August 14 Sector News

Sector News
News 14
Neerja Bhanot
Courage.Commitment.
Compassion.
Courage.
Commitment.
Compassion.
Three simple words that best personify
Neerja Bhanot.
Three simple words that explain
why this young and vibrant girl
earned world-wide acclaim for her
courage and gallant actions.
Three simple words that show
how, at the tender age of 23 and just
2 days before her birthday, Neerja
laid down her life, while saving
hundreds of others.
Neerja was the Senior Flight
Purser on a Pan Am flight which
was hijacked at Karachi airport by 4
heavily armed hijackers.
As the plane was on the tarmac,
the pilot co-pilot and flight engineer
fled from the cockpit.
Setting aside all concern for her
personal safety, Neerja identified
herself to the terrorists as the crew
member in-charge.
A long, tension - filled ordeal
started. Yet, Neerja was a perfect
picture of calm, confident leadership.
She comforted the passengers,
especially the elderly and small
children.
In an amazing act of courage and
compassion for her fellow human
beings, she hid the passports of the
Americans as the hijackers wanted
to execute Americans.
After 17 hours, the hijackers
opened fire and set off explosives.
Acting quickly, Neerja opened the
emergency door. If she wanted, she
could have been the first to jump
out of the aircraft, but instead she
opted to stay back and helped a
large number of passengers escape.
She gave her own life while
shielding 3 children from a hail of
bullets of the terrorists.
Neerja was recognised internationally
as "the heroine of the hijack"
and is the youngest recipient of the
Ashoka Chakra, India's highest
civilian award for bravery
Nominations called for Neerja Bhanot Awards
Chandigarh: The
Neerja Bhanot Trust
has called for
Nominations for the
prestigious Neerja
Bhanot Awards.
The Awards are given
annually in memory of
Neerja Bhanot.
There are 2 Awards,
comprising Rs 1,50,000
each, a trophy and a
citation.
The first Award is
given to an Indian
woman, who meets the
following criteria
- She is subjected to
social injustice like
dowry, desertion etc..
she faces the situation
with guts and grit AND
then has helped other
women in similar social
distress.
The second Award is
given to any airline
crew member who goes
beyond the call of duty
in a difficult situation.
Nominations, in
English or Hindi, supported
by documentary
evidence .can be sent on
plain paper by anyone.
Self nominations are
welcome and are
accepted by the Trust.
In case the
Nomination is in any
other language apart
from English and Hindi,
a translation in either
English or Hindi MUST
be sent to the Trust.
No Nomination Fee
or Service Charge is
payable by the
Nominator or the
Nominee.
Nominations have to
be sent to:
The Managing Trustee
Neerja Bhanot Trust
House No. 3727
Sector 46 C
Chandigarh 160047
or by email to
aneesh.bhanot@gmail.c
om with scans of the
supporting documents.
There is no last date
for Nominations. They
are accepted round the
year.
As a policy, the
Neerja Bhanot Trust
strictly does not accept
any donations whatsoever.
The brave Chandigarh girl
who achieved fame world-wide
Neerja Bhanot was born on
September 7, 1963 at the Sector 16
General Hospital.
She did her early schooling at
Sacred Heart, Sector 26, before
going to Mumbai, where she studied
at Bombay Scottish, Mahim and St.
Xaviers College.
On September 5, 1986 at the
tender age of 22 and just two days
before her 23rd birthday, Neerja laid
down her life, while saving hundreds
of others.
Nerja was the Senior Flight Purser
on a Pan Am flight which was
hijacked at Karachi Airport by four
heavily armed hijackers.
After 17 tension filled hours, the
hijackers opened fire and set off
explosives.
Acting quickly, Neerja opened the
emergency doors and could have
been the first one to jump out and
run but, instead, she helped a
number of passengers escape.
She gave her life while shielding
three children from a hail of bullets.
This young and vibrant girl
earned world-wide acclaim for her
courage and gallant actions. Neerja
was recognized internationally as
'the heroine of the hijack'.
Neerja Bhanot is the first woman
recipient of the Ashoka Chakra,
which is India's highest civilian award
for bravery.
She was awarded the Tamgah-E-
Insaniyat (Pakistan), Flight safety
Foundation Award (USA), Medal of
Heroism of the Sons of the
American Revolution (USA) and the
2006 Special Courage Award (USA),
among many others.
Neerja Bhanot. Unmatched.
Unforgotten.
Neerja Bhanot Trust
Ashok Chakra Niwas, House No. 3727, First Floor, Sector 46 C, Chandigarh 160047
Tel : +91 9815047017, E-mail: aneesh.bhanot@gmail.com
Aneeshiative