A 17- year- old- boy Arjun, resident of Badiyar village, Bhilangana in Tehri district, proved it again that Uttarakhand is a land of the brave hearts who are capable of braving any challenge, be it from the wild beasts or others, when it comes to saving near and dear ones.
He saved his mother from imminent death when he pounced upon a leopard that sprang upon her in their residence with a sickle. Scared by the incredible courage on the part of the boy, the big cat took to its heels, leaving his screaming mother and their domestic cattle behind. Arjun has been selected for the National Bravery Awards 2015. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will bestow him with the coveted award on January 26 on the occasion of the country’s Republic Day.
The incident happened on July 16 2014 when Vikrama Devi was feeding their cattle at their residence in the village located in the vicinity of the forest. Prowling for prey, the big cat crouched over the woman. It leapt on her. When it was about to drag her the son, alarmed by his mother’s scream, rushed in. Seeing the horrid scene, he lost no time and attacked the beast with a sickle.
Taken aback by the boy’s desperate gesture, the big cat left Vikrama Devi and sprang upon the cattle tethered there. Arjun picked up a stick and he chased the beast in a fit of furious rage. According to the eye-witnesses, the beast waited for half a moment, eyes showing bewilderment, and, discretion proving the better part of valour, it decided to flee the spot.
The villagers said the boy’s courage in the face of the blood-chilling challenge is exemplary. They say they are exulted that the boy from the village would be bestowed with the bravery award for his rare feat. “Ours is a precarious existence, always under the shadow of death due to the beasts crouching around,” one of the villagers said.