Neerja Bhanot

This article is about the person. For the 2016 Hindi film, see Neerja.

Neerja Bhanot
AC T.PK
A 2004 Indian postage stamp depicting the Ashoka Chakra award next to a portrait of a smiling Bhanot
Bhanot depicted on a 2004 Indian postage stamp
Born(1963-09-07)7 September 1963
Chandigarh, India
Died5 September 1986(1986-09-05) (aged 22)
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Cause of death
Gunshot wound
Other namesNeerja Mishra
Alma materSt. Xavier's College
EmployerPan Am
Known forSaving passengers on board Pan Am Flight 73 after it was hijacked by the Abu Nidal Organization
Spouse
Naresh Mishra
​
​
(m. 1985; sep. 1985)​
Parent(s)Harish Bhanot (father)
Rama Bhanot (mother)
Awards

Neerja Bhanot (7 September 1963 – 5 September 1986)[1][2] was an Indian flight attendant. On 5 September 1986, she saved a large number of passengers on board Pan Am Flight 73, which had been hijacked by four terrorists from the Abu Nidal Organization after it made a stopover at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan. Around 17 hours into the standoff, after she opened an emergency exit door and began helping passengers escape from the plane, Neerja was shot and killed by the hijackers. Shortly afterward, Pakistan's Special Service Group stormed the aircraft and captured all of the hijackers.

Posthumously, Bhanot became the first female recipient and, until 2003, the youngest recipient of the Ashoka Chakra, the highest peacetime gallantry award of India. She also received the Tamgha-e-Pakistan, the 4th highest civilian award of Pakistan, in addition to several accolades from the United States.[2][3] Her life and humanitarian actions inspired the 2016 Indian Hindi-language biographical film Neerja, directed by Ram Madhvani and starring actress Sonam Kapoor.

Early life and family

Neerja Bhanot was born on 7 September 1963 in Chandigarh, India into a Punjabi Hindu Brahmin family of the Bhanot clan.[4][5] She was the daughter of Harish Bhanot, a Bombay-based journalist, and Rama Bhanot. She had two brothers, Akhil and Aneesh Bhanot.[6] She received her early schooling at Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School in Chandigarh. When the family moved to Bombay, she continued her studies at Bombay Scottish School and then graduated from St. Xavier's College, Bombay.[1] It was in Bombay where she was first spotted for a modeling assignment which began her modeling career.[7] She was a huge fan of actor Rajesh Khanna and used to refer to quotes from his films throughout her life.[8]

Her father, Harish Bhanot, worked as a journalist with the Hindustan Times for more than 30 years and died on New Year's Day in 2008 in Chandigarh at the age of 86.[9] Her mother died on 5 December 2015 at the age of 86.[10]

Career

Bhanot applied for a flight attendant job with Pan Am, when in 1985 it decided to have an all Indian cabin crew for its Frankfurt to India routes. Upon selection, she went to Miami, Florida for training as a flight attendant, but returned as a purser.[1][11]

Hijacking

The hijacked aircraft seen at Miami International Airport in May 1983

Bhanot was the Senior Flight Purser on Pan Am Flight 73, a Boeing 747-121 flying from Bombay to New York City via Karachi and Frankfurt. On 5 September 1986, the aircraft was hijacked on the apron at Karachi by four Palestinian terrorists affiliated with the Libya-backed Abu Nidal Organization. The aircraft was carrying 380 passengers and 13 crew members. The hijackers intended to fly to Cyprus to demand the release of Palestinian prisoners.

As the hijackers boarded, Bhanot alerted the cockpit crew. The pilot, co-pilot, and flight engineer subsequently evacuated the aircraft through an overhead hatch, effectively grounding the plane. As the most senior remaining crew member, Bhanot assumed responsibility for the cabin.[11][12][13]

The hijackers specifically targeted Americans and American assets. Shortly after seizing the aircraft, they identified an Indian-American passenger, dragged him to the exit, fatally shot him, and threw his body from the plane. The hijackers then instructed Bhanot to collect the passports of all passengers to identify the remaining Americans. Bhanot and the cabin crew under her direction hid the passports of the 43 American passengers under seats and down a garbage chute.[11][12][14]

After a 17-hour standoff, the hijackers detonated explosives and opened fire inside the cabin. Bhanot deployed an emergency exit door. Rather than evacuating, she remained on board to assist passengers in escaping. She was fatally shot at close range by the hijackers while shielding three unaccompanied children.[15][16]

Legacy

Bhanot was recognized internationally as "the heroine of the hijacking".[11][12][13] The Government of India posthumously awarded her the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award. She was the youngest recipient and the first female recipient of this award.[1][17][18] In 2004, the Indian Postal Service released a commemorative stamp in her honour.[19][20]

Her loyalties to the passengers of the aircraft in distress will forever be a lasting tribute to the finest qualities of the human spirit.

— Ashoka Chakra citation[1]

Following her death, her family utilized her insurance proceeds to establish the Neerja Bhanot Trust. The trust presents two annual awards: one to a flight crew member worldwide who acts beyond the call of duty, and the Neerja Bhanot Award to an Indian woman who overcomes social injustice to help other women in distress. The award comprises ₹150,000, a trophy, and a citation.[11][21][22]

In 2005, Bhanot was posthumously awarded the "Justice for Crimes Award" by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia; her brother Aneesh received the award on her behalf in Washington, D.C.[23] In 2006, the United States Department of Justice awarded the Special Courage Award to Bhanot, her fellow flight attendants, and Pan Am's flight director for Pakistan.[24]

The Bhanot House at Austrey School is named in her honour.[25][26] On 2 July 2016, the Bharat Gaurav Award was conferred on her at the House of Commons, UK Parliament.[27] In 2018, Panjab University inaugurated the Neerja Bhanot Hostel on its Chandigarh campus, providing accommodation for over 350 female students.[28]

  • The Neerja I Knew, a coffee table book compiled by her brother Aneesh Bhanot, featuring chapters written by her acquaintances.[29][30]
  • Neerja, a 2016 Indian Hindi-language biographical film directed by Ram Madhvani and starring Sonam Kapoor as Bhanot. Kapoor received a Special Mention at the National Film Awards for her performance.[31]
  • The Smile of Courage, a biographical book authored by her brother Aneesh Bhanot.[32]

Awards and honours

Personal life

In 1985, Bhanot had an arranged marriage with Naresh Mishra, a Qatari businessman. The couple separated shortly thereafter due to reported marital abuse.[39][40] At the time of her death, she was in a relationship with a man named Jaideep.[41][42]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Vij, Illa (13 November 2000). "Brave in life, brave in death". The Tribune.
  2. ^ a b "'I saw Neerja being shot in the head' –Said by Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  3. ^ Mohan, Megha (31 March 2016). "Inside a hijack: The unheard stories of the Pan Am 73 crew". BBC News. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  4. ^ "The glamorous lives of '80s air hostesses in India". Quartz. 4 February 2016. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  5. ^ "Neerja Bhanot- Inspiration Personified". 12 November 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  6. ^ Avantika Bhuyan (5 March 2016). "It is incredible how blessed this project has been: Atul Kasbekar".
  7. ^ "'The Sky Was Her Limit". The Indian Express. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  8. ^ "Neerja: A fond tribute to a forgotten hero". Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  9. ^ "Journalist, former MC member Harish Bhanot passes away". The Indian Express. 2 January 2008. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008.
  10. ^ Kapoor, Jaskiran (7 December 2015). "Body donated to PGI: Ashok Chakra recipient Neerja Bhanot's mother dies at 86". The Indian Express.
  11. ^ a b c d e The Story of Neerja Bhanot – India’s Flight Attendant – CN Traveller. Cntraveller.in (18 January 2016). Retrieved on 14 November 2018.
  12. ^ a b c Kapoor, Vandita (19 December 2015). "Neerja Bhanot – The Indian Flight Attendant Who Saved 360 Lives". The Better India.
  13. ^ a b Why Everyone Should Know ‘Hijack Heroine’ Neerja Bhanot’s Story. The Quint
  14. ^ "MY STORY: I Survived the Pan Am Hijack During Which Neerja Bhanot Lost Her Life". The Better India. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  15. ^ "'I saw Neerja being shot in the head'". The Times of India. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  16. ^ "Who is Neerja Bhanot & How Pan Am-73 flight was hijacked in Sept 1986?". Oneindia. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  17. ^ "Nominations invited for Neerja Bhanot Awards". The Indian Express. 5 September 2006. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008.
  18. ^ Ambardar, Avani (20 July 2014) Neerja Bhanot: Brave in life, brave in death. The Times of India.
  19. ^ "Stamp on Neerja released". The Tribune. 9 October 2004.
  20. ^ Jaffry, Nasir (4 January 2008). "Pak frees Pan Am hijack quartet". The Telegraph. India. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008.
  21. ^ "NeerjaTrust – Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust". Karmayog. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011.
  22. ^ "Mumbai based Chanda Asani to get Neerja Bhanot Award 2008". Business Standard. India. 16 September 2008.
  23. ^ a b "America honours Neerja Bhanot". The Times of India. 13 April 2005. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011.
  24. ^ a b "Special Courage Awards: Pan Am Flight 73 flight attendants and the Pan Am Director for Pakistan". United States Department of Justice. Archived from the original on 13 March 2008.
  25. ^ "Information – Austrey School". Archived from the original on 8 November 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  26. ^ "Ermine Schools – Ermine". Archived from the original on 2 July 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  27. ^ "Neerja Bhanot Conferred 'Bharat Gaurav Award' In London". Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  28. ^ 31 years on, Panjab University to name hostel after Neerja Bhanot. Hindustan Times, Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  29. ^ Book in the memory of Neerja released. Times of India (18 February 2016). Retrieved on 14 November 2018.
  30. ^ "The Neerja I Knew: 'This book is tribute to my younger sister who showed true meaning of courage'". The Indian Express. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  31. ^ Verma, Sukanya. "Neerja: A fond tribute to a forgotten hero". Rediff.com. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  32. ^ Kaur, Gurnaaz (20 August 2018). "A tale of courage". Tribune India.
  33. ^ "Ashoka Chakra recipients (1952–92)". Indian Army Web Portal. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  34. ^ Sengupta, Durga M (11 February 2016). "Pakistan bans Neerja now. But why then did they award the Pan Am hero?". Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  35. ^ "FSF Heroism Award". Flight Safety Foundation. 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  36. ^ "Centre honours Neerja Bhanot". The Times of India. 19 February 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  37. ^ "Civil Aviation Ministry honours air hostess Neerja Bhanot who was killed by terrorists". The Indian Express. 19 February 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  38. ^ "Neerja Bhanot Conferred 'Bharat Gaurav Award' In London". NDTV. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  39. ^ https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/chandigarh/when-neerja-s-husband-told-her-if-you-can-t-cook-stop-eating-647498/
  40. ^ https://buzz.iloveindia.com/the-life-story-of-neerja-bhanot-from-a-bitter-marriage-to-the-hijacked-pan-am-73-flight.html
  41. ^ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/shekhar-ravjiani-to-play-neerja-bhanots-lover/articleshow/47330910.cms
  42. ^ https://www.filmfare.com/interviews/i-was-a-rookie-on-the-set-of-neerja-but-sonam-made-me-comfortable-12821.html
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