The Principal, Staff, Students and ex-Franciscans are proud of Master Soumik Mishra who deserved and was awarded the President’s Bravery Award 2008. He was honoured by the President of India on 26 th January 2009 at New Delhi. He is a pride for the College and the Country.

On 6th of Feb. 2009, the College organised a felicitation function and honoured Soumik and his parents. He was awarded by the Bishop of Lucknow. We leave you with an article from a leading National News Paper…

“The joy of the family of 12-year-old city lad Saumik Mishra knew no bounds on Tuesday after they received a letter from Delhi informing them that Saumik will be presented with a bravery award by the prime minister on Republic Day.

Saumik’s name had been recommended for the bravery award by the Lucknow police in March last year. The young brave heart had foiled an attempt of her mother’s purse being snatched by two miscreants in Vibhav Khand of Gomtinagar.

Talking to a national newspaper, Saumik’s father, Shishir Mishra said, “The whole family is proud of what Saumik did. He is among 26 children recommended from all over the country for the Sanjay Chopra National Bravery award.”

Mr. Mishra added that the family would be leaving for Delhi where the boy would be honoured by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Besides, Saumik would also get to meet the President as well as the chief minister of Delhi during his ten day stint in the national capital which begins on January 15.

Saumik was earlier also honoured at his school during which the principal of school, Father Pinto had said that Saumik’s bravery would set a precedent for others in defeating the motives of criminals. The miscreants had struck when Saumik was going along with her mother, Praveena Mishra, to a doctor. Barely had the mother-son duo moved a few steps away from their house in Gomtinagar when they heard a loud noise of a motorcycle acceleration.

Before they could even think anything, Saumik and his mother were attacked by two men. One of them tried to snatch Praveena’s purse. But, showing a rare display of fortitude, Saumik grabbed the miscreant with one hand while caught hold of his mother’s purse with the other.

In the attempt Saumik fell down and taking advantage of this one of the miscreants whom Saumik held hit him on the forehead with the butt of a pistol. Though the miscreants, left shocked by the unexpected resistance, managed to escape, the brave act of the young boy helped him in saving his mother’s purse.“

Student of class VIII-C in St Francis College, Saumik was then felicitated by the senior superintendent of police (SSP) Akhil Kumar for his fortitude.