Biju Pattanayak The Real Hero

Bijayananda Patnaik popularly known as Biju Patnaik was born in Cuttack, Orissa on March 5, 1916. His father was Laxmi Narayana Patnaik and mother was Ashalata Ray. Although his father was in judicial service, he was a great nationalist and a prominent leader of the Oriya Movement. He was closely associated with two architects of modern Orissa - Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das and Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das. Biju had hisearly education in Mission Primary School (Christ Collegiate School) at Cuttack. In 1927 he joined the famous Ravenshaw Collegiate School, where Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was once a student. In 1932 he passed Matriculation with first division and got admitted into the intermediate science class of the famous Ravenshaw College. During his College days Biju first saw Mahatma Gandhi in 1927 during the “Khadi Tour” to Orissa and came under his spell. He was assaulted by a British police officer as he tried to get a glimpse of the Mahatma, who was visiting Cuttack. Bijudiscontinued studies for B.Sc. Degree to undergo training as a pilot at the Aeronautic Training Institute of India, Delhi Flying Club. In fact, as a child Biju was fascinated by aeroplanes and from his school days, he had decided to make a career in flying. A small aeroplane had landed at Cuttack’s Killa Fort, when he was a student of Mission School. Biju ran away from school to touch his dream object. But he was chased away by the security police. “At that time I had only seen pictures of aeroplanes in books”- He recalled later.

During his study at Ravenshaw College he was athletic champion for three times. While he was a student of Ravenshaw Collegiate School at Cuttack he joined hands with Mahatma Gandhi to remove the British. After studying Aeronautics at the Aeronautical Training Institute of India, he started his career with Indian National Airways. Subsequently, he became a Pilot of Indian Air Force and earned great deal of reputation for his adventure during freedom movement. The Indonesia Government had honoured him with Bhumi Putra (Son of Soil) title. In 1961 he became the Chief Minister of Orissa. He started his career in Politics in 1946 and hold the following posts at different times as follows.

1952 - M.L.A., Bhanjanagar

1957 - M.L.A., Jagannath Prasad

1961 - Chief Minister, Orissa

1968 - M.P., Rajya Sabha

1974 - Opposition Leader

1977 - Minister, Steel & Mines, Govt.of India

1980 - M.P

1985 - Opposition Leader, State Assembly

1990-95 - Chief Minister, Orissa

Family :

Biju Patnaik was married to Gyan Patnaik. Biju Patnaik's 2 sons, name Naveen Pattanayak,Prem Pattanayak & one Daughter name Gita Meheta. Naveen Pattanaik is the current Chief Minister of Odisha. His daughter, Gita Meheta, is an English writer. His elder son Prem Pattanaik  is a Dilhi based industrialist.

Contributions :

1. The Choudwar and Barbil Industrial Belts

2. The Cuttack-Jagatpur Mahanadi Highway Bridge

3. The Bhubaneswar Airport

4. Regional College of Education at Bhubaneswar

5. The Orissa Aviation Centre

6. Paradeep Port

7. The MIG factory at Sunabeda

8. Thermal Power Plant at Talcher

9. Hydro-Electric Project at Balimela

10. The Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology

11. Engineering & Medical Colleges at Burla

12. The Orissa State Planning Board

13. Reorganisation of districts

14. Ferro Silicon Complex at Theruvali

15. Engineering College at Rourkela

16. Express Highway linking Daitari with Paradeep

17. Sainik School at Bhubaneswar

18. Regional Research Laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Orissa

Role in Indian Freedom Struggle:

In 1942, Biju decided to join the Quit India Movement under the guidance of the Father of the Nation to make India free. He became a leader of Congress movement with Jay Prakash Narain and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia and underwent imprisonment. In 1943, he was sent to prison for about two years for participating in the Quit India Movement. Aruna Asaf Ali recalling Biju’s role during this period mentions : “Among the thousands who came forward to take up the challenge, Biju Patnaik, Chief Pilot of the DalmiaJain Airways was one of the most fearless who mobilised the fellow pilots."