The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Biju Patnaik on his birth anniversary.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, “Tributes to Biju Babu on his birth anniversary. His futuristic vision for India, emphasis on human empowerment as well as social justice inspires us all. The nation is proud of his efforts for Odisha’s progress.”
Tributes to Biju Babu on his birth anniversary. His futuristic vision for India, emphasis on human empowerment as well as social justice inspires us all. The nation is proud of his efforts for Odisha’s progress.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 5, 2021
Read More: 5 March in Indian History
Bijayananda Patnaik (5 March 1916 – 17 April 1997), popularly known as Biju Patnaik, was an Indian politician, aviator and businessman. He served twice as the Chief Minister of Odisha. He was educated at Ravenshaw College in Odisha. He had a desire to be in the aviation sector. He dropped from his ongoing education and got himself trained as a pilot. Shree 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. For his courageous support during Indonesia independence struggle, Patnaik was given honorary citizenship in Indonesia.
In 2015, Sukarno’s daughter Megawati Sukarnoputri recounted how it was Patnaik who suggested she be named Meghavati or “daughter of clouds”. She, whose full name is Diah Permata Megawati Setiawati Sukarnoputri, later became Indonesia’s first female president, serving from 2001 to 2004. In 2021, the Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi designated a room on the name of Biju Patnaik. On the walls of the Biju Patnaik room are photographs, newspaper clippings and letters that document Shree Patnaik’s secret assignments to fly out Indonesian leaders, as well as his relations with the Indonesian leadership.
Biju Patnaik was born on 5 March 1916 in Cuttack, British India.