Transcending the age barrier

A pair of slippers floating in a pond would have been all that remained of an infant had it not been for a six-year-old’s sharp instincts.

Six years and 9 months old Thoi Thoi Khumanthem, a Class II student of Manipur who took a closer look, jumped into the pond and rescued four-year-old Maison Singh who was drowning. The little girl who showed no fear as she plunged in has been chosen for the National Bravery Award-2009 along with 20 others. Ten-year-old Maibam Prity Devi, also from Manipur saved the lives of several people when she rushed forward to pick up a grenade hurled at her family-owned shop by miscreants.

The other recipients of the National Bravery Award from the North East included Zonunsanga and Lalrammawia both from Mizoram and Dijekshon Syiem from Meghalaya.

The National Bravery Awards were initiated by the Indian Council for Child Welfare to recognise deeds of bravery performed by children.