New Delhi: Around 60 years ago, he was a national hero when he saved the life of the then PM Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in a fire at the Ram Lila grounds. After the fire incident on October 2, 1957, he became the first recipient of a bravery award.
After six decades, he is now a forgotten man and lives in the shadows of his glorious past in the Chandni Chowk area of the old city. Reminiscing those times, Harish Chandra Mehra (74), India’s first ever recipient of the bravery award, “It was October 2, 1957, and I was a 14-year-old and doing duty as a scout in the same ‘shamiana’ where Pandit Nehru and other VIPs were sitting. Suddenly, a fire broke out due to a spark from the fireworks in that shamiana. Sensing that it could lead a major disaster, I within a fraction of a second entered the burning shamiana and started climbing the 20-feet-high electrical pole,” he said.
“On reaching the top, without thinking of my own safety, I whipped out my scout knife and started cutting the ropes of the shamiana. Suddenly my hands touch a naked wire and I was fell to the ground unconscious. During this process my hands were severely burnt. I was admitted to the JP hospital for treatment and shock,” Mr Mehra recalled.
During the award ceremony it was also mentioned that he helped the police in rescuing two children who got separated from their family in the Chandni Chowk area during the Mahathama Gandhi birth anniversary celebrations.
“My father was a freedom fighter and went to jail with Mahatma Gandhi in 1942 Quit India movement. Since childhood, I was inspired to do something for the nation. I feel proud that I could act on the spur of the moment to save the life of Pandit Nehru and others. I am also thankful to god who had given me the courage to act on the right time and at the right place,” he added.
He received the bravery award from Pandit Nehru at Teen Murti Bhavan in February 1958. His parents were also with him then. Pandit Nehru said told his parents, “Your son has saved my life and he will become a great man in his lifetime.” Though his words did not come true, I do not have any complaint from life. It is a pity that the government gives a celebrity status to the bravery award winner, but after three and four days, nobody cares about him/her,” he said.
“After receiving the award, I believed that destiny had a lot in store for me. I could not complete my graduation due to my poor financial condition. I worked as an upper division clerk with the Controller of Publications and retired a few years ago. I live in the same house where I was born,” Mr Mehra said.
