Why Neerja Bhanot vanished from my childhood ads?
Explore the poignant story behind Neerja Bhanot, the once-familiar face in advertisements who became a symbol of bravery. Discover why her advertisements disappeared and learn about her heroic actions during the Pan Am Flight 73 hijacking, which earned her the Ashoka Chakra and lasting recognition.
As a child, nothing quite compared to the excitement of receiving those monthly subscriptions. Reader’s Digest and Anandamela—they were like the twin jewels of my reading world, each issue brimming with stories that transported me to different realms. But there was something else that captivated my attention: the advertisements. Those vibrant, glossy pages with cheerful faces and catchy taglines left an indelible mark on my young mind.
I still remember them as clear as day. The bright smile in the Binaca toothpaste ad, the reassuringly clean clothes in the Besto washing powder commercial, the radiant glow promised by Charms face cream, and the fresh breath guaranteed by Forhan’s toothpaste. But what really tied all these together was the face of Neerja Bhanot. There she was, with her serene and confident presence, endorsing products that became household names in those days.
But then, as the late ’80s rolled in, her face suddenly vanished from those pages. The advertisements disappeared, leaving behind a silent void. For years, I wondered why. Where had she gone? Why did those familiar ads stop gracing my magazines?
It was only recently, while I was working on a series on historical events, that the date of 7th September caught my eye. It was Neerja Bhanot’s birthday, a name that had once been synonymous with the warmth and trust of those adverts. And that’s when I discovered the heart-wrenching reason why she had faded from public view.
Neerja Bhanot wasn’t just the face of popular brands; she was also the Senior Flight Purser on Pan Am Flight 73. The fateful day was 5th September 1986, and the flight, bound for New York via Karachi and Frankfurt, was hijacked by four Palestinian terrorists. With 380 passengers and 13 crew members aboard, it was a tense and terrifying situation. But Neerja, true to her brave and selfless nature, didn’t let fear paralyse her. Instead, she alerted the cockpit crew, who managed to escape, leaving Neerja as the highest-ranking crew member left on the plane.
The terrorists, part of the Abu Nidal Organization, were ruthless. They sought out American passengers, intending to use them as pawns in their deadly game. Neerja, realising the horror that awaited, hid the passports of the American passengers, risking her life in the process.
For 17 excruciating hours, she stayed calm, guiding and comforting passengers, even as the situation grew increasingly desperate. When the hijackers began their killing spree, Neerja could have saved herself—she was right by an emergency exit. But instead, she chose to help others. She shepherded passengers, including three unaccompanied children, to safety, sacrificing her own life in the process.
The heroism she displayed that day earned her the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award. She became the youngest and the first woman to receive it, and her legacy of courage and selflessness lives on, not just in the awards named after her, but in the lives of those she saved.
As I learned more about her life and ultimate sacrifice, the mystery of her disappearance from those ads suddenly made sense. The world lost not just a beautiful face from a magazine page but a beautiful soul who embodied the best of humanity.
So, whenever I look back at those old magazines, with their bright, cheerful adverts, I now see them in a different light. They’re not just nostalgic reminders of a bygone era but also a testament to the extraordinary life of Neerja Bhanot. It’s a bittersweet memory, knowing that the face which once symbolised everyday joy and trust went on to perform an act of bravery that few could ever match.
And that, dear reader, is why those advertisements disappeared in the late ’80s. The model behind them had become a hero, her life tragically cut short, but her legacy eternally bright. So join me in saluting Neerja Bhanot on her birth anniversary.
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