A short biography of the popular women Neerja Bhanot. In about 300 words.
Answers
Neerja Bhanot is a National and International hero who saved a lot of lives during a flight hijack. She was shot dead during that hijack. She is called the heroine of the hijack. She was the youngest awardee of the Ashoka Chakra. She received awards (posthumously) from USA, UK, Pakistan and many organizations. She received the "Justice for Crimes" award from USA.
Neerja Bhanot was born on 7th Sept, 1963 in Chandigarh to Harish (a journalist) and Rama Bhanot. She was beautiful, tall and photogenic. She completed degree studies in Mumbai and also became a model. She modeled for Binaca, Vaporex, Paville, Godrej Besto, Forhans, BNP (France), Variati etc. She was popular and appeared on the face of many magazines too.
She joined Pan Am Airlines in 1985 to work on Frankfurt-India routes. She became a purser (cabin manager/head steward) later on. She was brave, intelligent and held presence of mind in a dangerous situation.
Pan Am Flight from Mumbai to USA was hijacked on 5th Sept, 1986 at Karachi airport by Abu Nidal Organization. She alerted the cockpit crew immediately and they left the plane through overhead hatch. Being the senior flight purser she took the responsibility of the plane and passengers for more than 17 hours. She protected the identities and lives of 40 Americans by hiding their passports. Hijackers started fire and bombing. She opened a door and helped the passenger escape. She was shot at a close range when she shielded three American children from a gun fire. She managed to save 359 out of 379 people on the flight. She prevented the flight from going off the ground to Libya.
Unfortunately her marriage (1985) broke off after two months due to an alleged dowry problem.
She became the inspiration for many world over to become brave flight personnel. She raised the flag of India to a very high level and proved wrong those who thought Indians were incapable or not brave or not intelligent. Neerja Bhanot award is given to two persons every year; one for a flight member and the other to an Indian women who fights social injustice. A postal stamp was released in 2004 in her memory.
The story of the young Indian flight attendant who laid down her life to save that of 359 others have been told to death. Last year, Bollywood even came out with a film that won Sonam Kapoor her first National Award for portraying Neerja on-screen. And yet, remembering Neerja Bhanot with the right amount of respect has not been enough.
The story of the young Indian flight attendant who laid down her life to save that of 359 others have been told to death. Last year, Bollywood even came out with a film that won Sonam Kapoor her first National Award for portraying Neerja on-screen. And yet, remembering Neerja Bhanot with the right amount of respect has not been enough.In case you are still unaware about her, here are a few things you must know about Neerja Bhanot:
The story of the young Indian flight attendant who laid down her life to save that of 359 others have been told to death. Last year, Bollywood even came out with a film that won Sonam Kapoor her first National Award for portraying Neerja on-screen. And yet, remembering Neerja Bhanot with the right amount of respect has not been enough.In case you are still unaware about her, here are a few things you must know about Neerja Bhanot:1. Neerja was born to Harish and Rama Bhanot on September 7, 1962, in Chandigarh. After her demise, father Harish Bhanot, who was a journalist in his days, remembered in an article how Neerja was a miracle baby:
The story of the young Indian flight attendant who laid down her life to save that of 359 others have been told to death. Last year, Bollywood even came out with a film that won Sonam Kapoor her first National Award for portraying Neerja on-screen. And yet, remembering Neerja Bhanot with the right amount of respect has not been enough.In case you are still unaware about her, here are a few things you must know about Neerja Bhanot:1. Neerja was born to Harish and Rama Bhanot on September 7, 1962, in Chandigarh. After her demise, father Harish Bhanot, who was a journalist in his days, remembered in an article how Neerja was a miracle baby:"Neerja was a fruit of our long prayers for a daughter. It was September 7, 1962, at Chandigarh - where I was posted at that time. The maternity ward matron rang up to inform me that we had been blessed with a baby-girl... I was very happy to hear this and gave her a 'double thanks'. She thought I had got her wrong and so she repeated, 'It is a daughter'."
The story of the young Indian flight attendant who laid down her life to save that of 359 others have been told to death. Last year, Bollywood even came out with a film that won Sonam Kapoor her first National Award for portraying Neerja on-screen. And yet, remembering Neerja Bhanot with the right amount of respect has not been enough.In case you are still unaware about her, here are a few things you must know about Neerja Bhanot:1. Neerja was born to Harish and Rama Bhanot on September 7, 1962, in Chandigarh. After her demise, father Harish Bhanot, who was a journalist in his days, remembered in an article how Neerja was a miracle baby:"Neerja was a fruit of our long prayers for a daughter. It was September 7, 1962, at Chandigarh - where I was posted at that time. The maternity ward matron rang up to inform me that we had been blessed with a baby-girl... I was very happy to hear this and gave her a 'double thanks'. She thought I had got her wrong and so she repeated, 'It is a daughter'."2. She started her school at Chandigarh's Sacred Heart School, until her family moved to Mumbai when she was a student of class 6. Here, Neerja finished her schooling at Bombay Scottish School, then went on to graduated from St Xavier's College, Mumbai.