Geeta Chopra Award: Honoring Bravery in Children

 

The Geeta Chopra Award stands as one of India’s most significant civilian recognitions, honoring extraordinary acts of courage displayed by children under the age of 16. Established in 1978 by the Indian Council for Child Welfare, the award commemorates the bravery of Geeta Chopra, a young girl who lost her life while resisting her kidnappers. Each year, the Geeta Chopra award is presented alongside the National Bravery Award during Republic Day celebrations, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to recognizing valor among its youngest citizens. 

The National Bravery Awards themselves trace back to 1957, when India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, introduced the recognition to highlight the spirit of courage and selflessness in children. Since then, the awards have become an annual tradition, with approximately 25 children from across the country being honored each year. Within this framework, the Geeta Chopra Award carries a special significance, as it not only acknowledges bravery but also serves as a tribute to a young girl whose defiance in the face of danger continues to inspire generations. 

The award’s origin lies in one of the most infamous crimes in Delhi’s history—the Geeta and Sanjay Chopra kidnapping case of 1978. Commonly referred to as the “Ranga-Billa case,” it involved the abduction and murder of siblings Geeta and Sanjay by Kuljeet Singh, also known as Ranga Khus, and Jasbir Singh, alias Billa. The siblings were kidnapped for ransom, but upon realizing that their father was a naval officer and assuming he was not wealthy, the perpetrators decided to kill them. 

Geeta and Sanjay were subjected to horrific violence. While both kidnappers initially confessed to raping Geeta, they later retracted their statements, and forensic evidence could not conclusively confirm the assault. Nonetheless, the children were brutally murdered, and their deaths shocked the nation. In the aftermath, both Ranga and Billa were convicted and sentenced to death, with their execution carried out in 1982. 

The case became a landmark in India’s criminal history, not only due to the brutality of the crime but also because of the public outcry it generated. It left a profound impact on society, leading to the institution of the Geeta Chopra Award to immortalize the young girl’s courage in resisting her captors. In this way, the award is both a memorial and a symbol of hope, underscoring the values of bravery and resilience among children. 

The story of the Chopra siblings has continued to resonate in Indian popular culture. Crime Patrol Dial 100 dramatized the case in two episodes, numbers 723 and 724, which aired on Sony TV on 28 February and 1 March 2018. The crime was also depicted in the television series Bhanwar and later revisited in the 2025 Netflix series Black Warrant, which was based on real-life court cases. 

By honoring children who embody the same spirit of courage as Geeta Chopra, the award, categorized under National Bravery Awards ensures that her legacy endures. More than four decades after its inception, the Geeta Chopra Award remains a poignant reminder of bravery in the face of adversity and the enduring power of resilience in India’s youngest citizens.