ISSN 0970-8669 Review

Abstract Janaki Ballav Patnaik is a luminous star who appeared in the political sky of Odisha. He rose like a new sun in the political sky of Odisha after a prolonged darkness. For the reason, he gave political stability and at a time became unparalleled leader of Odisha. He has expressed his concern for the Odia nationalist and was one of the main architects of modern Odisha. His achievements are identified with the half century of Odishan history and has had contributed to revamp the social culture of Odisha. A man of high ambition and dreams, boldness and courage, dignity and self respect, sharp intellect and ready wit, he devoted his life for the development of Odisha. He is the guiding star and prophet of Odisha’s politics. Janaki Ballav Patnaik is worthiest son of Odisha.

Post-Independence Politics in Odisha : Janaki Ballav Patnaik as a Prominent Personality of Odisha

Gopinath Das

Introduction: The first phase of post- Background: There is a general feeling that independence politics in Odisha was marred by persons who are active in political life have to turbulence, instability and uncertainties. Unlike depend for their survival on their own image. For other states, it was not at all smooth sailing for this reason, there is constant striving by them to the Congress in Odisha as it had to face keep up their images and to enhance them as much formidable challenges from other political parties as possible. By “image” is meant the general and groups. The fight for power and political opinion among the people about and individual supremacy was often bitter and prolonged. engaged in public activity. This is supposed to However, the struggle for power was not only develop gradually through the years depending among the parties or between the parties but also on an assessment of his style of work and within the parties. And it was not for political issues character. However, this need not always is true or ideologies that parties fought both within and in the case of all and the image and actual figure with each other, rather all the political battles were may not tally. That happens due to the longing to mostly driven by personal interests of the leaders build an image of one’s linking and circumstances and were manifestations of ego tussles. favouring it. The decisive influence of the news

42 DECEMBER - 2017 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 media in forming public opinion is clearly exploited movement at centering round for purpose. Janaki Ballav Patnaik who evoking the Union Jack. was a popular young universal respect is an exception to this category leader of his time affectionately called by the of the highly image conscious political leader. people of as ‘Dada’. He was admired Nobody can possibly cite anything that he did by common men for his charitable disposition. deliberately boost his own image, nor never encouraged people to eulogies. On the other side of the political coin of Odisha, Nabakrishna Choudhury a veteran social Janaki Ballav Patnaik, obviously, is a organizer desired to form a social and voluntary politician of an extraordinary and uncommon man organization to implement the Gandhian ideology. possessing the qualities of a poet, translator, and On the advice of Dr. Mahtab, a new organization essayist, journalist, a freedom fighter, a Sanskrit called the ‘Sarvodaya Sangha’ was formed with Scholar, a thinker, and in every inch a true Odia, an objective of launching an extensive programme rose to the pinnacle of success from a humble in Odisha to work out Gandhiji’s ideas and beginning. ideologies into practice. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, He rose to the highest position during his visit to Odisha, inaugurated this chronologically though destiny played a major organization which was primarily functioning at role1 shaving his future in political to successfully Motilal Nehru’s residence. Initially, Nabakrushna adorn the office of Chief Minister of Odisha, and Choudhury became President of ‘Sarvodaya Central Ministry. Probably, Janaki Ballav Patnaik Sangha’. Biren Mitra, Baidyanath Mishra and is the first Odia Chief Minister who has enjoyed Janaki Ballav Patnaik were chosen as its members. longest term in power and politic so far. He is a mass leader not the leader of few as he started By the grace of Mahtab, Janaki Ballav his political life not as a non descript youth but as Patnaik could become the president of the Youth an young man set himself on a voyage of self Congress in Odisha. That was the first stepping discovery. That discovery was something which stone to Odishan politicis of Janaki Ballav Patnaik. took him on a different path of politics. Basically But when the question of state leadership arose a writer ends himself as a shrewd administrator Janaki Ballav Patnaik openly supported of the state. A political creature as he is, Janaki N.K.Choudhury instead of H.K.Mahtab in the Ballav Patnaik himself not have imagined that this meeting of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee. last resort of ‘Scoundrels’ who take him to such As a bonus to it in 1954, Janaki Ballav Patnaik amazing height. was appointed as the member of the State Congress Executive Committee. Right from the student days, the quality of his leadership and the burning desire for the When Odisha politics was in turmoil, independence of the country were transparently Janaki Balllav Patnak left Prajatantra Prachar visible in his activities and overall performance as Samity in 1967 after the publication of ‘Eastern a young and the shining star of the Motherland. Times’ ceased. Having no option left out he Janaki Ballav Patnaik was closely known to Biren decided to join active politics. Despite his political Mitra during the freedom movement and student differences with Dr.H.K.Mahtab, Janaki Ballav

DECEMBER - 2017 43 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review

Patnaik maintained his reverence and regard with Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi soon after the golden him as his political harbinger. crown of Central Ministry was endowed on Janaki Ballav Patnaik. This was the first political Emergence of J.B. gain of Janaki Ballav Patnaik as he was the Meanwhile, in the year 1969, serious staunch opponent to Smt. Nandini Satapathy. political developments with far reaching Janaki Ballav Patnaik always carried with him the consequences took place in the country over the courage and conviction to tackle any Presidential election followed by a split in the All responsibility even if he is stranger to it. He Congress with its repercussion on all the became the first Odia Minister in the Defense States. The Odisha Congress Party was also Ministry in the Central Cabinet. This was a rare divided in the matters of the Presidential poll. Biju opportunity for him to become a Central Minister Patnaik and his followers voted for the official in his first election to the Parliament. candidate, Sanjeev Reddy, while Mahtab, the Jana As a mark of recognition to his caliber, Congress leader and other had successfully he could draw due attention of Prime Minister motivated their party man to support V.V.Giri’s Mrs. Indira Gandhi. He could become an efficient candidature who was regarded as an Indira Parliamentarian through his fluency in both Hindi Gandhi’s candidate. The outcome was in favour and English. As he was the only Central Minister of Mr. V.V.Giri. In Odisha Mr. V.V.Giri got 67, from Odisha, he was in the absolute confidence Mr. C.D. Demukh got 46 and Mr. Reddy got of Mrs. Indira Gandhi. The political situation of only 15. But , because of his Pro- Odisha was candidly highlighted through him. As Sanjeev Reddy stand ousted from the party as he went against the whip of party high command. a bonus to it, Janaki Ballav Patnaik could able to Biju’s ousting from congress, paved the way for establish a Naval base at Chilika, which was one Janaki Ballav Patnaik to enter into the Congress. of his most vital contributions. He joined the Indira Congress in 1969 and But serious intra Party feud broke out over became an active member of it. Satpathy’s virtual non cooperation with the Ridding on the crest of Indira wave the reconstituted state Youth Congress which enjoyed Congress came out as the single largest party both the patronage of the high command. Shrewd at the centre and in the state in 1971. Seizing this Janaki Ballav Patnaik in collaboration with opportunity Janaki Ballav Patnaik contested form Ramachandra Rath instigated five youth Ministers the Cuttack constituency in the general of Odisha. Sriballav Panigrahy, Kanhu Charan election of 1971 as an Indira congress candidate Lenka, Jagannath Patnaik, Harihar and and got elected as an M.P for the first time. This Shaikh Matlub Ali revolted against Chief Minister was his first breeding point of entering into Mrs. Nandini Satapathy. successful political career in Odisha and outside. Mrs. Indira Gandhi returned to power Meanwhile, acumen, political influence, after a gap of two year and ten month. The land sagacity, popularity and confidence of Janaki slide victory of the Congress (I) in Odisha had Ballav Patnaik were already tested by Prime proved the amount of faith the electorate restored

44 DECEMBER - 2017 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 in the Congress Party and Janaki Ballav Patnaik as the Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation. As in particular as the unchallenged leader of Odisha. a mark of great respect to Mrs. Gandhi, Janaki By bagging 19 seats out of 21 seats he proved Ballav Patnaik invited her to inaugurate the Chilika his leadership calibre before Mrs. Indira Gandhi. Naval base on 21st February 1980 which was Only Biju Patnaik had won from the Kendrapada the brainchild of Janaki Ballav Patnaik during his Loka Sabha constituency with a margin of five Central Ministership in 1973. For the first time thousand votes. Senior leader Rabi he introduced direct air links between Delhi and Ray had lost his election from the Jagatsinghpur Bhubaneswar via-Benaras. He also introduced Loka Sabha constituency. Janaki Ballav Patnaik direct railway connection between Delhi and had won the election by a thumping margin of Odisha and flagged off the Nilachal Express from one Lakh and twenty three thousand votes from Puri. the Cuttack Lok Sabha constituency. This time all the election campaign and propaganda were The real trickery and game of politics held under the direct control and supervision of started when Janaki Ballav Patnaik was in the Janaki Ballav Patnaik. The Lok Sabha results in pivotal helm of Central politics. His main target Odisha once again proved his organizational ability was capturing of Odisha administration. Floor and popular leadership. The Central authority crossing, merger and split were ardently reposed more confidence in him. encouraged to oust Ministry. Keeping that in view Janaki Ballav Patnaik united The defeat of the Congress in 1975 had some enthusiastic young and energetic political thrilled Mrs. Indira Gandhi and she could gain leaders in Odisha, prominently, Raghunath new experiences out of it. She tried her best to Patnaik, Gopinath Das, Kapil Narayan Tiwari, reform his party and the drawbacks in the Prasanna Kumar Patnaik, Gangadhar Das and previous election led her to be more corrective Sairindri Nayak who were prompted to the extent and cautious. She had tried again to win the heart of meeting President of India Mr. N. Sanjeeb of masses and the public opinion in favour of her. Reddy demanding with a memorandum for the She had entrusted the Congress organizations of dismissal of Nilamani Routray’s Ministry. Odisha to a trusted man Janaki Ballav Patnaik, Simultaneously other opposition states' ministry as the President of Pradesh Congress Committee i.e. , Tamilnadu, Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat, in 1978. Madhya Pradesh and Maharastra were also Janaki Ballav Patnaik took right steps to dissolved as a retaliatory measure of Mrs. Indira rebuild the Congress Party in Odisha, which faced Gandhi. On May 1980, Odisha witnessed a debacle defeat in 1975 election. He visited all another challenging Assembly Election. In this the nooks and corners of Odisha and could able election, the electorate returned the Congress(I) to win the heart of students, youths, workers, to power with a stronger and more effective peasants, tribals and people of Odisha. majority with the hope that, it would provide a stable government and a new welfare programme Mrs. Indira Gandhi crowned as the India’s and development oriented administration. The Prime Minister on 14th January, 1980. She election results demonstrated a clear mandate in inducted Janaki Ballav Patnaik into her cabinet favour of the Congress Party. The electoral

DECEMBER - 2017 45 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review mandate marked the return of the Congress Party thousand days. He established the Industrial to power after a gap of nearly two and half years. Development Corporation of Odisha (IDCOL) Congress party had won 117 seats out of 146 in 1981. He also established NALCO, at Angul seats. Election was countermanded in one and Damanjodi, Paradeep Phosphates Limited, constituency. The poll verdict in 1977 was a vote at Paradeep and Ordnance Factory, at Saintala of censure against the excesses of internal in Bolangir District. He took steps for increasing emergency. In 1980, the same electorate fed up the small scale industries to a considerable extent. with the endless internal squabbles and ineffectiveness of the strife torn of Janata Party, What marked Janaki Ballav Patnaik as through a unambiguous verdict ensured the the successful Chief Minister was his conventional fantastic political rehabilitation of Mrs. Indira approach to the problems of the state, his zeal Gandhi. and energy for work and his patience to get things done as quickly as possible. Naturally he Janaki Ballav Patnaik elected as the concentrated all his efforts in finding ways and leader of the Congress legislature party although, means to make Odisha a rich state. For his close he was not a member of the Odisha legislative contact with Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the Prime Assembly. He was elected as the leader because Minister of India, Janaki Ballav Patnaik not only of his formidable contribution and calculated accelerated the process of development but able campaign during the election and as the to locate a number of prestigious project in the unchallenged leader of the Congress Party in state. His concept of one thousand industries in Odisha. Janaki Ballav Patnaik took oath of office one thousand days was given a trial to boost the and secrecy as the twelfth Chief Minister of rural economy. Many small, medium and major Odisha on 10th June, 1980. Having been resigned industries were set up. The establishment of small from the Central Ministry, Janaki Ballav Patnaik and medium industries contributed a lot for the choose to contest from Athagarh constituency as state. Truly, the state had embarked on a new a sitting M.L.A, Sri Rasananda Sahu resigned in adventure under his leadership. favour of Janaki Ballav Patnaik. Despite heavy opposition, Janaki Ballav Patnaik got elected to Conclusion: the Odisha Assembly. He is not a charismatic leader like Biju Janaki Ballav Patnaik was an undisputed Patnaik, who does believe in compromise. He is leader of Congress party. Opposition leaders not a traditional leader like by virtue almost annihilated. Nandini Satapathy who was of birth of class position, or not bureaucratic once upon a time an unchallenging leader became leader, by technical competence. He is not a spineless since she left congress. Harekrushna benevolent autocrat. Above all he is a true liberal Mahtab was almost at his retiring stage from the Democrat. His leadership characteristics are Centre to run the Odisha administration. friendliness, affectionate, cooperativeness, reciprocal, integrity, technical mastery, Confident Janaki Ballav Patnaik raised decisiveness, intelligence, faith, self assertiveness, high hopes on the minds of the people with self confidence, superior mental ability, amiability, promises of one thousand industries in one pleasing personality, courtesy, fearlessness,

46 DECEMBER - 2017 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 cheerfulness, industriousness, emotional stability, 7. Morris Jones, W.H. (1947), Government and Politics sympathy, sincerity, vision and ethics. in India.

References: 8. Naranga, A.S. (2000), Indian Government and Politics.

1. Antaryami Behera (2014), Sir Basudev Sudhal Dev 9. Paul, R. Brass (1994), Politics of India since – The Pioneer of Modern Odisha, Odisha Review, Independence. March. 10. Pylee, M.V. (1998), An Introduction to the 2. Basu, Durga Das (1996), Introduction to the Constitution of India. Constitution of India, New Delhi. 11. Ray, Amal (1970), Tension Areas in India’s Federal 3. Chandra, Bipan (1984), Communalism in Modern System, Calcutta. India, New Delhi. 12. Weiner, Myron (1989), The Indian Paradox, New 4. Dasharathi Bhuyan (2010), Emergence of Odisha Delhi. as separate State and Contribution of Khalikote Raj Family, Odisha Review, April.

5. Granvile, Austin (1999), Working of Democratic Constitution: Cornerstone of Nation, New Delhi. Gopinath Das, Lecturer in Political Science, Dept. of 6. Kothari, Rajani (1970), Caste and Politics in India, Political Science, R.D.S. Degree Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi. Kundabai, Mayurbhanj.

DECEMBER - 2017 47