Marathon boy Buddhia honoured

Jaipur, Jul 5 : Marathon boy Buddhia was honoured with the Ambassy State Little Star award here today for his unique achievement at just four-and-a-half years.

The function was organised at Vidyashram School auditorium, and the award was given by the Ambassy Millennium School. Buddhia received Rs 5,000 in cash and a silver memento as part of the award.

An ordinary boy, who understands and speaks only Oriya Buddhia was the cynosure of all eyes at the school. Children were trying to be friendly with him while many ran a race along with the wonder kid.

Buddhia, who was sold by his mother for just Rs 800 to make their both has come a long way since then. He became the youngest runner to cover a distance of 65 km from Jagannath Dham, in Puri to Bhubaneshwar in seven hours and two minutes and got his name registered in the Limca Book of Records.

His coach, Biranchi Das is accompanying him, who doubles up as his mentor and guardian. Das is bitter about the way the media hounded Buddhia during his feat.

So the coach is beside his disciple wherever he goes. He is in fact Buddhia's spokesman and answers all his questions.

Das says all the money coming in the form of donations and funds is being put into a trust , which would be spent for Buddhia's upbringing and also for other child prodigies like him.

For now Buddia has only one ambition to make his mother, coach and country proud.

UNI