Bhubaneswar: Biju Patnaik was born to Laxminarayan and Ashalata Patnaik on March 5, 1916, at Cuttack in Odisha.
The iconic leader’s birth anniversary on March 5th is observed as ‘Panchayati Raj Diwas’ as Patnaik was a supporter of decentralizing power to the grassroots level.
Odisha paid tribute to freedom fighter, daredevil pilot and former chief minister Biju Patnaik on his 108th birth anniversary on Tuesday with leaders cutting across party lines and people from all walks of life remembering the legendary leader.
As we mark his anniversary today, let us delve into the life and enduring legacy of the former Odisha Chief Minister whose story remains etched in collective memory.
Patnaik was Chief Minister twice from June 23, 1961 to October 2, 1963, and again from March 5, 1990, to March 15, 1995. He played a crucial role in bringing Odisha to the forefront. He made a remarkable contribution towards the state’s development by setting up the Paradip port, Rourkela Steel Plant, Bhubaneswar airport, Sainik School and Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology in Bhubaneswar.
On his birth anniversary, every Odia people apart from political figures and bureaucrats remember his heroic act in Srinagar during Pakistan aggression in 1947, his help to the Soviet Red Army during World War II and his support to leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan, Aruna Asaf Ali by ferrying them to different places during the freedom struggle.
Biju, known to be a pilot of extraordinary qualities, rescued Indonesian leaders during its freedom struggle in 1947. Later, the Indonesian government conferred its highest civilian award, Bhoomi Putra (son of the soil), on him for his act of bravery.
Taking to Twitter, many dignitaries paid tribute to the legend.
Odisha Chief Minister and Patnaik’s younger son Naveen Patnaik took to twitter and wrote : “ଆଧୁନିକ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ନିର୍ମାତା, ମହାନ ସ୍ୱାଧୀନତା ସଂଗ୍ରାମୀ ତଥା ପୂର୍ବତନ ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ବିଜୁ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକଙ୍କ ଜୟନ୍ତୀରେ ମୋର ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି ଜଣାଉଛି। ସମାଜର ସବୁ ବର୍ଗର ଲୋକଙ୍କୁ ନେଇ ବିକାଶକୁ ବଳିଷ୍ଠ କରିବା ଲାଗି ସେ ଆଙ୍କିଥିବା ନକ୍ସା ଏବେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଆମକୁ ବାଟ ଦେଖାଉଛି। ଆସନ୍ତୁ ସେହି ବିକାଶ ପୁରୁଷଙ୍କ ଅବଦାନକୁ ମନେ ପକାଇ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଜାତୀୟତାର ପରିଚୟକୁ ଆହୁରି ଗୌରବାନ୍ଵିତ କରିବା। ନୂଆ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଗଠନର ସଂକଳ୍ପକୁ ଆହୁରି ଦୃଢ଼ କରିବା।“
Taking to tweeter, senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari wrote, “Humble homage to the freedom fighter and former Chief Minister of Odisha Biju Patnaik ji on his birth anniversary.”
Eminent sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik wrote, “କଳିଙ୍ଗର ବୀରପୁତ୍ର ବିଜୁବାବୁ ଙ୍କୁ ଶତଶତ ନମନ । The tall man has been the most loved public figure from Odisha. My sand sculpture on the birth anniversary of #Bijubabu at Puri beach in Odisha.”
