Fortune’s lost child: Awards fetch no rewards

Fortune favours the few, not the brave. These are the words of a man who once duelled with death to snatch three lives from the jaws of tragedy.

You would not think of looking twice at the mild-mannered Abdul Razzaq C. M., 21, who makes and delivers tea and burgers in a Karama neighbourhood. But an ordinary man he is not.

Selfless courage

A native of Kozhikode in Kerala, India, Abdul Razzaq is the winner of the National Bravery Award 2002, a distinction conferred upon children in India by the Indian Council for Child Welfare for exemplary display of courage and deeds of selfless sacrifice.

On June 21, 2002, Abdul Razzaq, then 15 years old, saved three women from getting electrocuted in a freak incident.

I have to meet the person. I have to find out what his problem is and what his complaint is and look into it and see if there’s anything we can do. Venu Rajamony, Indian Consul General, Dubai

The women were returning home after grazing cattle when a cow suddenly attacked them. Frightened, they tried to run, but one of them accidentally touched a high voltage live electric wire and was caught in the grip of the electric current. The other two tried to rescue her but got stuck themselves instead.

While horrified passers-by watched helplessly, young Abdul Razzaq kept his wits about him and rushed to their rescue with a dry stick. "I started hitting the wire until the three women were freed from it. To date they send me their blessings. They say God will always be kind to me."

Grand ceremony

At a grand ceremony on January 25, 2003, on the eve of India’s Republic Day, the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee presented him with the award in the nation’s capital, New Delhi. Abdul Razzaq was also congratulated by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the then President of India, and other political luminaries, including Sonia Gandhi and Murli Manohar Joshi.

"I felt very proud that day. I was very happy and so was my family. Mr Vajpayee told me that my deeds would inspire courage and hope among kids throughout the country. He promised me a good job after the completion of my education.

"Mr Abdul Kalam patted my back and asked me what I wanted to become when I grew up. I told him I wanted to pursue my education. He asked me to keep up the good work."

He was also feted by his school, the then chief minister of Kerala, A. K. Antony, and the panchayat (rural body) and village council. Cash rewards adding up to Rs100,000 (around Dh8,600) came his way.

Fast forward to 2008.

The awards and celebrations are a distant memory for Abdul Razzaq, the cash reward long since spent on house repairs and the dream of higher education crushed by the realities of life.

As the only breadwinner of the family after his father’s untimely death, Abdul Razzaq juggled menial jobs and education for four years. Penury eventually forced him to drop out of school after the 10th standard. His deteriorating financial condition forced him to move to Dubai, where for the past one year he has been working at Al Hara Al Jadeeda Cafeteria in one of the backstreets of Al Karama.

Here, Abdul Razzaq works 12 hours a day, seven days a week, earning Dh900 a month to support his mother and five siblings back home.

Making ends meet

Meagre as it is, the Dubai salary is a meteoric jump from the Rs50 (Dh4.50) a day he earned loading construction trucks when in India.

"Education couldn’t be farther from my mind. I have to save enough for my sister’s wedding. My accommodation and food is provided by my employer, so I send my entire salary home."

The money for occasional phone calls and sundry expenses comes from tips. His colleagues are also his friends with whom he shares his accommodation and occasionally watches movies of his favourite film stars Jackie Chan and Mammootty.

But unlike his silver screen idols, the name of this real-life star remains but a statistical entry in some government book in India. A blink-and-you-miss-it spot on the credit roll of history.

Award facts

• The Indian National Awards for Bravery were introduced in 1957 by the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW)
• The award is conferred on children below the age of 16. Applications are received from sources such as the central/state government departments, panchayats, zilla parishads (administrative districts), schools as well as state and Union Territory councils for child welfare
• The selection is made by a committee comprising representatives from the secretariats of the President and the Vice-President, various ministries, as well as the Central Social Welfare Board, All India Radio, Doordarshan, the police and leading NGOs
• The awards are announced on November 14, which is celebrated as Children’s Day in India, and are presented by the Prime Minister on the eve of Republic Day in New Delhi

Consul speak

"We have no knowledge about the matter. Thanks for bringing it to our attention. If a person such as him is in any difficulty, he should approach us. He should tell us what his problem is and we will look into it. I can’t rely on your word. I have to meet the person. I have to find out what his problem is and what his complaint is and look into it and see if there’s anything we can do"

Venu Rajamony, Indian Consul General, Dubai