Biju Patnaik : Architect and Builder of Modern Odisha
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Odisha Review February-March - 2015 Biju Patnaik : Architect and Builder of Modern Odisha Dr. Dasarathi Bhuyan Biju Patnaik was a towering and multi-dimensional formation of the Odisha movement. His wife personality no less than a colossus in every sense Ashalata Devi, came from a Bengali family who of the term. This legendary leader and idol of the had sacrificed their lives in the struggle for masses had almost a hectic and uninterrupted freedom. Brothers of Ashalata Devi-Bijayasri, political career serving his state and the country Deva Prasad and Anand Prasad were the in different capacities. The uncrowned hero of revolutionary youths who along with Surya Sen Kalinga, maker of new Odisha and formidable were responsible for the Chittagong Armoury Raid personality of Odisha politics, Biju Patnaik, was of 1930. born on March 5, 1916 at Cuttack, Odisha. Indeed he was luckily to be born in a patriotic Biju inherited the undaunted spirit of his family. Lakshminarayan Patnaik, father of Biju patriotic father and mother. Biju Patnaik’s life had, was a natural inhabitant of village Nuagaon in indeed, been one of challenges and adventures. between Bhanjanager and Belluguntha of These traits in his character led him to many Ghumushar area in Ganjam. Ghumushar has been spectacular achievements. Biju Patnaik was a most important nerve centre of Odishan described by Julian Huxley in his memories as “a literature and culture. Village Nuagaon that is remarkable Indian whose adventures will surely situated a few miles below the Kalinga hill is the fill a book,” and by Nehru as a man of “energy undying testimony of Kalinga region. Ghumushar and certain ability”. He became an ace- pilot. is known outside for its unique contribution to the During World War II he did not join the Indian Oriya literature. The tribes of Ghumusar had given Air Force which attracted many young Indians a tough fight to the Britishers for a long time during but became a dare devil transport pilot when the 1766 to 1880. In short, the history of Gumushar British commandeered all commercial planes into is the endless story of rare glory, greatness, glitter, a sort of Air command. As he flew these military glamour, patriotism and rebellions all through the transport missions, he undertook cloak and pages of history. dagger ventures to help Indian revolutionaries such as Jayaprakash Narayan, Arun Asaf Ali, Achyut Laxminarayan Patnaik came to Cuttack Patwardhan, Manu Bhai Shah and others fighting and settled in Tulashipur area in a house known against the British rule. as Anand Bhawan. Very soon Laxminarayan associated with the leaders of Odishan During those war days he met a Kashmir renaissance and became a pioneer of the girl, Gyan, in Delhi where they played tennis. They 14 February-March - 2015 Odisha Review had earlier once met in her sister’s place. Very located in the Kalinga region. The shift of their soon they got married in 1939. When the Dutch parents from Kalinga to Utkal or Odra had a great were at the throat of the Indonesian Republic, emotional impression on his body and mind. Biju Patnaik flew secret missions into the No body taught him to feel proud of being as Indonesian Republic and at the instance of Nehru Kalingan. It came naturally and the general brought Sjahariar, the Prime Minister and ambiance of his father encouraged that proud. He Mohammed Hatta, the Vice President of found Kalinga most interesting in him. The Kalinga Indonesia. Empire became a reality for him. He established his own Airlines christened as Kalinga Airlines. In the summer of 1947 Biju flew to He also established Kalinga Tubes, Kalinga Jogjakarta on his helping mission. When Biju was Refrigerators Corporation, Kalinga Iron Works, ready with his Dakota plane, his wife Gyan was published Kalinga Oriya daily, founded Kalinga ready too. She went with him to invigorate his Trust, and introduced Kalinga Prize. When Biju spirit who had left behind her a few months old set up the Kalinga group of Industries in the late baby. 40’s that were the hallmark of his entrepreneurial mind and the perception of a new Odisha. As an To reach Jogjakarta Biju had to fly over ardent industrialist people called him the “Birla of Jakarta, the capital of the province of Batavia, Odisha”. But he lost his mundane life and precious which was under Dutch control and he was well wealth in politics. Had not in politics he could have aware that the Dutch might try to shoot down his maintained the status of a TATA, BIRLA or Dakota plane. The next day, on his enroute to AMBANI. That was the reason he never Jakarta, he was surrounded by Dutch planes. But groomed his children to play politics. He could Biju flew the Dakota to such heights that, the Dutch not see politics as the posterity of his family but pilots could not match their aerobatics and finally literature. His daughter Gita scripted many novels the Dutch pilots moved away form the Dakota. such as ‘Karma Cola’, ‘Raj’, ‘River Sutra’ and As luck would have it, Biju and Gyan returned ‘Snakes and Ladders’. Naveen Patnaik is also a safely after completing their mission. versatile genius in literature. The influence of his Apparently, Biju was far ahead of his time patriotic father, the environment and atmosphere and society and also most of his party colleagues of his cosmopolitan family has tremendous impact in thought and ideas. Much before he became on his mind. His books reflect his deep interest in the Chief Minister of Odisha, he had a thorough Indian cultural history and tradition. ‘A second knowledge about science, economics, politics, paradise’ dealt with Indian culture, ‘A Desert geography and history. The new Odisha is the Kingdom’ with Indian history and ‘The Garden confluence of ancient Kalinga, Utkala, Odra and of life’ with India’s environment and traditional Kosala. Biju knew very well where the Kalinga knowledge. All these three books were published was? The Vizag copper grant of 1126 AD depicts not just in India but also widely acclaimed in the that Chodaganga Dev conquered Odisha and USA and Britain. assumed the sovereign title of “Lord of Sakala Biju Patnaik's Reign : An Era of Utkala”. He established his capital at Jajatinagar Development and later on shifted to Abhinava Varanasi Katak (Modern Cuttack) in 1212 - 1213 AD. The 1961 mid-term poll raised the Bhanjanagar, the birth place of Biju’s father was possibility of an end to political instability, as the 15 Odisha Review February-March - 2015 Congress Party under the dynamic leadership of without any help from capitalists like the Birlas, Biju Patnaik emerged victorious with a stable Dalmias or Tatas and show to the people in majority. The election result was a surprise to Odisha that it was possible for them to take up many. For the first time in the electoral history of big enterprises on their own. After becoming a the State, the Congress Party under the leadership member of the State Legislative Assembly Biju of Biju Patnaik secured absolute majority by showed restlessness to develop industries for him. capturing 82 seats in a House of 140 polling nearly And with Mahatab at the helm of affairs in the 44 per cent of the total votes. Biju Patnaik who state Biju had no difficulty in obtaining state flushed with his magnificent victory in the 1961 patronage. Mahatab tried to give him all legitimate election was awarded with the Chief Ministership help from government side. With such help Biju of the State but appeared to think too much of set up Orissa Textile Mills and also Kalinga himself. He gave an impression that he was all- Airlines. Soon he set up other industries like powerful to do anything he likes. He made many Kalinga Tubes, Kalinga Iron Woks, and Kalinga promises of bringing about industrialization in the Refrigerator Corporation and in fact became State. However, due to his strong initiative, the monarch of an industrial empire in Odisha. construction of Paradeep Port and Sunabeda MIG factory was started. During his tenure as All his earnings and income derived from Chief Minister, the Lok Sabha elections were held his business activities were invested in Odisha for in 1962. That was a big opportunity for Biju the purpose of setting up industries and Patnaik to demonstrate his leadership before the development of scientific and technical education party High Command. In the election, the in Odisha. In 1947 he founded a Public Charitable Congress could win 14 seats and a massive 55.5 Trust called the Kalinga Foundation Trust which per cent of votes. The Ganatantra Parishad whose established the chair of Geology in the Utkal vote share was 29 per cent in the last Lok Sabha University, the international Kalinga prize for election suffered badly with only 17.4 per cent popularization of science. votes. Thus, the massive victory for the Congress Party in the Lok Sabha election during the Biju It is obvious that in the late forties both Patnaik’s tenure as Chief Minister clearly Mahatab and Biju Patnaik came close to each demonstrated his full control over the party and other for their mutual interest. By 1950 Biju had the confidence he enjoyed from the people of the practically become the principal financial prop of State despite factionalism in the party and the party and Mahatab always encouraged him opposition of the Mahatab group after he became to remain as an industrialist without cherishing any the Chief Minister. political ambition. In Odisha, Biju Patnaik embarked on this The spirit of adventure that had once path of industrialization and development almost prompted Biju Patnaik in his young days to move with a reckless abandon.