Biju Patnaik and His Dakotas

ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review he late Biju Patnaik’s daredevilry as a pilot Kalinga Airways restarted operations in Thas been eulogized in all his biographies. December 1957 by the merger of five airlines, These legendary exploits have given him a near Assam Airways, Indamer Airways, Jamair, mythical status. For his flying skills, Jawaharlal Kalinga and Dharbhanga Aviation with a fleet of Nehru called him “India’s buccaneer.” 15 DC-3s. From May 1960, Kalinga specialised It is a pity that the person whom every in supply dropping operations in the north-east Odia is proud of has been often misquoted, and regions of the country. Non-scheduled operations absolutely wrong references have been made of from Bombay to Dubai were also operated but his aviator days. He has been variously described were suspended in October 1962 to focus on as a fighter pilot in many of the official biographies. supply dropping. In fact, as a transport pilot, he possibly saved Biju Babu rescued Muhammad Hatta, the many more lives than he would have as a fighter then Vice President and Premier Sutan Sjahrir. pilot. He has been credited with making the first landing th Kalinga Airlines was formed in 1947 and at Srinagar on the 27 October 1947. Biju based in Calcutta and Biju Patnaik was the Patnaik did fly many supply sorties later on, and Biju Patnaik and His Dakotas Anil Dhir ferried troops and arms which helped in reversing Airline’s chief pilot. Kalinga had in its fold 15 the tide against the tribal invaders. His Kalinga Dakotas which were extensively used all over the Airlines and the Dakotas he flew are another country. The Kalinga fleet had carried soldiers forgotten aspect of one of the glorious aspects of into Kashmir, landing the platoons of troops in Indian aviation history. Srinagar. Kalinga Airlines’ DC-3s were also used His contribution as a contract pilot with to drop supplies at North Eastern India. The dare the transport wing of the Royal Indian Air Force devil exploits of Biju Patnaik in his Kalinga is commendable. Biju Babu has entered the Hall Dakotas are a lore in Indian aviation history. of Fame of Pilots for flying improvised aircrafts in In 1953, Kalinga along with other seven the “Hump” operations to the Chinese nationalists- independent domestic airlines including Deccan the most difficult air operations in World War II. Airways, Airways India, Bharat Airways, One in every three planes of the supply missions Himalayan Aviation, Indian National Airways, Air crashed. In fact, wreckages are still discovered India and Air Services of India was nationalised every year in the hills of Arunachal Pradesh. More and merged into the Indian Airlines Corporation. than half the pilots who participated in these 40 May - 2017 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 operations lost their lives. Biju Patnaik apparently I remember one story that he had told did the runs with a death wish; he survived all the me. Biju was in the cockpit, all revved up for hazardous missions and was never shot down. takeoff, when he saw a grounds man gesticulating I first met him as an awestruck cadet Pilot to him. The grounds man was pointing towards at the Government Aviation Training Institute, one of the engines and indicating that there was formerly the Orissa Flying Club, at Bhubaneswar something leaking. To make a check, the engines Aerodrome in 1980. Biju Patnaik would often would have to be stopped. Biju Patnaik gestured come to the hangar and regale the cadets with his to the grounds man that he should collect the liquid flying stories. I would even skip my flying sorties in his cupped hand and reach it to him in the to hear him. I used to go to Naveen Niwas and cockpit. He told me that a leak could have been spend time with him. I would timidly approach any of the three - fuel, oil or water. The man the gate of Naveen Niwas, and if Biju Babu used collected the liquid, climbed a stool and passed be in the lawn, I would stand there until he took the liquid to Biju Babu in the cockpit. He took it notice of my presence. With cautious temerity I in his cupped hand, and tasted it. He did not tell would go nearer. Most of the times he would shoo me what he found the liquid to be, but he did tell me away, grumbling ‘sabu dino palai asuchi’, me that he took off without any hitch. (he comes the every other day). His factotum I must have been a regular visitor for would chase me away, but on some occasions, nearly a year. Then came the elections and he he would change his mind and ask me in. became busy, and Naveen Niwas became a I recollect those days with vivid clarity. beehive of activity. There was a crash at the flying He would be sitting in a wicker chair on a small club and flying was stopped for many months. I grassy mound in his garden. His orderly would lost touch with the great pilot, but still remember bring a telephone set with a long wire that extended the many stories he had told me. to his house and place it on a small stool near The story of his Kalinga Airlines and the him. I remember the umpteen times I sat at his sixteen Dakotas he owned is the matter of a book feet. He would share with me tea and biscuits. At that I am writing which I hope to finish soon. times, he would be reminiscent, and tell me some Just tracing the journeys of his Dakotas makes stories about his chequered life, but I am sure such interesting history. Nearly all of them crashed many more remained untold. Biju Babu would in different parts of the world, some were read the newspapers, and intermittently pause to scrapped. But just one is kept at a memorial in tell me of some anecdotes of his flying days. If he Indonesia. found something interesting in the papers, he When a journalist asked Biju Babu on would ring up some of his party men and discuss his 79th birthday about the sort of death he wished the matter. for, he had replied, “I would like to die in an air He told me many flying tales, most of crash rather than from prolonged illness. I would which I still remember. The umpteen times he like to die instantly- just fall down and die”. Such landed with the Dakota’s fuel gauge at zero was was the man- a true daredevil who did not want the lore of pilots of his days. Half a dozen times to die idle. he had flown long distances with just one engine. Twice he had landed with a damaged Anil Dhir, independent researcher, Bhubaneswar, undercarriage. [email protected]. May - 2017 41 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review andhiji and his ideologies will remain alive a social worker. Born in an aristocratic family on Gtoday and tomorrow. If one considers from 3rd December 1899 in pre-colonial India of village the post independence perspectives, he or she Satyabhamapur in undivided Cuttack district of will feel the relevance of Gandhian ideology even Odisha, she was initiated with the mantra of today. The post independence era in India “Service to Mankind is Service to God” by her witnessed multi-faceted programmes for an all family members. ‘Love to Nation’ was inculcated round development of the society that are carried into her mind by her own uncle Utkal Gourav out by different organizations, institutions and Madhu Sudan Das. Her Parent Gopal Ballav Das sometimes by individual persons. In the nook and and Basanta Kumari Devi also played a vital role corner of India, the emphasis has been laid down in shaping her character. She with her husband by the Central Government and the State Gopabandhu Choudhury became a worthy administration as well to carry out the Gandhian soldier of freedom struggle by courting arrest and constructive programmes for socio-economic imprisonment frequently.¹ The day, 15th August Women in Gandhian Constructive Work Since Independence : A Study on Rama Devi Dhyanimudra Kanungo upliftment in the one hand and cultural unity and 1947, India achieved Independence, both Rama integrity on the other in the society. A trend is seen Devi and Gopabandhu Choudhury observed to be continuing in India since the days of freedom fasting taking a resolution to aware the people struggle to translate the Gandhian constructive that “hence forth they are their destiny makers. programmes in letter and spirit throughout the They are now responsible for their own progress land. Odisha is no exception to it. A dynamic spirit and development”. It became the primary duty is also noticed among the men and women of of everyone to see how a “Rama Rajya” would Odisha to struggle hard for implementing Gandhian be established in India. One should try to be self- ideology especially in the field of constructive dependant, self-confident, self-reliant and self- programmes in various fields for the betterment efficient through hard practice to establish a of Odia society. The pioneering authority to carry society free from violence, corruption, out Gandhian constructive programme in true letter exploitation and humiliation.² As she was not and spirit in Odisha was Rama Devi Choudhury, ambitious and power hankering, she did not join who was a freedom fighter, a true nationalist and in the active politics after Independence of India. 42 May - 2017.

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