Twenty-five children who showed immense courage by saving lives have been honoured with the National Bravery Awards 2016. They received a medal, citation and cash from PM Narendra Modi and will also get to participate in the Republic Day parade. Four of them lost their lives while saving others and have received the award posthumously. NIE brings you the stories of their extraordinary valour, inspirational acts of courage and the indomitable will to help others...

• The National Awards to Children for bravery scheme was started 59 years ago in 1957 when two children, a boy and a girl were first rewarded for their exemplary presence of mind and courage. Since then, the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW) has been giving the National Awards for Bravery every year to children from various parts of the country. The awards are given in 5 different categories. Bharat Award: Instituted in 1987 and awarded to exceptionally outstanding gallantry deed; Geeta Chopra Award: Instituted in 1978 and given to a girl; Sanjay Chopra Award: Instituted in 1978 and given to a boy; Bapu Gaidhani Awards (three): Instituted in 1988 and given to 3 children

Tejasweeta Pradhan

Age: 18, State: Darjeeling, West Bengal

The bubbly Tejasweeta Pradhan aspires to become a photojournalist. But there is more to her than her dreams. She, along with the NGO Marg, and another girl Shivani Gond, helped the police uncover an international sex racket. "We befriended a missing girl from Nepal on Facebook and laid a trap that led to the nabbing of the kingpin," narrates Tejasweeta. 

Her Mantra: Once you are aware, you are less vulnerable to abuse. Together, we can.

Shivani Gond

Age: 17, State: Darjeeling, West Bengal

A shy Shivani Gond took time to open up about the sensational case that had led to the arrest of the head of the international sex trafficker in Delhi. But her quiet determination speaks volumes. She and Tejasweeta were successful in their aim of bringing to task the people who lure girls from West Bengal and Nepal into flesh trade. Ask her if she was scared while executing the plan and she says, "We had a plan B – to run away as fast as we could but the desire to save innocent girls and get the criminals arrested gave us the courage to go ahead." She aspires to join the IPS and work for the safety of women. 

Her Mantra: I want to work for women's empowerment. Girls should never think they are weak.  

Late Tarh Peeju

Age: 9, State: Arunachal Pradesh

The pretty child in the blue dress (in the picture) belies her petite looks. Tarh Peeju has won the Bharat Award but is not alive to narrate her tale of valour. She died while saving two of her friends from drowning in the river but was herself swept away in the undercurrent. Her father — the stoic Tarh Dhama - collected the posthumous award for his late daughter. He fondly recalls her “love for outdoor spots”. She was a brave and fearless girl who liked helping those in need, he added.

Sumit Mamgain 

Age: 16, State: Uttarakhand

My first instinct was to run away,” admits the shy Sumit Mamgain, while narrating the experience of saving his cousin from a leopard. He overcame his fear and fought the leopard with a chopper, after which the wild animal fled the scene. Rising to the occasion surely made him a winner. 

His Mantra: If you overcome your fears, you become a confident person. Sometimes it’s just about trusting yourself.             

Sonu Mali

Age: 10, State: Rajasthan, class III

People are calling me  a hero but I just acted on the spur of the moment. During our joint class that had 70 students of my school sitting together on the ground, a huge black cobra entered a rolled up mat that was kept nearby. After the school was over, the students tried to keep the mat somewhere else; this enraged the snake and it took position to attack a schoolmate. When I saw this, I jumped and pulled the boy away. 

Message: To help those in need is the best service to humanity. I want to become an officer or join an NGO after completing my studies. 

Praful Sharma

(Age: 12, State: Himachal Pradesh, class VIII)

While returning from a tour in Dharamshala, in a bus, a child tinkered with the breaks. It was just like in the movies: the gear shifted and the bus started moving downhill. All the people inside the bus shouted for help. I know a bit of driving, so I jumped to the driver’s seat, applied the brakes and stopped the bus. I don’t know how I did it – it was just spontaneous. 

Message: I am still figuring out about the career I want to choose but I like reading and debating. 

Neelam Dhruv

(Age: 8, State: Chhattisgarh, class III)

I was bathing with my four-year-old friend in a pond when she accidentally slipped and fell into the deep water. I was scared for a moment but immediately jumped into the 8-feet pond, managed to catch hold of her hair and pulled her out safely. It was exhausting and risky, but I had to do it. 

Message: When you have to do something, just do it. Don’t think for long, don’t procrastinate for sure, or it may be too late. 

Thanghilmang Lunkim

(Age: 11, State: Nagaland, class VII)

There are many rivers and bridges in my state (Nagaland). One afternoon, when I was coming home from school, I saw a man in the 5-feet-deep river drowning below the bridge. After swimming for almost 120 metres, I managed to pull him to safety. Helping him seemed the most instinctive and natural thing to do.  

Tankeshwar Pegu

(Age: 17, State: Assam, class X)

Since I have learnt some swimming, my life skill saved my sister-in-law’s life when the boat we were on capsized due to heavy rainfall. I managed to rescue her and save myself as well. I would like to become an engineer when I grow up.

Siya Vamansa Khode

(Age: 11, State: Karnataka, class VII)

I saw my four-year-old brother lying unconscious on our rooftop – he had come in contact with a live wire. I pulled his shirt with all my might, after which he got detached from the wire and fell, and so did I. We were rushed to hospital. Both of us survived. 

Message: Put your loved ones before yourself when they need you. Life is precious and beautiful. 

Mohan Sethy

(Age: 12, State: Odisha, class VII)

My best friend was caught in the strong currents of River Genguti. Since there was no one around, I plunged into the river with a napkin in my hand. I asked my friend to grab one end of the napkin and with great difficulty dragged him towards the bank.  

Moirangthem Sadananda Singh

(Age: 15, State: Manipur, class X)

It was a rainy day when my mother suffered an electric shock due to a short circuit. She was also engulfed in flames. I handed a wooden curtain rod for her to hold and get back on her feet. But she fainted after standing for a second. Next I got a thick blanket to cover her and simultaneously shouted for help. Some people rushed in and took my mother to hospital. 

Adithyan MP Pillai

(Age: 15, State: Kerala, class IX)

I was bathing in River Pamba (third largest river in Kerala) when I heard some kids shouting for help. Three children in the age group of 10 to 15 years were drowning. I jumped into the 11-feet-deep water and managed to save all of them. It is definitely the biggest achievement of my life.

Binil Manjaly 

(Age: 16, State: Kerala, class XI)

I was coming home after attending a programme with my family in our car when I noticed a 10-year-old boy running around asking for help. When we stopped, the boy told us that three of his family members had fallen into the 20-feet-deep canal. I jumped into the canal and saved a woman and also searched for the other two. Unfortunately they had perished. 

Message: I want to become an IAS officer and serve people.

Akhil K Shibu

(Age: 17, State: Kerala, class XII)

I was playing football with my friends on the shores of River Pampa when I heard the cries of someone drowning in the deep waters. I jumped into the 12-metre-deep river to save the person’s life but we both were going to drown. Somehow, I managed to go under the water and push him towards the shore. 

Naman 

(Age: 17, State: Delhi, class XII)

During the summer holidays at my uncle’s place in Sonepat, Haryana, we went to the Yamuna canal to bathe. While we were having fun, I heard the screams of a child who was struggling to stay afloat. I swam towards the child, getting breathless in the process, but held his waist tightly and carried him towards the bank. Luckily, we both came back unharmed. 

Badrunissa KP

(Age: 16, State: Kerala, class XII)

My friend was drowning in our village pond when her mother jumped into the water to save her and started drowning too. Seeing this, I dived into the 20-feet-deep pond and pulled them to safety.

Nisha Dilip Patil

(Age: 17, State: Maharashtra, class XII)

People are hailing this as a valiant act but for me it was the most ‘humane’ thing to do. I heard a baby crying and rushed to my neighbour’s house. The house was on fire, with the six-month baby alone in a cradle that was fixed to the ceiling. By the time I opened the door to pick up the baby, the fire had spread rapidly. Even though I was scared, I managed to pick up the baby and rush out of the burning house while the villagers tried to put the fire out. 

Message: Help others, especially kids, who are innocent, special, and the future of the country. It is not easy but the effort is worth it. 

Akshita Sharma and Akshit Sharma

(Age: 17 and 14, State: Delhi, class: XII and VIII)

One day we returned from school to find the locks of our home broken. We saw two thieves inside the house and raised an alarm. One thief escaped from the balcony but we fought with the other one and nabbed him.

Message: We are normal kids (Akshit wants to be a CA and Akshita aspires to be an IPS officer) but we are not powerless. Kids are strong. 

Anshika Pandey

(Age: 15, State: Uttar Pradesh, class XI)

I  was kidnapped and put into a car when a man tried to pour acid in my eyes. I fought hard to save myself, the acid dropped inside the car. The man tried to injure me with a knife but I managed to get out.

Message: Don’t let one incident affect the child and curtail their independence. Let them be free. 

Winner of Bapu Gaidhani Award

Tushar Verma

(Age: 16, State: Chhattisgarh, class X)

I was having dinner when I heard a loud scream. My neighbour’s house was on fire and he was trapped inside with his wife. Some cattle in the shed were also trapped. I climbed on top of the shed, took water and tried to douse the flames. It took me three hours to bring it under control. I received burn injuries but I managed to extinguish the deadly fire.