Chandigarh
7 September 2017
DIVYA AZAD
In a solemn and impressive ceremony held today at the PHD Chambers, Chandigarh , Hon. Prof. Kaptan Singh Solanki, Governor, Haryana conferred the prestigious Neerja Bhanot Award on Lucknow based Dr. Sarojini Agrawal. This was the 26th Neerja Bhanot award and was conferred on Neerja’s birthday (September 7) for the first time since its inception.
The annual Neerja Bhanot Award was instituted in 1990 in the memory of the brave Senior Flight Purser, Neerja Bhanot, who saved hundreds of lives while sacrificing her own, during a Pan Am plane hijack at Karachi Airport in September 1986. The Award consists of Rs. 1.50 lakh, a Citation and a Trophy. It is conferred on an Indian woman who, when faced with social injustice overcomes it with guts and grit and then helps other persons in similar social distress. A specially constituted Jury comprising of Mr. V P Prabhakar, Mrs. Kusum Gupta and Col. Parvinder Singh Hundal decided to confer the Neerja Bhanot award on Dr. Sarojini Agrawal.
While contributing a donation of Rs 5 Lacs to Manisha Mandir , Hon. Prof. Kaptan Singh Solanki, Governor of Haryana stated , I would rather consider this as my honor to attend such a meaningful, yet event . “ Neerja he said was a true definition of a strong , brave and courageous and fearless daughter and each parent should upbring their daughter in the same manner”. He appreciated the Neerja Bhanot PanAm Trust for their contribution towards the society and urged one and all to educate their daughters and make them bold enough to stand against any odds without flinching”.
Dr. Sarojini Agrawal is the ‘Mother’ of ‘Manisha Mandir’. In 1978, Dr. Agrawal lost her eight-year daughter, Manisha, in a hit and run road accident. Although she was plunged into grief by the loss of her beloved daughter, she also resolutely made up her mind to look after destitute girls who are forced to lead a miserable life as they do not get proper protection and guidance. She set up a home ‘Manisha Mandir’ for such helpless girls to provide protection, love and motherly care. Till now, over 700 girls have not just been provided shelter, clothing and food by Dr. Agrawal but also limitless love, warmth and all that a mother can possibly give. She ensures that the girls develop overall confidence and become self-dependent. Many of them have made their mark as bank managers, teachers and principals, while others have married into good families.
Accepting the Award, Dr. Agrawal said, “I am proud to receive this Award as it represents the spirit of Neerja Bhanot’s determination and grit in the face of overwhelming circumstances. A person must always face all adversities. She must stand up for her rights as well as the rights of other people, especially children , come what may.”
Congratulating the Awardee, Akhil Bhanot, Managing Trustee, Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust exhorted her to continue with her Mission, “We are proud of you,” he said, “and we look forward to you spreading compassion, love and affection to even more girls in the coming years as you are a true Neerja heroine.” He also read out a poet written shortly after the hijack by Harindranath Chattopadhya.
Aneesh Bhanot, Hon. General Secretary of the Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust talked about how the Trust was formed and the way it has been promoting the two core values of Neerja: ‘Do your duty, come what may’ and ‘never tolerate injustice or compromise on your self-respect’. He spoke about the care and attention to detail with which Mr. Harish Bhanot and the Trustees had structured the Trust in living up to the high ideals of Neerja.
The complete citation::
Neerja Awardee-2017
Dr. Sarojini Agrawal
It was in 1978 when Dr. Sarojini Agrawal lost her eight-year daughter Manisha in a hit and run road accident. Although she was plunged into grief by the loss of her beloved daughter, she also resolutely made up her mind to look after destitute girls, who, for want of proper protection and guidance, are forced to lead a miserable life. She decided to set up a home ‘Manisha Mandir’ for such helpless girls to provide protection, love and motherly care.
Resolutely overcoming all the initial problems, Manisha Mandir finally took shape on September 24, 1984 (Manisha’s birthday). Ever since, Manisha Mandir has been catering to the needs and requirements of destitute girls and till now over 700 girls have not just been provided shelter, clothing and food by Dr. Sarojini but also limitless love, warmth and all that a mother can possibly give. She ensures that the girls develop overall confidence and become self-dependent.
To achieve this objective, Dr. Agrawal provides them lodging, food and other daily requirements, imparts training and education for their upliftment according to ethical values and culture, trains them in various arts and crafts and provides them knowledge of technical and professional subjects. She guides them to make themselves self-reliant and get married to suitable persons as they desire or to choose independent jobs for their livelihood.
All the girls at the Ashram are like Manisha for Dr. Sarojini. Manisha Mandir is not an orphanage, but a home where they get all that a real mother can give to her daughters. The girls live together as a part of a huge family, where Dr. Agrawal is the mummy and her husband, Mr. V.C. Agrawal, a retired engineer, the papa. The girls have a common surname, Bhartiy, which binds them into a family bond. Many of them have made their mark as bank managers, teachers and principals, while others have married into good families.
Dr. Sarojini Agrawal embodies the true spirit of Neerja – of courage, commitment and compassion – and fully deserves to be a Neerja Heroine.
