A toast to Neerja Bhanot

Yesterday (5 Sep) 35 years ago, a young girl named Neerja Bhanot sacrificed her life to save many others. She was two days short of her 23rd birthday. As the head purser in Pan Am Flight 73 she helped several passengers to escape when the aircraft was hijacked in Karachi before she was fatally shot by one of the hijackers. For her courage and dedication she was awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award, the youngest person to have been thus honoured.

Let us not forget her valour. She died so that others could live. Rest in peace Neerja, you will continue to inspire future generations.