A year ago, she had written to me, “ I will make you proud ”,
And brave heart kept her word.
—Harish Bhanot (Neerja’s father)
During youth, girls are over-ornated while personifying moon, stars and simultaneously embracing all doings of young ones. Contradictorily, Neerja never belonged to mentioned category. At mere age of 22, the lionheart saved 359 lives on Pan Am Flight 73, two days before her 23rd birthday. First time an alone valour of braveheart girl saved those lives.
Often called as “laado”, she was youngest and most pampered. Harish Bhanot and Rama Bhanot gave birth to Neerja on 7 September, 1962 at Chandigarh. Her father was professional journalist. Early schooling was dwelled at Chandigarh’s Sacred Heart School. When shifted to Mumbai, she completed her schooling from Bombay Scottish School. Blessed with virtue of politeness she ruled millions of heart. Recorded statement from her schoolmates specifically Vrindra Kriloskar and Eliza Lewis, she always spoke truth with teachers and had good nature.
She concluded her graduation from St. Xavier’s College, Bombay. Height of 5’9 and colossal beauty intensified by sanguine smile supplemented her to achieve considerable success in modelling realm. With Juvenile age of 18, she was approached by photographer for modelling. After this Paville—profound appraisal store contacted her for further modelling. Perpetually she worked for brands like Binaca, Vaporex, Charmis, Amul, Crack Jack, Chirag, Benzer, Din and appeared in cover of magazine “Manorama”. Her favourite actor was late Rajesh Khanna.
At age of 22 years, Harish persuaded her to marry a man based at Sharjah, UAE at the same time when her modelling career was huge success. Succeedingly, marriage turned into apocalypse, she was subjected to mental and physical assault for dowry. Repercussions were exacerbated,she starved financially and with food too. She was totally dependent on her husband even for making a phone call. Within ambience of 2 month she lost 5 Kg weight.
The unfortunate marriage ended with ill-suited letter by her husband. Its worst was, letter asked about her existence and what she is?, mere graduated person. It inflicted numerous wounds on her self-respect. Terminating abusive marriage on promissory note of establishing herself as triumphant one, she applied for Pan Am in times when “air hostesses’ were cherry-picked. Selected among 10.000 and placed in top 80 encouraged her to great extent. Her training as flight attendant begin at Miami, Florida but she returned as Purser.
Eternal heroism of her started on 5 September, 1986. Pan Am Flight 73 was flying from Bombay to USA where Neerja was Senior Flight Attendant. Four hijackers hailing from Palestine and part of Abu Nidal—Palestinian organization, hijacked flight at Karachi, Pakistan. Grossly plane contained 380 members and 13 crew personnel. Heavily-armed terrorists disguised as airport security guard entered and shot with automatic weapons. Neerja accordingly alerted cockpit crew, who escaped. Terrorist were dedicated to flew Cyprus.
Hijack was aimed at freeing of Palestinians prisoners from Cyprus. Being head-purser she took charge of situation and dealt with calmness. Principal target was Americans. During commencing of incident, they shot an Indo-American and threw body from plane. Neerja was instructed to accommodate passport by hijackers with aim of filtering Americans on board. Sagaciously, she hid passports of remaining 43 Americans. Anyone irrespective of courage, would become nervous in same situation. Contrary, she was stubborn towards her responsibility.
Left Americans were discarded down the rubbish chute by her to save them from precarious terrorists. From total 41 Americans,only two were killed. Continuously holding passengers and crew for 17 hours, terrorist openly fired. Despite being acquainted that she could flew from exit, she opted to stay on plane to help passengers. Fearing of commando attack and being agitated they fired constantly.
While saving lives, three children were stuck and she relentlessly tried to free them at same instance they caught and dragged her and shot at abdomen, shoulder and hand. One of three children saved at last breath of Neerja is now a captain in major airline and consider her as his role model. She believed that she had to be last person to quit, alive or dead.
In normal course of incident she might reached Bombay on Sunday, September 7 of her birthday but almighty had already enlisted her with bravehearts and martyrs of world. Neerja, who died so that other could alive was cremated at 11 am on 6 September. The Heroine of Hijacking and first girl to save plane from hijackers, enshrined her name among various valorous girls. It was victory of her compassion towards nowdays cowardice.
Government of India posthumously awarded her highest gallantry award Ashok Chakra making her youngest and first female recipient. Her family invigorated Neerja Bhanot Trust. Trust award two prizes every year one for flight crew member worldwide, who acted beyond there capabilities and Neerja Bhanot Award ( Rs1,50,000, citation and trophy) for women who successfully flight any social injustice.
United States awarded her multiple awards and Tamgha-e-Pakistan from Pakistan was rewarded recognising it as an act of great courage and kindness. Neerja had two siblings —Aneesh and Akhil Bhanot. Aneesh wrote two books “The Neerja I know” and “The Smile of Courage” memorising her. Neerja —a 2016 bollywood film was also made on her.
Valour is not age driven and same we can conclude from Neerja. Her fondness towards her duty is visible as on night of flight her mother tried to convince her for leave as she was continuously working on a modelling project but committed Neerja decided to go for her duty. She and her valour gives inspiration to many girls living in orthodox societies negating that girls are weak. Undoubtedly Neerja is alive in millions of heart with eternal love.
