Setting aside all concern for her personal safety, Neerja Bhanot identified herself to the terrorists as the crew member in-charge. A long, tension – filled ordeal started. Yet, she was a perfect picture of calm, confident leadership. She comforted the passengers, especially the elderly and small children.

In an amazing act of courage and compassion for her fellow human beings, she hid the passports of the Americans as the hijackers wanted to execute Americans. 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. She gave her own life while shielding 3 children from a hail of bullets. She was recognised internationally as “the heroine of the hijack” and is the youngest recipient of the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest civilian award for bravery.

This message is for Neerja from California, USA based 15 year old Krithi San.

My name is Krithi and I am 15 years old. I live in San Diego, California, USA and as a part of a school project I wrote a letter to Neerja Bhanot as she is my role model and inspiration.

Dear Neerja Bhanot,

Today, I would like to just talk to you as a friend and not as anyone else. Only a friend.

Thank you for showing me what courage is? I know that courage isn’t something that can be easily done. It is a characteristic that is developed in a certain situation.

Courage and self-esteem for me are very important to you as well. I love how you feel to save other people in the dangerous situation of life.

Courage can be expressed by anyone and at any age. At a very young age, you did not care whether you were going to live or not, the people you cared for were to save the people living with you in the plane. I did not know what to say. Words can not just describe you.

Courage does not mean to not be afraid of anything, but it means have the fear and conquering it.

There is no human in the world who is not afraid. Yes, everyone has fear or more than one fear, but it is our choice that we allow our fear to win our life or allow us to win fear and lead a happy life.

You have demonstrated something wonderful that is very rare in the world today. This is a human criterion that is generally run for our lives and saves itself, but you push that idea in your mind and push forward for everyone.

There may be many people who do not agree with what you have done, but there are people who admire you and your personality and I am always one of those who appreciate you.

If I were to wish for anything it would be to always be someone who is related to you such as a friend or family/well-wisher and let you know that I am always the one who believes and always loves my Neerja and you are always a great person to me! Also, we both have a similar personality.

We both love caring about other people and making them feel like there is a person who cares about and for them in this world. I also just love being myself and doing what I love to do just like you. This is how we all should be.

What’s the point of being happy if you don’t love doing what you love to do? I know that I’m only 15 years old and that I cannot follow myself blindly as I’m still a kid, but I know that I can keep loving the things I love to life a good life.

In school, we were assigned a project called The Hall of Fame. It is a project where we had to choose a person that was not on our classroom Hall of Fame wall. I already know that you were in the hall of fame for the Flight Attendants category but I only wanted to do you and no one else.

So I chose a different category and try to persuade my whole class and other people to put in that category. That category was called Human Rights. With so much dedication and hard work, I stood up for you and educated people who knew nothing about you.

I got a 97% on this presentation but that did not matter. What mattered was did I give my 100% best or not? I did, so I was happy. We also had the option to do the presentation with partners but, I chose not do it.

I didn’t choose it not because it is teamwork but because I want to be the only Neerja Bhanot follower lecturing people about my inspiration.

I know that if you were there, then you would have definitely been proud of me. But the truth is, I am proud of you. I am not like everyone else, who forgot about their person after the project was over, and I will always remember Neerja no matter what.

I know your body may not be with us, but you definitely are alive in those who admire and love you. Neerja, you are my hero and inspiration and you will always stay that way!!

Yours Truly,
Krithi San