From Ronald Stone Syiem
NONGSTOIN: A 14-year-old boy from a remote village in West Khasi Hills will receive the National Bravery Award for Children on Republic Day.
The honour for Betshwajohn Lyngdoh Peinlang of Kaitkohram was for his display of rare courage when he saved the life of his three-year-old brother, Arbius Lyngdoh Peinlang.
Narrating the story on behalf of his son, Disidarius Myrthong said the two brothers were cooking sweet potatoes when a fire broke out around 12.30 in the afternoon. “The children ran out of the house, built of straw, but the three-year-old went back inside. By that time, the entire house was on flames. Betshwajohn did not waste time and plunged into the flames to save his brother,” he said.
Their mother, Makdalin Lyngdoh Peinlang, had gone to a stream nearby to wash clothes.
Myrthong further said that Betshwajohn carried the toddler to a nearby cattle shed till the neighbours came for help. Both the children had sustained burn injuries.
Asked about the honour, Betshwajohn said he was excited to receive the award as he did not expect it.
“I’m not excited that my son is receiving the award. But I am very happy that they are both alive and I thank God for it,” an emotional Myrthong told this correspondent.
Accompanied by his father, Betshwajohn will leave Shillong for New Delhi on Tuesday.
Joseph Kharmaw, the headman of Kaitkohram told The Shillong Times that after the incident, the village dorbar met the BDO of Nongstoin C&RD Block and the MLA of Nongstoin, Diosstarness Jyndiang and urged them to help the family as they had no place to stay. But help has not come to the family till date.
