<P> On Gandhi Jayanti day , 2 October 1957 , India 's first prime minister , Jawaharlal Nehru , was watching a performance Delhi 's Ramlila ground , at the Red Fort . During the performance , a short circuit caused a fire to break out in a shamiana ( decorated tent ) . Harish Chandra Mehra , a 14 - year - old scout , promptly took out his knife and ripped open the burning tent , saving the lives of hundreds of trapped people . This incident inspired Nehru to ask the authorities to establish an award to honour brave children from all over the country . The first official National Bravery Awards were presented to Harish Chandra and one other child on 4 February 1958 , by Prime Minister Nehru , and the ICCW ( Indian Council for Child Welfare ) has continued the tradition ever since . The Sanjay Chopra Award and the Geeta Chopra Award were established in 1978 , in memory of two Chopra children who lost their lives while confronting their kidnappers . The Sanjay and Geeta awards are given to a boy and a girl for acts of bravery . The Bharat Award was established in 1987 , and the Bapu Gaidhani Award was established in 1988 . </P>
<P> On Gandhi Jayanti day , 2 October 1957 , India 's first prime minister , Jawaharlal Nehru , was watching a performance Delhi 's Ramlila ground , at the Red Fort . During the performance , a short circuit caused a fire to break out in a shamiana ( decorated tent ) . Harish Chandra Mehra , a 14 - year - old scout , promptly took out his knife and ripped open the burning tent , saving the lives of hundreds of trapped people . This incident inspired Nehru to ask the authorities to establish an award to honour brave children from all over the country . The first official National Bravery Awards were presented to Harish Chandra and one other child on 4 February 1958 , by Prime Minister Nehru , and the ICCW ( Indian Council for Child Welfare ) has continued the tradition ever since . The Sanjay Chopra Award and the Geeta Chopra Award were established in 1978 , in memory of two Chopra children who lost their lives while confronting their kidnappers . The Sanjay and Geeta awards are given to a boy and a girl for acts of bravery . The Bharat Award was established in 1987 , and the Bapu Gaidhani Award was established in 1988 . </P>
when was the first national bravery award given
when was the first national bravery award given
4 February 1958
4 February 1958