Neerja’s story is one of extraordinary courage and selflessness, as she saved the lives of hundreds of passengers during a hijacking. This summary provides an overview of her inspiring journey from a dedicated flight attendant to a symbol of unwavering bravery. Read More Class 6 English Summaries.
Neerja Bhanot Brave in life, Brave in Death Summary
Neerja Bhanot: Brave in life, Brave in Death Summary in English
The given lesson ‘Neerja Bhanot’; Brave in Life, Brave in Death” is about a brave Indian woman who gave up her life to save other people’s life.
Neerja Banot was born on 7 September 1963 in Chandigarh to Rama Bhanot and Harish Banot, a Journalist. She studied at Sacred Heart senior secondary school, Chandigarh, Bombay Scottish school, and St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. She joined Pan Am Airlines in 1986 as a senior flight purser on the ill-fated Pan Am flight 73.
The PA 73 was hijacked by terrorists on its way to Frankfurt from Mumbai. The flight was still on the tarmac after it had reached Karachi. When the terrorists struck. Neerja alerted the cockpit crew. The three-member cockpit crew – pilot, co-pilot, and flight engineer fled the aircraft. Neerja took charge. The hijackers shot an American.
The terrorists instructed Neerja to collect the passports of all passengers so that they could identify American citizens. As there were 40 Americans on board, she hid the passports. After seventeen hours, when the terrorists opened fire and set off explosives, Neerja opened the emergency door and helped many passengers to escape.
She died shielding three children from the terrorist’s bullets. She is the youngest recipient of the Ashoka Chakra, the highest civilian Award for Bravery. She is recognized as the ‘heroine of Hijack’
The Ashoka Chakra citation states :
“Her loyalties to the passengers of the aircraft in distress will forever be a lasting tribute to the finest qualities of the human spirit”.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Neerja Bhanot’s life story is a testament to the indomitable human spirit. Her extraordinary bravery during a hijacking saved numerous lives, and her legacy continues to inspire and remind us of the immense courage that resides within ordinary individuals when faced with extraordinary circumstances.
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