An ode to a hero - Neerja Bhanot

She saved 359 lives

She was only 23 years old

This was what got my attention when the first trailer of “Neerja” the movie was aired. Yes, like many of us, even I was unknown to this “hero” of our country as she was lost somewhere in the pages of history. Intrigued to know, I googled all information about Neerja Bhanot, who redefined humanity and dedication towards her work.

She was an ordinary 23 year old girl, a purser on the Pan-Am flight and an aspiring model. She loved her job and life. The apple of her parents eyes who fondly called her lado. But what differentiated her was her mental strength. A broken marriage at tender age of 22 couldn’t dampen her spirits as she came back stronger and took control of her life.

It was another day of her life, when she boarded the Pan-Am flight to New York via Karachi on September 5 1986, just two days before her 23^rd birthday. She was to return on 7^th to celebrate it with her family for which plans were already made. But something else was written in destiny.

The Pan-Am flight was hijacked in Karachi and as the pilots left the aircraft as per protocol, Neerja as the head of the crew, took charge. Even in such grave situation, she never lost her presence of mind. Not thinking about her own safety, not only she hid passports of American passengers, but also pulled open the emergency exit when the hijackers started open firing.

Most would have slid down the chute to save themselves, but Neerja was different, she stayed back and helped other passengers get out from the aircraft. I wonder what was going on her in her mind, that she did this. She was shot point blank while shielding others, but she didn’t deter from her duty. She didn’t survive but 359 others did and most of them owe their lives to her.

Now this, most of us know by now. Reason to pen this down was different. Reason is that I haven’t been able to take her out of my mind. Who was she? A normal human being? Ordinary? I don’t think so. In this selfish world, when one doesn’t even stop to help someone cross the road, she sacrificed her life to save strangers. Yes, it was her duty to look after the safety of her passengers, but obviously not at the stake of her life. It wasn’t only the sense of duty that drove her that night, it was something else. But I don’t know what, and sadly will never know.

I salute Neerja Bhanot for being what she was. She didn’t die, but became immortal in pages of time.   

But, then sometimes dust covers such pages and thus, I am thankful to makers for “Neerja” the movie and Sonam Kapoor to bring forth this story of a not-so-ordinary girl, for she is definitely an inspiration on how to be loyal to your work, how to conquer one’s fears and how humanity is indeed above all.

Lado of her family, she was warm and kind,

with a beautiful face, really hard to find,

She followed her dreams,

not ripping at the seams.

Her smile so lovely, brightened everyone’s day,

always full of life, she kept sorrows at bay.

A brave girl who did not break down,

even in grave situation, she held her ground.

Dedicated to duty, she even sacrificed her life.

While her family waited for her return,

she left without saying goodbye…

Neerja Bhanot, in gold her name will shine,

she will remain immortal in passage of time.

Thank you Neerja!!!

Journalism or Game of TRPs

I was born in an era when there used to be only one news channel – DD news. The reach of the channel was limited and hence, they could manage to communicate only a small percentage of what was happening in the world. But, those were true and simple facts.

As we progressed into the advanced age of technology with wider reach and 24/7 news channels, we expected to be up-to-date about almost every significant thing that was happening around us. And for a small period of time that happened too.

But as the competition grew and one after another, channels were added to the list, facts started getting distorted, to the extent that in present day, same story will be aired on all channels,  but each with a different spiced up version of the original one.

Only last month, our news channels were majorly occupied with covering a “religious guru” and her antics. It wasn’t something unseen or something that would affect the world or anybody in general, but it entertained the viewers, gave them a topic to talk about and joke on whatsapp etc., thereby boosting up TRPs for the channels. And this is one of the many examples where insignificant things have been given preference over the really important ones.

Not only this, our so-called paparazzi find it uber cool to hound and stalk celebrities and report their minute by minute report to the world. I am sure they think they are doing a great favour to fans by bringing them close to their favorites. But, I beg to differ on this. Personally, I hate early morning flights and if someone is shoving the camera in my face at that time, when I am already not in best of my spirits, I would honestly be irritated. Obviously that’s the most obvious reaction. But this is termed as high-handed attitude of a celebrity by our media. So my question to them, how about we turn the tables one day, be on their back 24/7 and then dissect their activity and looks. Will that be entertaining?

This does not end here, there are something else which are manipulated on a large basis and those are emotional values. Lately, a very heart-wrenching picture of a drowned little boy did rounds on all social networking sites for days, claiming that it was to awaken the world to the plight of refugees in a war-stricken country.  But was that really the objective? Why nobody divulged further into the matter to seek exactly what is going on and what can be corrective measures? Instead, what was reported was the interview of a grief stricken father on what are his future plans. Really? Did we bury our humanity somewhere? I guess this was the thing, which outraged people of an earthquake stricken Nepal and forced them to ask Indian media to leave their land.

We are a developing nation, and we have a long way to go. There are more pressing and important matters which should be focused on. For instance, why no one bothers to report about the never-improving infrastructure of our country despite thousands of crores being allocated for same every year in budget? Why no one monitors the reason that the development of a metro or a flyover takes longer than stipulated time? Why do we need shows like Satyamev Jayate to make people aware about the road accidents, network of beggars or plight of woman in the country?

It’s really sad, that not a single channel decides to break the monotony and do something which will be real “journalism”. I don’t read newspapers anymore except for finance pages, nor do I follow news, coz for baked and cooked stories, I have plethora of fictional dramas to watch. I don’t need one in reality.

And these are my thoughts and beliefs. Nobody is bound to agree or disagree.

Why I grew up?

When I enter my lonely house with no one in sight, 

I remember my mother with a warm glass of milk, I always despised

When I am tossed around in the local train,

I remember the warm hold of my daddy’s hand..

I wanted to be free like a dove,

But, now I wonder why I grew up?

My old house now stands dull and quiet, 

The same which once was filled with laughter and fights, 

The sullen walls and empty rooms ask with a hiccup…

That why I left it behind and why I grew up?

That loving faces, which are now wrinkled, 

wait in anticipation, as its their turn to be pampered…

The family which was together, are now spread by miles, 

Every time I leave behind people I love, 

I wonder why I grew up?