The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : ‘Bravehearts’ get their due

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 01, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

‘Bravehearts’ get their due

Staff Reporter

Godfrey Phillips Bravery Awards presented

Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

Pretty sight: Bollywood actress Preity Zinta giving away the Godfrey Phillips Bravery Award on Tuesday. -

HYDERABAD: Whether it was a flash of timely wisdom and courage or a life devoted for a cause that earned them fame, the winners of Godfrey Phillips Bravery Awards for the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Orissa deserved every moment of their glory Tuesday.

For 35-year-old Bikash Chand Mondal it was a swim against destiny.

As a coastguard cook, he was asked to rescue the Government officials stranded in flood waters of Mahanadi. Displaying extraordinary courage and presence of mind Bikash saved the officers from drowning when the boat they were travelling capsized.

The story does not end here.

“I turned the boat to realise that it could not be steered anymore. With quick thought, I tied it to a palm tree and kept my friend on guard. Then I swam to another tree, tied the rope and dragged the boat. I persisted with it till we reached safety,” said Bikash.

He got a silver medal in Physical Bravery section. The gold was announced posthumously to Biswanath Ghosh from West Bengal who was hacked to death after he objected to girls being harassed.

The bronze went to Jagannath Behera from Orissa while the Special award was given to our own Bhushaiah, a constable from Chikkadpally Police Station who was already in news after saving a mother and her child from being drowned.

Former Governor of Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka V.S. Ramadevi gave away the awards at a function also attended by film actress and Godfrey Phillips Bravery Ambassador Preity Zinta.

The latter will lead the company’s Blood donation and Women’s Empowerment initiatives, a representative of Bravery Awards said.

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