VIVEK PURKAYASTHA, 14

Tears fill Vivek Purkayastha's eyes when he remembers June 22. That was the night when a group of robbers entered his house in Guwahati, Assam, and stabbed his parents. Vivek was injured but thwarted the robbers' attempt to loot the house. But he lost his father. His world now revolves around his mother, a school principal. Vivek, a class nine student, dreams of becomes an aeronautical engineer.

In a choked voice, Vivek recalls what happened that night. "It was around 1.30 am and we were sleeping. I was with my brother in our room and my parents were sleeping in their room. Suddenly, my mother heard some noise in the guest room. Five armed men had entered our house by breaking the window panes. They stabbed my mother. When my father went to her rescue, they stabbed him too. There was a lot of commotion. When I reached the guest room, one of the robbers tried to stab me in my chest. I defended myself with my bare hands and was injured. But I fought back. By then, our neighbours had heard the commotion and came to our rescue. The robbers tried to escape. I held the robber who had attacked me tightly and didn't let him escape. Our neighbours caught two of the other robbers. My parents were lying in a pool of blood. They were screaming. We took them to the hospital. My father died there. I want to fulfil his dreams. If I become a good person, that will be my best tribute to my father."

Vivek Purkayastha was honoured with the Bapu Gayadhani Award.

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