During a community event in Geneva, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar shared a personal story about the 1984 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight. In a surprising revelation, he mentioned that his own father was on board the hijacked flight, giving him a unique perspective on both the government’s response and the emotions of the families involved.
Jaishankar’s Shocking Discovery
In 1984, Jaishankar was a young officer involved in handling the hijack crisis. While working on the government team managing the situation, he made a startling discovery—his father, K. Subrahmanyam, a senior IAS officer, was on the hijacked flight. The flight, which had taken off from Pathankot, was diverted to Dubai, where the hijackers eventually surrendered without causing any harm.
Jaishankar recalled how he was supposed to return home to help his wife and take care of their son, but his plans changed due to the hijacking. “I rang up my mother to tell her I couldn’t come because of the hijack,” he said, only to later find out his father was one of the passengers.
Unique Perspective on Both Sides
What made the situation even more interesting for Jaishankar was that he had to juggle between two roles—one as a government official managing the crisis and the other as a family member worried about his father’s safety. This experience gave him a rare “window on both sides” of such incidents.
Details of the 1984 Hijacking
On July 5, 1984, an Indian Airlines flight was hijacked by 12 pro-Khalistani militants. The hijackers demanded the release of certain prisoners but eventually surrendered after 36 hours, releasing all 68 passengers and six crew members unharmed. Thankfully, the situation ended peacefully, and no one was injured.
Jaishankar’s Views on Hijacking Dramas
During the event, Jaishankar was asked about the portrayal of government officials in hijacking-related films and TV series. He commented that movies often show governments in a bad light to make the heroes look better. While he admitted he hadn’t watched the recent Netflix series on the 1999 Kandahar hijacking, he humorously remarked that “the hero is supposed to look good, or else nobody would watch the movie.”
Conclusion
S. Jaishankar’s personal connection to the 1984 hijacking adds an emotional depth to his perspective on government responses to crises. His unique experience of being both a government official and a family member during the incident sheds light on the complex emotions and challenges faced in such situations.
FAQs
1. What did S. Jaishankar reveal about the 1984 hijack?
S. Jaishankar shared that his father was on the hijacked flight, and he was part of the team managing the situation, giving him a unique perspective on both sides.
2. What happened during the 1984 Indian Airlines hijack?
On July 5, 1984, pro-Khalistani militants hijacked an Indian Airlines flight from Pathankot to Dubai. After 36 hours, all 68 passengers and six crew members were safely released.
3. How does Jaishankar view the portrayal of hijackings in movies?
Jaishankar noted that movies often show governments in a poor light to make the heroes look better, adding that this is common in such portrayals to keep the audience engaged.
