Vivek Purkayastha being felicitated at the ICCW office

Dec. 5: On Republic Day next year, when city boy Vivek Purkayastha receives the Bapu Gayadhani National Bravery Award from President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, he will be doing us all very proud.

Apart from taking pride in Vivek’s act of courage, it is also gratifying to know that a youngster from Assam will be receiving this particular award after about a decade.

Sadly though, the pride is tinged with sorrow. For in the incident in which young Vivek showed “courage in a moment of crisis”, he lost his father at the hands of armed dacoits.

“On June 22 this year, in the dead of night, a gang of six armed dacoits broke into our Bhangagarh residence and demanded that all the money and ornaments be handed over to them. When we refused, the robbers hit me on the head with a sharp weapon,” recalled Shiela Purkayastha, Vivek’s mother, her eyes misting over in sorrow.

Hearing her cry out, Vivek’s father, Bijoy Purkayastha stepped in between the robbers and his wife, only to be stabbed several times in the stomach.

Vivek, who was asleep in next room, rushed out on hearing the commotion, caught hold of one while raising an alarm for help. The dacoits took off in the face of the young boy’s courage.

Vivek and the neighbours, jolted out of sleep, chased the fleeing gang and succeeded in nabbing one member, which later led to the arrest of two more — all from Phulbari in Meghalaya.

A Class X student of Maharishi Vidya Mandir, Borsojoi, Vivek was recently felicitated by the Indian Council for Child Welfare, Assam state branch, for being conferred the national bravery award. He was also awarded by several voluntary organisations and given financial assistance under the Indira Gandhi scholarship scheme.

The Bapu Gayadhani award ranks fourth in the national bravery awards list and includes a silver medal, certificate and a cash prize.

The main objective of the award is to give due recognition to children who perform acts of bravery so that they would inspire other children to follow their example.

“I am proud of my son’s brave act and also the fact that he has been chosen for the prestigious award. However, each time the award is mentioned we are reminded about the ghastly incident and the grief of losing a loving husband and father,” said Vivek’s mother.

Shiela Purkayastha, principal of Bal Bhawan, added, “The incident should be an eye-opener for the law-enforcing authorities. They should take steps to see that such incidents do not occur again. No one should ever lose a family member in such a horrifying manner.”

Her only aim now is to make sure that her son lives up to his father’s expectations and that his act of bravery is a source of inspiration for the youths of Assam.