India remembers brave daughter Neerja with honour

Sonam Kapoor’s recent release ‘Neerja’ has been well received by the audience, there is not a single eye that has not shed a few tears in remembrance of the braveheart Neerja Bhanot on whom the film is based on. The flight attendant who sacrificed her life to save many went on to be posthumously awarded the highest citation by the Indian government.

Neerja Bhanot was a senior flight attendant of the Pan Am 73 flight that was hijacked at Karachi airport by terrorists. The crew did their best to care for the passengers but when the flights power unit ran out the cabin was sprayed with bullets by the hijackers, in the ensuing turmoil Neerja who had earlier hidden the American passengers passports from the terrorists opened the emergency exits of the plane thus helping many of them escape.

Alas! Neerja was shot in the back while protecting some children who were escaping from the emergency exit. The brave young girl breathed her last before medical assistance could be given to her.

The Government of India decided to bestow this brave act of courage with the highest honor of the nation, the Ashok Chakra. Thus, post her death Neerja became the recipient of the highest bravery honour. The Ashok Chakra, which salutes the courage of this young air hostess who saved the lives of many others by sacrificing her own.