Born in Lahore in 1922, Harish Bhanot studied at FC College, Lahore, and later entered the field of journalism. He served with The Hindustan Times with distinction for over 30 years, first at Chandigarh and later in Mumbai.

He was also a nominated member of the first Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh (MCC), and remained chairman of the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC). He also remained chairman of the Sarvithkari Education Society, which runs over 150 schools across the state.

After his young daughter’s untimely death, Harish Bhanot and the family put the insurance money of Neerja in a Trust — the Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust— in which Pan Am Airlines also contributed an equal amount. Every year, the trust honours airline crew that acts beyond the call of duty and Indian women who have shown exemplary courage under difficult circumstances.