Biju Babu deserves Bharat Ratna: Ex PM HD Deve Gowda

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KalingaTV News Network

Bhubaneswar: Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda on Saturday urged the government of India to confer the Bharat Ratna on legendary political leader and former Chief Minister of Odisha Biju Patnaik.

“The government of India must confer the Bharat Ratna on the tallest man Biju Patnaik as he deserves it for his contribution to the nation,” appealed Deve Gowda while addressing a packed audience at Utkal Mandap on the book launch ceremony of a pictorial biography of Biju Patnaik ‘The Tall Man Biju Patnaik’ on his birth centenary celebration.

“Biju Babu had a great role in making me the Chief Minister of Karnataka and also the Prime Minister of India,” he recalled. “This book ‘The Tall Man Biju Patnaik’ must be published in all languages because I myself was surprised when I went through the book,” advised the former PM.

In his address, former President of India Pranab Mukherjee said, “Biju Patnaik was truly a nationalist. I felt honoured and little apprehensive as a short man like me will speak of a truly tall man like Biju Patnaik, then I remembered what a fond of affection he had for me,” he added.

Former Deputy Prime Minister and BJP veteran L.K. Advani, said “I might have unveiled innumerable books in my life. However, I had never unveiled such a wonderful book which I unveiled today.”

“Contribution of Biju Patnaik is incomparable. He played a vital role in the making of modern Odisha. He lives and will continue to live in the heart of every Odia,” Advani added.

CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, who also shared the dais during the event as special guest, stated that the book has an appropriate title as “Tall Man”. But, Biju Babu was not merely a physically tall man but also he was one of the tallest figures in Indian politics as freedom fighter and who contributed to create a vision.

“Biju Babu is Biju Babu because of what his vision was and what his dedication was to build a modern India and Odisha,” added Yechury.

Biju Patnaik’s son and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik said, “Biju Babu is an idea in continuity, an idea of realising the breadth of human aspiration, an idea of Odia self-esteem, selfless service and empowerment, an idea that was much ahead of his times.”

Speaking about the book, senior journalist and columnist Prabhu Chawla, who reviewed the pictorial biography said, “The book “The Tall Man Biju Patnaik” written by Sundar Ganesan is a real tribute to the man who was a real national leader, but never got the national headlines.”

“History will be unkind to us, who are the students of politics and journalists because we have been very unfair to a person like him. Since he was based in Bhubaneswar, Delhi and prime-time news channels or newspapers never gave him the attention that he deserved. Really, history will be unkind to us because we ignored a person who changed the face of India,” Chawla regretted.

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