UNIT – 7
PROSE
NEERJA BHANOT: BRAVE IN LIFE, BRAVE IN DEATH
- Who is the air hostess mentioned in the report?
Neerja Bhanot was the air hostess mentioned in the report.
- Who honoured her?
Indian government honoured her with the highest civilian award for bravery, the Ashoka Chakra.
- Why was she honoured?
She died while saving passengers from terrorists in Aeroplane.
- Who hijacked the plane?
The Terrorists hijacked the plane.
Now, read the lesson and find answers for the following questions:
- Who were Neerja’s parents?
Rama Bhanot and Harish Bhanot are parentd of Neerja.
- When did she join Pan Am Airlines?
Neerja Bhanot joined Pan Am Airlines in 1986
- Who escaped from the aircraft? Why?
Co-pilot and the flight engineer were escaped from the aircraft. Because flight was hijacked by four heavily armed terrorists. Neerja opened the emergency door and helped a number of passengers to escape.
- How did Neerja die?
Neerja died while shielding three children from a hail of bullets.
C1. Discuss the following questions in small groups and answer them in a sentence each:
- Where did Neerja study?
Neerja was studied in Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Chandigarh, Bombay Scottish School and St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
- Why was the flight described as ‘ill-fated’?
The flight described as ‘ill-fated’ because it was hi-jacked by the terrorists.
- Name the highest civilian award for bravery given by the Indian government.
‘Ashoka Chakra’ is the highest civilian award for bravery given by the Indian government.
4. Name the flight that was hijacked. When and where did this happen?
Name of the flight that hijacked was ‘Pan Am Flight 73’. It happened on September 5, 1986 at 5 A.M in Karachi Airport of Pakistan.
- Who did the terrorists shoot first?
The hijackers immediately shooted a passenger first, who identified himself to the terrorists as an American.
- What did the pilot, co-pilot and the flight engineer do when they heard about the hijack? Do you think they were right in doing so?
The three-member cockpit crew of pilot, co-pilot and the flight engineer were able to flee from the aircraft and ran away from the aircraft. I think they were right to do so. Because if they stay there, the terrorists would have forced to take the aircraft to unknown area and would have killed all the passengers.
- Did Neerja hide the passports of the Americans? Why/ Why not?
Yes. Neerja, hide the passports of the 40 Americans on board. Because terrorists wants to identify and kill the Americans.
- Why is Neerja called ‘the heroine of the hijack’?
Neerja alerted the cockpit crew about the hijack. As the plane was on the tarmac, the three-member cockpit crew of pilot, co-pilot and the flight engineer were able to flee from the aircraft. Neerja, being the most senior cabin crew member on board, took charge. Neerja, hide the passports of the 40 Americans on board. Because terrorists wants to identify and kill the Americans. When the hijackers opened fire and set off explosives. Neerja opened the emergency door and helped a number of passengers to escape. She did not herself escape. She died while shielding three children from a hail of bullets. That is why is Neerja called ‘the heroine of the hijack’.
- What is your ambition in life? Do you want to become an air hostess or a pilot or a flight engineer?
I want to become Pilot or Air Hostess.
C2. Arrange the following sentences in an order to make a meaningful paragraph.
1. After 17 hours, the hijackers opened fire and set off explosives.
2. Acting quickly, Neerja opened the emergency door and helped a number of passengers escape.
3. Neerja was the Senior Flight Purser on a Pan Am flight which was hijacked at Karachi airport.
4. She hid the passports of the Americans as the hijackers wanted to execute Americans.
5. Neerja laid down her life, while saving hundreds of others.
6. Neerja comforted the passengers, especially the elderly and small children.
Answer:
- Neerja was the Senior Flight Purser on a Pan Am flight which was hijacked at Karachi airport.
- She hid the passports of the Americans as the hijackers wanted to execute Americans.
- Neerja comforted the passengers, especially the elderly and small children.
- After 17 hours, the hijackers opened fire and set off explosives.
- Acting quickly, Neerja opened the emergency door and helped a number of passengers escape.
- Neerja laid down her life, while saving hundreds of others.
C3. Which of the following statements are true about Neerja? Tick them :
1. Neerja was the senior most cabin crew on the aircraft. – True
2. Neerja escaped from the flight when the terrorists opened fire. – False
3. She showed the passports of all the passengers to the hijackers. – False
4. She received the Ashoka Chakra award for her act of bravery from the Civil Aviation Minister. – True
C4. Write a short paragraph, in your own words, about Neerja.
Neerja Bhanot was born on 7 September 1963 in Chandigarh, India. After her education she joined Pan Am Airlines in 1986 as Air hostess. When She was the senior flight purser on the ill-fated Pan Am Flight 73. This flight was hijacked by four heavily armed terrorists in Karachi. Neerja alerted the cockpit crew about the hijack. Neerja, and the other attendants under her charge, hid the passports of the 40 Americans on board, because terrorists wants to kill Americans. When the hijackers opened fire and set off explosives, Neerja opened the emergency door and helped a number of passengers to escape. She did not herself escape. She died while shielding three children from a hail of bullets. Neerja was recognised internationally as “the heroine of the hijack”. She is the youngest recipient of the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest civilian award for bravery.
C5. Which of the following words are related to airport / flight? Underline them:
crew driver runway kidnap check-in pilot air hostess cabin cockpit overtake hijack traffic police depot emergency door
G3. Some words are missing in the following sentences. Add those words and complete the sentences. (One word is missing in each sentence)
e.g. Neerja Bhanot a brave woman.
Neerja Bhanot was a brave woman.
1. Neerja Bhanot was born in Chandigarh.
2. Rama Bhanot and Harish Bhanot were her parents.
3. She was the senior most cabin crew member.
4. Neerja hid the passports of the American passengers.
5. She did not escape.
6. She is youngest recipient of the Ashoka Chakra.
