Biju Patnaik : a Tribute

Orissa Review # February-March - 2005 Biju Patnaik : A Tribute B.C. Rout The fifth of March 1916, was the masses for his charisma. He an auspicious day for Orissa, was a man who created as on that very day Biju history, changed history and Patnaik, the third child of shaped history. And the history Munsif Laxmi Narayan Patnaik he shaped was the history of and Ashalata Devi was born modern Orissa. His mission at Cuttack. The seventeenth of was the emancipation of Orissa April 1997, the day Biju from poverty and negligence. Patnaik passed away, was a Biju Patnaik was the sad day not only for Orissa but architect of Paradip port. It for the whole country. Biju was at his initiative that the port Patnaik was a legend in Indian was inaugurated by Pandit politics. He played a significant role in the struggle Nehru. He got more aid for freedom. He served the sanctioned for Orissa. Nehru country for more than six was criticised in the decades. People lovingly Parliament for his decision to called him the 'Hero of provide more aid to Orissa. To Kalinga' and the 'Kharavela of this, Nehru replied, '"Biju Kalinga.' Modern Orissa Patnaik has the courage, cannot be thought of without dynamism and zeal to work. So Biju Patnaik. there is no blunder in giving more aid to Orissa." This Man is mortal, but his speaks volumes of the deeds make him immortal. He extraordinary talent and attains immortality by dint of personality of Biju Patnaik. his brave and heroic actions. Biju Patnaik was such an Biju Patnaik, who took pride immortal man. Respected as a messiah and on the fact that he was an Oriya, had dreamt admired as an epitome of courage, Biju Patnaik many dreams. But his fond dream was the rise stood like a colossus. He was respected by of the dashing Oriya youths to dominate every 1 Orissa Review # February-March - 2005 sphere of life. Although he was practicing Prize was that every one should have at least a politics, he was certainly more than a basic understanding of science. The prize, politician; he was a leader of people, a given away by the UNESCO every year, is charismatic leader, a natural one. considered a prestigious award by the He faced many ups and downs in international scientific community. When Biju politics. Though close to Jawaharlal Nehru, Patnaik contemplated this prize, he gave it the he had to leave the Congress Party after Nehru's name KALINGA, an empire which existed two death. Such was the force of his personality thousand years ago. Like Nehru, Biju that it always drew extreme emotions from the passionately advocated inculcating scientific people, from blind adulation to hatred, temper in the minds of the people. More than depending on situations. There are some, who two thousand years ago, in 261 BC, the people try to measure the contribution of Biju Patnaik of Kalinga fought a battle, which still remains to Orissa in terms of roads and bridges and an unforgettable chapter in the history of Orissa. plants and ports he built. Being a man of industry It is impossible to forget the Kalinga War, fought in the past, he had tried to industrialise Orissa, on the banks of the river Daya, near though not with much success. A second steel Bhubaneswar; the water of the river turned red plant in the state remained one of his unfulfilled with blood. Biju Patnaik tried to revive it in dreams. the minds of people of the state and tried to fight another battle, the battle for removal of Biju Patnaik tried his best to bring about poverty. As a great statesman and a visionary, an industrial revolution in the state. The he always struggled hard for uplifting of Choudwar and Barbil industrial belts, the economic condition of the people of Orissa. A Cuttack-Jagatpur Mahanadi highway bridge, man with many facets and abilities, his love the Bhubaneswar airport, Orissa aviation for Orissa and its people was intense. Restoring centre, Paradeep Port, Express Highway, the Orissa to its ancient glory and to its rightful MIG factory at Sunabeda, the Thermal Power place in the country was his mission, for which Plant at Talcher, the Balimela hydel project, he worked and ceaselessly. the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, the Panchayat level industrial In 1943, Biju was sent to prison for about projects, Engineering Colleges, some of the two years for participating in the Quit India major Public Sector Undertakings of the State, Movement. During his eventful political career, the Orissa State Planning Board, the he served the nation as a Union Minister for reorganisation of districts, etc. were some of about three years. He was the Chief Minister his outstanding contributions. of Orissa for about seven years and a half, in two terms. The political career graph of Biju Biju was a champion of science and Patnaik had witnessed upward and downward technology. He believed in the modernisation trends. He spent more than half a century in of society on a scientific basis. He established Indian politics, both in and out of power, in the Kalinga Foundation for dissemination of the State as well as at the centre, heading the knowledge in science. He also founded the ruling party and building opposition structures. Kalinga Prize for promoting scientific His mission and message, ambitions and knowledge. The idea behind setting up Kalinga dreams made him a great leader. His love for 2 Orissa Review # February-March - 2005 his own native state had never stood in the way heritage just as it has been endowed with vast of his love for the country at large. He had the natural resources. But it has also been a state virtues of Utkal Gaurav Madhusudan Das, the neglected over the years resulting in its grand old man of Orissa, who had awakened backwardness and under development. Biju's the Oriya people from their deep slumber in mission of making the state rich and prosperous the first two decades of the 20th century. Some remained a dream. He had a multifaceted of his critics said that he talked much and did personality a freedom fighter, a pilot, an things impulsively, disregarding the means, but industrialist, Chief Minister of a state and Union history shows that whatever work he did was Minister, all combined into one. His life is an not trivial but a work of monumental glory. extraordinary saga of adventure and sacrifice, Biju Patnaik's presence was visible both valour and dedication. in his success and in his failure. The true son His death was an irreparable loss to the of the soil, he demonstrated pride and self- nation. Lakhs of people from all over the state respect of the Oriyas. He did not budge before bade a tearful farewell to their dear leader. A anyone, however powerful he might be. The number of dignitaries attended his funeral at only interest he had was the dignity and honour Swargadwar in Puri. These include leaders of the Oriyas. It was evident in his speeches in such as Deve Gowda, Chandrasekhar, A.B. the State Legislature and in the Parliament, in Vajpayee, KrishanKant, Devilal, Madhu his recorded discussions and interviews to the Dandavate, Laloo Prasad Yadav, S.R. Bommai, Press, and in his correspondences. Some of Ram Vilas Paswan, L.K. Advani. Biju was a his often quoted sayings include (i) 'To be man who never let Orissa down. He tried to born poor is not a crime but to remain so is follow the saying of Bhima Bhoi, a nineteenth indeed a crime,' (ii) 'If a thing can be done century poet, who wrote: now, do it at once and do not defer it to the Boundless is the anguish and next day,' (iii) 'Be loyal not to me but to the misery of the living destiny of the State,' (iv) 'Orissa is a rich state who can see it and tolerate ? where poor people live,' (v) 'Be a pride to Let my soul be sent to hell your State and not a shame.' but let the universe be redeemed. He wanted the Oriyas to achieve These are the lines,which Biju often excellence in every field. An Oriya boy born quoted and followed. seven decades after this great Oriya was born feels proud of the fact that he is born to the same race to which Biju Patnaik belongs. No other Oriya has ever bridged such a generation gap. Many of Biju's dreams remained unfulfilled. His dream to industrialise Orissa B.C. Rout is Professor of Political Science (retired); could not be fulfilled. Orissa, situated in the he lives at 7-H.B. Colony, Lewis Road, eastern seaboard of India, has a rich cultural Bhubaneswar-751002. 3 Orissa Review # February-March - 2005 Sarasvati : The Goddess of Learning Pradeep Kumar Gan Dr. Sanjeeb Kumar Mohanty Sarasvati, the Goddess of Learning occupies a takes the three forms of Mahalakshmi, Mahakali distinct position among the Sakta goddesses and Mahasarasvati. In her manifestation as of Hindu pantheon. Due to the wide prevalence Mahasarasvati, she is of representing of the worship of Shakti or the female energy Sattoguna. She is associated with the in India from a very early period among almost destruction of the demons Sumbha and all the different ethnological elements Nisumbha.6 She is the colour of white and the comprising the vast mass of Indian population, most beautiful of all beauties. As indicated in goddess Sarasvati became more popular the Pradhanika-rahasya, She is four arm among the followers of Shaktism. According holding a rosary, a goad, a vina, and a to David Kinsley, goddess Sarasvati is one of manuscript.

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