Crime Patrol: Two daredevils turn daily wagers (Episode 160 on 28th Sep 2012)

PART 1


PART 2

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The Inside Story

Bravehearts Forgotten: Ratul and Rituparna

Ratul Chandra Rabha and Rituparna Boro were just students of Class VIII and X respectively, when they chased and helped nab one of the ULFA militants who had killed their teacher at a school in Assam's Kamrup district in 2004. The duo received the National Bravery Award for their courageous act, but soon had to give up on their education due to their families' weak financial backgrounds. Today, they are daily wage earners struggling to make ends meet, barely earning enough to sustain their families.

Ratul joined several recruitment rallies of the Indian Army, but was not selected despite showing his bravery award credentials. Rituparna had hoped to get a job in the Indian Army or the state police department but has been unable to secure a government job despite appealing to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and other politicians. Their families hardly earn Rs 2000-3000 per month and have been living hand to mouth for years.

The bravery award may have brought them much recognition and media attention, but it did not change their lives for the better. Ratul and Rituparna continue to live in the hope that their appeal for help reaches the right ears and that their bravery is recognized and rewarded in a meaningful way.

Recalling the incident the duo told TSI, “We could not tolerate somebody shooting our beloved teacher. So, we ran behind the extremists and managed to nab one of them. Later, we were informed that we had been selected for the National Bravery Award. We were both very happy.”

Sadly, even though both kids received the highest national honour for their courageous act and were swamped by media and press interviews for months after, they were just as quickly forgotten. Barely a few years after receiving the bravery award, both children had to give up on their education because of the weak financial backgrounds of their respective families.

Today, both Ratul (20) and Rituparna (22) are daily wage earners barely making ends meet. Ratul in fact feels that the awards and certificates are of “no value” to him now because his life condition remains as miserable as ever. Not that Ratul did not give it a fair try. He joined several recruitment rallies of the Indian Army, but was not selected despite showing his bravery award credentials. As a result, he is forced to work on daily wages at a sand bank near his house. He makes barely Rs 120 per day to sustain his family of six. “After receiving the bravery award I thought that I will at least get a government job. But my dream has not come true,” Ratul told TSI.

Rituparna is also not happy with the way his life has turned out. Although proud of having met President Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his life as daily wage earner and the dilapidated mud hut he calls home, seems to have taken the sheen out of his once heroic life. “I had hoped that after getting the award I will get a job in the Indian Army or the state police department. I have even appealed to the Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and other politicians for help. Every body has given me assurance only. But nobody has been able to give me a government job,” he grumbles, shaking his head morosely.

Highlighting the family's economic situation, Rituparna's aging father Bijoy Boro wishes that the state had helped his son get a decent government job. "We hardly earn Rs 2000-3000 per month with our daily efforts and have been living hand to mouth for years now,” he shares with TSI.

Today, Ratul and Rituparna continue to live in the hope that their appeal for help reaches the right ears. Bravery like hope can sometimes be eternal.

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