Biju Patnaik
| Biju Patnaik | |
|---|---|
| ବିଜୁ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକ | |
| 3rd Chief Minister of Orissa | |
|
In office 5 March 1990 – 15 March 1995 |
|
| Preceded by | Hemananda Biswal |
| Succeeded by | Janaki Ballabh Pattanaik |
|
In office 23 June 1961 – 2 October 1963 |
|
| Preceded by | Harekrushna Mahatab |
| Succeeded by | Biren Mitra |
| Union Minister, Steel, Mines and Coal | |
|
In office March 1977 – Jan 1980 |
|
| Prime Minister | Morarji Desai |
| Constituency | Kendrapara |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Bijayananda Patnaik 5 March 1916 Cuttack, Orissa, British India |
| Died | 17 April 1997 (aged 81) New Delhi |
| Political party | Janata Dal (1989-1997) |
| Other political affiliations |
Janata Party (1977-1989) Utkal Congress (1969-1977) Indian National Congress (1946-1969) |
| Spouse(s) | Gyan Patnaik |
| Children | Prem Patnaik, Naveen Patnaik, Gita Mehta |
| Alma mater | Ravenshaw College |
| Profession | Pilot, politician |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Signature | .svg){kind=small} |
Bijayananda Patnaik, popularly known as Biju Patnaik (5 March 1916 – 17 April 1997) was an Indian politician and Chief Minister of Odisha for two terms. Also revered by many in Odisha as Sher-e-Utkal (trans. Lion of Odisha)
Biju Patnaik was born on 5 March 1916 to Lakshminarayan and Ashalata Patnaik. His parents belong to G.Nuagan, Bellaguntha, Ganjam district, around 80 km from Bramhapur. He was educated at Ravenshaw College in Odisha but due to his interest in aviation he dropped out and trained as a pilot. Patnaik flew with private airlines but at the start of the Second World War he joined the Royal Indian Air Force eventually becoming head of air transport command. While in service he began an interest in nationalist politics and used air force transports to deliver what was seen as subversive literature to Indian troops. But Patnaik remained committed to fighting the Axis Powers and when he was jailed for his illegal activities he only served two years in prison.
Biju Patnaik met with Jawaharlal Nehru during his participation in Indian freedom struggle and became one of his trusted friends. Nehru viewed the freedom struggle of the Indonesian people as parallel to that of India, and viewed Indonesia as a potential ally. When the Dutch attempted to quell Indonesian independence on 21 July 1947, President Sukarno ordered Sjahrir, the former prime minister of Indonesia, to leave the country to attend the first Inter-Asia Conference, organised by Nehru, in July 1947 and to foment international public opinion against the Dutch. Sjahrir was unable to leave as the Dutch controlled the Indonesian sea and air routes. Nehru asked Biju Patnaik, who was adventurous and an expert pilot, to rescue Sjahrir. Biju Patnaik and his wife flew to Java and brought Sultan Sjahrir out on a Dakota reaching India via Singapore on 24 July 1947. For this act of bravery, Patnaik was given honorary citizenship in Indonesia and awarded the 'Bhoomi Putra', the highest Indonesian award, rarely granted to a foreigner. In 1996, when Indonesia was celebrating its 50th Independence Day, Biju Patnaik was awarded the highest national award, the 'Bintang Jasa Utama'.
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