51 Children Winners of National Bravery Award (On the Republic Day)

Renu Saran

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51 Children Winners of National Bravery Award By : Renu Saran

Preface ‘Fortune favours the brave’ - this adage had turned true in case of many little brave hearts of India. This book has been penned to honour unparalleled spirit of kids who may still be years away from attaining adulthood, but their acts can serve as paradigms to even the bravest of the land. They constitute India’s future. According to Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India, “The future of the country is safe in hands of children like these.” Little brave hearts who saved lives, sometimes at the cost of their own, deserve an honor. In this book, we cover brief accounts of inspirational stories of 51 brave children of India who displayed exemplary courage in saving life of others and some even sacrificed their lives in this attempt. Nothing has been proved about what it is that drives young boys and girls to put their lives at risk just to save someone’s life whom they don’t even know. These are reallife stories of small children belonging to different states of India – individuals not quite different from us – who stood up for those in distress.

We have also covered some tips to instill the feeling of courage and confidence in children right from an early age. Diamond Books undertake extreme pride in bringing you these inspirational real life stories of ‘Brave Hearts’ of India who have been conferred with National Bravery Award under different categories. We hope you like our sincere attempt to pay a tribute to these courageous children. Happy Reading! – Renu Saran

Contents 1. The Importance of Rewarding Children 7 2. Bravery Award Culture in India 9 3. The Spirit of the Republic Day

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4. History of Gallantry Award in India

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5. 51 Winners of National Bravery Award

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6. List of Other Brave Hearts

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7. Tips to Instill Bravery & Confidence in your Children 105 8. Helpful Tips to Teach Your Children to Be Brave 108 9. Self-Defense – A Must Have Tool for Children 110 10. How to Apply for National Bravery Awards 112 11. Famous Inspirational Quotes on Bravery

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The Importance of Rewarding Children Children are the future of a country. Their upbringing can have a great impact on what they grow up to be. Punishments have been an integral part of parenting since ancient age. “Spare the rod and spoil the child” – this adage is literally followed by parents for ages. However, times have changed and it is important for parents to change with time. Let’s face it! Punishments alone aren’t effective in taming someone. Sometimes, reprimands and rebuffs can inculcate feelings of hatred and revenge in a child. Rewards work better than punishments. Most child developmental experts will advise parents to ignore a child's bad behavior and reward their good behavior. Of course, as a parent you know that this is easier said than done. Bad behavior is extremely irritating. Most parents find it impossible to ignore bad behavior since they believe it is their responsibility to rectify their child's misconduct. Ignoring it may appear as failing to fulfill one's responsibility as a parent. Despite how reasonable punishing the child for misconduct sounds, it works out as a destructive element for his overall growth. Rewards are more effective than punishment. Studies have proved that rewarding children for good behavior and achievement is crucial for self esteem, and provides motivation for children to go on with this positive course of action. Trophies, medals, certificates, recognition, fame, and other systems of reward act as great reinforcements for children. Many a time, it becomes extremely crucial to promote children to repeat good behavior, most importantly acts of bravery. 51 Children Winners of National Bravery Award

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Children gain self-confidence and feeling of security from being rewarded. This works towards instilling good behavior in them. As a parent, you can give away the reward straight after the act of bravery. This will help the child know that that you are happy with them. Rewards will inspire children and allow them focus.

How to Reward your Child Start by give them a tight hug, a pat on their back or a kiss as a token of appreciation. It is definitely a fabulous idea to start small. Try making a chart. Know what your child loves the most and prepare a list of rewards. Start giving away these rewards according to the level of achievements made by the child. Now the most important thing to do is to know where to draw a line. You must be cautious about going overboard with rewarding. If you give rewards too frequently, for everything and anything good they do, they may become dependent on rewards. They might not feel like doing something if you don’t reward them for it. Your child should learn to do things without any greed or temptations. Don’t let them recognize bribes as the base of good deeds. Rewarding should come as a gesture. Children should be encouraged towards indulging in selfless services.

Benefits of Rewarding Kids

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Enhances self esteem Motivates them to perform better Boosts confidence Helps child achieve fame Recognition Instills feeling of security 51 Children Winners of National Bravery Award

Bravery Award Culture in India Bravery Award for children in India is a social responsibility initiative to honor brave individuals from different states. These awards are presented by the Prime Minister of India each year on the Republic Day. The journey, since its inception in the year 1957, has been wonderful. More than thousands of children have been awarded for their exemplary acts of bravery. These brave children do not come from a specific class of society. In fact, children from all walks of life have been awarded for their unimaginable brave acts. Right from fighting off the most dangerous animals to jumping into fire, railway tracks and facing terrorists, these children have set an example for adults who may not be capable of displaying courage during adverse situations of life. Many children have risked their lives to save those whom they have never met in their life. The award winners and their unique stories encourage citizens of India to imbibe the spirit of bravery in their daily life. These initiatives have been taken to promote the values of courage and empowerment in society. Apart from awarding the kids with medals and trophies, they are also given recognition and fame. Many have also been offered help from the government of India for studies and other spheres of life. The National Bravery Awards of India are an attempt to bring extraordinary spirit of the ordinary child into the limelight. The idea is to encourage the uncommon spirit of physical valor and spirit for humanitarian deeds. The purpose 51 Children Winners of National Bravery Award

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of these awards is to instill amongst children of India, the culture of selfless, humane action. These initiatives have also facilitated empowerment of many children directly. National Bravery Awards of India are not restricted to a specific state or region. Since inception in the year 1957, these awards have encompassed almost every state of India – Mizoram, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Haryana, Manipur, Assam, Uttaranchal, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Goa, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu Kashmir, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The ceremony of awarding children on an auspicious day in the presence of many dignitaries inspire selflessness, courage and hope to continue with the fearless act and serve the humanity. Each year, the ceremony is conducted with great pomp and show. The children get time to talk to the Prime Minister of India, ride on bedecked elephants amidst deafening rounds of applause and a trip to children’s park. Undoubtedly, the initiative is a program that honors the devotion and spirit of bravery of the little wonders of the country. The idea of giving away these awards is to celebrate the amazing commitment of unsung heroes from everyday life. These are the future caretakers of India who hold immense courage and spirit to provide dedicated services for others.

The ICCW Involvement The National Awards for Bravery programme was started in the year 1957 by the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW). The interest was to recognize and honor children who have performed exceptional deeds of bravery

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51 Children Winners of National Bravery Award

and selfless sacrifice. Each year, the ICCW confers these awards to children below 16 years of age.

Applications Applications for National Awards for Bravery are acknowledged from Central or State government departments, Panchayats, Zila Parishads, school authorities. These are also approved from the State and Union Territory councils for child welfare.

The Selection The selection procedure is undertaken and managed by a special committee constituted by the ICCW. The committee comprises of representatives from the Secretariats of the President and the Vice-President, various ministries. Dignitaries from the Central Social Welfare Board, police, All India Radio, Doordarshan and leading NGOs including the National Bal Bhavan, SOS, Children's Villages of India, R K Mission and experienced ICCW members are also a part of this committee.

The Declaration The prestigious awards are announced each year on November 14 (Children's Day) and the Prime Minister of India presents the awards on the auspicious eve of the Republic Day. The awardees receive a medal, certificate for bravery, and cash as a token of their indispensable courage.

Special Assistance for Children In addition to recognition, certificates, and other tokens of appreciation, some of the children are also granted 51 Children Winners of National Bravery Award

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financial assistance to complete their schooling. This facility is provided under the guidance of ‘ICCW's sponsorship programme’. Children are also offered assistance for various professional courses such as medical and engineering (under the Indira Gandhi scholarship scheme). Sometimes, assistance is also provided to children till they complete their graduation. Since many children come from backgrounds where their parents and guardians are unable to take care of their studies and other requirements, it becomes an obligation for the nation to support them. This is an attempt to keep their spirits high.

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51 Children Winners of National Bravery Award

The Spirit of the Republic Day Celebration of sovereignty is what Republic Day celebration signifies. It is definitely one of India's great national festivals. It is celebrated every year on 26th January, in New Delhi with great pomp and pageant. Special preparations are made in capital of the country to display the spirit of sovereignty. Different states of the country, headquarters, and various other important places celebrate this significant day with patriotic fervor. The idea is to celebrate India's freedom and democracy. Officially, Republic Day is celebrated all over the nation and observed as a national holiday. The festivities for this significant day of the country are broader than Independence Day. The parade in New Delhi is definitely a grand affair. Different branches of the armed forces, the police, National Cadet Corps, and students from schools and institutions across the nation participate in it. Montages displaying cultures and traditions of various states are put up. One of the major attractions is the display of the latest armaments the nation has acquired. The Republic Day parade starts from India Gate and proceeds through Rajpath. Additionally, there are many interesting cultural programs performed by children from various schools. The programs clearly depict the fervor among children of India to be a part of a significant day and celebrate it to the hilt. Republic Day is also the time when exemplary achievements by the army of India, the police and even the common man are recognized and rewarded. The awards are conferred to individuals throughout the country. Soldiers who 51 Children Winners of National Bravery Award

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have performed exceptionally in the battlefield and those who have attained martyrdom in the services of motherland are awarded with the prestigious bravery medals: Param Veer Chakra Veer Chakra Maha Veer Chakra The major attraction of the Republic Day celebration is the Children's Bravery Awards. These awards are conferred on children who have displayed extraordinary courage to save lives or fight for their own rights. Special programs are organized for the awardees to make them feel special. The children are awarded with medals, certificates, and cash prize. The essence of Republic Day celebration is not just to commemorate secularism and democracy of India but also to make each citizen of India feel proud of their culture, languages, heritage, social norms, traditions, religions, customs, communitarian, and the individual uniqueness that makes up the country a multi-cultural land. It is the spirit of celebrating together and enjoying brotherhood that makes people feel proud of the country. The grand achievements also work towards making the celebration all the more interesting. This is actually the day when people of India get together and proudly identify themselves as true Indians. This is the time when they forget about belonging to a specific state, religion, or caste. This feeling of unity and pride for the country is what makes this day a special one for citizens. It actually makes the day unique from the rest of the days. Republic Day is the day that guarantees the Fundamental Rights to each citizen of India. It also promises equality of religion and everything that makes the country, one big happy family. The rich cultural heritage and tradition that has been a part of India for many centuries is reflected on this day.

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51 Children Winners of National Bravery Award

History of Gallantry Award in India The art of appreciating the brave and gallant is not new. These extraordinary individuals form one of the most important constituents of a nation’s stability. Since ancient times, gallantry had commanded respect and appreciation. It would not be wrong to say that the concept of emancipation of the valiant is cognizant in our Epics too. During the era of the Mahabharata, bravery was considered as the most important asset for mankind. In fact, the merit of dying as a martyr for a noble cause (Dharma) was considered as the easiest way to heaven. Dying as a martyr in the battle field was regarded as glorious.

National Bravery Award for Indian Children The National Bravery Awards for children are one of the most prestigious civil awards in India. The awards were incepted in 1957 by the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW). They recognize and honor children who perform exceptional deeds of valor and selfless sacrifice and are conferred to children below 16 years of age. The awardees receive a cash prize, a medal and a certificate as a symbol of their courage. In addition to this, some of them are also granted financial assistance to complete their schooling and professional courses such as medicine and engineering. The award system is series of five awards. These awards are conferred to the children of India each year by the Government of India and Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW), to felicitate their meritorious acts of bravery 51 Children Winners of National Bravery Award

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