Hanboklang Nongsiej. Age 13. West Khasi Hills, Meghalaya Bapu Gayadhani Award 'I ran through the flames' Hanboklang Nongsiej has reason to smile. The shy 13-year-old orphan from Meghalaya has been awarded the Bapu Gayadhani Award, the third highest national bravery award for children. A 2nd standard student in a government primary school in Ponkung village, in a remote corner of the West Khasi Hills district, Hanboklang lost his parents when he was just seven, and has been living with his maternal grandmother and aunt since then. While he enjoys playing football and occasionally cricket, he is an avid television and movie buff. Madhuri Dixit is his favourite star while Sachin Tendulkar is his favourite sportsman. He has no particular dreams, but believes being an engineer is very good. Since Hanboklang cannot speak English or Hindi, his maternal uncle, who escorted him to Delhi, translates his story: I was playing nearby when my maternal uncle Raw Nongsiej's house caught fire. It was January 5, 2000, around noon. My uncle was not there and aunty too was working in the fields nearby. Their nine-month-old son was inside the house. When my aunt saw the house on fire, she started shouting for help. But though all our neighbours gathered there, the flames were very high and nobody was going in to bring my cousin out. I love him very much so I thought I had to get him out, or he would be burnt. (The boy smiles a shy smile, as he says this.) I ran into the house through the flames, and found my cousin crying. I took him into my arms and covered him with a shawl. The flames singed a bit of my hair, and I could feel them on my face. But I ran very fast and came out safe with him. (smiles again) My aunt hugged me and kissed me. Everyone was very happy. The news appeared in the local newspapers.Then my uncle took that to some office. (His uncle elaborates: I took it to the deputy commissioner's and social welfare office. Then I filled his form for the national bravery award.) My relatives and teachers told me you could get an award for this in Delhi. I was very happy knowing that. And one day (November 14), uncle came and told me I had got the award. I was thrilled. My grandmother and aunt, all my friends, were very happy. My neighbours came to our house and congratulated me. I was very happy. Later, uncle told me we had to go to Delhi to receive the award. So we came. This is my first visit to Delhi, and I like it very much. The people here were very good to me. They took my photos, and the children were taken to Appu Ghar and other big parks. I enjoyed myself a lot there. The award is great as it gives you a chance to meet the prime minister. To go to the Republic Day Parade, sit on an elephant there. As told to Basharat Peer Next: Someone who believed in compassion, courage and life: Lalniliana, winner of the National Bravery Award, posthumously Tell us what you think of this feature
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