On the occasion of Veer Bal Diwas, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday night honoured four children from different parts of Chhattisgarh for exemplary acts of courage and presence of mind at a special ceremony held at the Chief Minister’s residence. The programme, organised by Chhattisgarh Civil Society (CCS), commemorated the supreme sacrifice of the four Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh and sought to recognise contemporary examples of bravery among children. Chief Minister presented the awards, describing the young achievers as symbols of courage whose actions inspire society at large. Among the awardees, Om Upadhyay of Kohka, Bhilai, received the Sahibzada Ajit Singh Award for bravely saving children from an attack by aggressive dogs, despite sustaining injuries himself. Kanti, a seven-year-old from Mohanpur village in Surguja district, was conferred the Sahibzada Jujhar Singh Award for rescuing her younger sister from the midst of a marauding herd of elephants. Anshika Sahu of Sambalpur village in Dhamtari district was honoured with the Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Award for her quick thinking in saving her elder sister who had come in contact with a live electric wire. Premchand Sahu of Rampur (Dangania), Raipur, received the Sahibzada Fateh Singh Award for risking his life to rescue a drowning child from a pond. Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sai said the courage displayed by the children reflected the same spirit of fearlessness and moral strength that the Sahibzadas stood for. He announced that Veer Bal Diwas would be observed in a more structured and statewide manner in the coming years, and noted that chapters on the Sahibzadas had been introduced in school textbooks to familiarise young students with their legacy. Durg Lok Sabha Member Vijay Baghel and Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha Member Santosh Pandey also addressed the ceremony, describing the children as living symbols of courage whose actions inspire society at large. Convener of the programme, Dr Kuldeep Singh Solanki of CCS delivered the welcome address and provided a detailed overview of the initiative, recalling the organisation’s role in advocating for national recognition of Veer Bal Diwas. Among those present on the occasion were Chairman of Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency Bhupendra Sawanni, Chairman of Chhattisgarh State Youth Commission Vishwa Vijay Singh Tomar, Director of Ramkrishna Care Hospitals Raipur Dr Sandeep Dave, Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya Dr Girish Chandel, IMA President Dr Neeraj Sharma, social activist Ajay Kale, Sanjay Joshi, and members of Chhattisgarh Civil Society.