Assam boy in last year Aug 15 photo saluting the tricolour flag in chest-deep flood water, excluded in final draft NRC

Two children, while standing in chest-deep flood water, were seen saluting the  national tricolour along with their teachers at their lower primary school in lower Assam’s Dhubri district.

Barkalia Nashkora, a remote bordering area in Dhubri district along with Assam-Meghalaya border and the flag hosting photograph of No. 1185 Naskara Lower Primary School last year Independence Day shot into prominence everywhere, warming the heart of the nation.

But, a year later, one of the two young boys in the photograph, Haydor Ali Khan, is among the 40 lakh people whose names have been excluded from the complete draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Haydor Ali Khan and Jiarul Ali Khan are the two braveheart students, who swam up in floodwaters, stood at their school premise and saluted the Indian tricolour last year.

The photograph was clicked by Mizanur Rahman, a teacher at the No. 1185 Naskara lower primary school and uploaded in social media where  it went viral.

But this Independence day, the 10-year-old Haydor looks with some tension as his name is not in the complete draft of NRC.

Other members of Haydor’s family, however, have their names in the list.

Haydor’s mother Joygon Khatun said though Hydor's name is missing, the names of his brother and sister are there.

"I am worried that only three among four members of our family have found their names in the list," she said.

Haydor’s father Rupnal Khan, was killed in a clash in Kokrajhar in 2011.

Haydor’s mother is working as a cooking helper at a school and earning  Rs 1000 per month.

“ I appeal to the government to include my son’s name in the NRC,” Joygon Khatun said.

For inclusion in the NRC, Haydor’s family members had submitted sufficient documents, including legacy data and birth certificates during the application submission process.

Hydor's teacher Mizanur Rahman, who had hoisted the national flag by standing in flood water on last year's Independence Day under the guidance of headmaster Tazen Sikder, said,  “It is unfortunate that, Haydor’s name is missing.  I request the government to include his name in the final NRC."

Headmaster of Haydor’s school, Tazen Sikder, said they have celebrated this year's Independence Day as well in presence of students and locals.

“ Haydor’s name has been excluded from the final draft NRC, but I told his mother "don’t worry about it,. Your son’s name will be included in the final NRC,” Tazen Sikder said.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)