The youngest recipient of India's highest peacetime award for bravery posthumously, the Ashok Chakra, Neerja Bhanot was born on September 7, 1963.
The brave heart laid down her life while saving the lives of the passengers of the Pan Am Flight 73, which was hijacked by terrorist during a stopover in Karachi, Pakistan.
Neerja was only 22 when she was shot dead on September 5, 1986, just two days before her 23rd birthday. She was shot by the terrorist while trying to protect three children from their bullets.
Her story continues to inspire people, and to commemorate her courage, Bhanot’s family set up the Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust. The trust recognises Indian women who overcome social injustice and airline crew members for their courageous acts during a crisis.
In 2016, her biopic, ‘Neerja’ starring Sonam Kapoor was released as a tribute. The biopic is a stylised thriller with a few glimpses into Bhanot’s personal life, her relationship with her mother and her act of courage.
Directed by Ram Madhvani, the film won a number of awards, including the National Award for the Best Feature Film in Hindi.
On 59th birth anniversary, here are some lesser-known facts about Neerja Bhanot:
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