957, the National Bravery Award has completed 50 years of saluting those kids who, by their sheer grit, courage and determination, have set an example for many to follow. — IANS