Neerja Bhanot: Brave in life, brave in death
English Semester 2
6th G – Chapter 3
Module Objectives
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Who was she?
What was her job?
Where was she from?
How did she die?
Why was she honoured?
Who were her parents?
Topic
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Neerja Bhanot(7 September 1963 – 5 September 1986) was born in
Chandigarh, the daughter of Rama Bhanot and Harish Bhanot, a Mumbaibased journalist. She was an alumna of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary
School, Chandigarh, Bombay Scottish School and St. Xavier's College,
Mumbai.
She was a flight attendant for Pan Am, based in Mumbai, India, who was
murdered while saving passengers from terrorists on board the hijacked Pan
Am Flight 73 on 5 September 1986.
She became the youngest recipient of India's highest civilian award for
bravery, the Ashok Chakra.
Topic
The hijackers were part of the terrorist Abu Nidal Organization and were
backed by Libya. They shot and killed passengers who identified themselves
as American. The terrorists then instructed Bhanot to collect the passports of
all the passengers so that they could identify the Americans. Bhanot and the
other attendants under her charge hid the passports of the 19 (18
passengers + 1 crew) Americans on board - some under a seat and the rest
down a rubbish chute.
After 17 hours, the hijackers opened fire and set off explosives. Bhanot
opened the emergency door and helped a number of passengers escape.
She was unable to escape herself and became a hero while shielding three
children from a hail of bullets. Bhanot was recognised internationally as "the
heroine of the hijack" and is the youngest recipient of the Ashok Chakra
Award, India's most prestigious gallantry award for bravery during peace
time.
Quizz
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1. Who is the air hostess mentioned in the report? Neerja Bhanot
2. Who honoured her? Civil Aviation ministry
3. Why was she honoured? Her loyalties to the passengers of the aircraft in distress
and sacrificing her life to save others.
4. Who hijacked the plane? Terrorists.
5. Where does Neerja belong to? She was born in Chandigarh.
6. When did she join Pan Am Airline? In the year 1986.
7. Who escaped the aircraft? Why? Neerja opened the emergency door and helped a
number of passengers escape against terrorist attack. She was unable to escape
herself and became a hero while shielding three children from a hail of bullets.
8. Why was the flight described as “ill-fated”? Because it was hijacked by four heavily
armed terrorists.
9. Name the highest civilian award for bravery given by Indian government? Ashok
Chakra.
10. Name the flight that was hijacked? When and where did this happen? Pan Am
Flight 73 on 5 September 1986 at 5 am in Karachi.
11. Who did the terrorists shoot first? American.
Contd
12. What did the pilot, co-pilot and the flight engineer do when they heard about the
hijack? Do you think they are right in doing so? The flew from the aircraft after
effectively grounding it. I think they should have helped the passengers and
fellow crew members and should have safe guarded them first.
13. Did Neerja hide the passports of the Americans? Why / Why not? Yes, to save
American passengers from terrorists.
14. Why is Neerja called ‘the heroine of the hijack’? Because she gave her life
while shielding three children from a hail of bullets and helping hundreds other
escape terror attack.
15. What is your ambition in life? Do you want to become an air hostess or a pilot
or a flight engineer?
Arrange the following sentences in an order to make a
meaningful paragraph
1. After 17 hours, the hijackers opened fire and set off explosives.(5)
2. Neerja identified herself to the terrorist as the crew member in charge.(2)
3. Acting quickly, Neerja opened the emergency door and helped a number of
passengers escape.(6)
4. Neerja was the senior flight Purser on a Pan Am flight which was hijacked at
Karachi airport.(1)
5. She hid the passports of the Americans as the hijackers wanted to execute
Americans.(4)
6. Neerja laid down her life, while saving hundreds of others.(7)
7. Neerja comforted the passengers, especially the elderly and small
children.(3)
Which of the following statements are true about Neerja?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Neerja was the senior most cabin crew on the air craft. True
Neerja escaped from the flight when the terrorists opened fire. False
She showed the passport of all the passengers to the hijackers. False
She received the Ashoka Chakra award for her act of bravery from the Civil
Aviation Minister. False
Which of the following words are related to airport / flight?
Crew, Driver, Runway, Kidnap, Check-in, Pilot, Air Hostess, Cabin, Cockpit,
Overtake, Hijack, Traffic, Police, Depot, Emergency Door
Answer:
Crew, Runway, Check-in, Pilot, Air hostess, Cabin, Cockpit, Emergency Door
Some words are missing in the following sentences. Add those words
and complete the sentences. (One word is missing in each sentence)
1. Neerja Bhanot born in Chandigarh.
Neerja Bhanot was born in Chandigarh.
2. Rama Bhanot and Harish Bhanot her parents.
Rama Bhanot and Harish Bhanot were her parents.
3. She the senior most cabin crew member.
She was the senior most cabin crew member.
4. The hijackers were Palestine.
The hijackers were from Palestine.
5. Neerja the passport of the American passengers.
6. Neerja hide the passport of the American passengers.
7. She not escape.
She could not escape.
8. She was youngest recipient of the Ashoka Chakra.
She was the youngest recipient of the Ashoka Chakra.
Find the other forms of the following words from the lesson and
write them in the box:
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Dead
Hijacked
Joined
Landed