Odisha pays tribute to former-CM Biju Patnaik on his 108th birth anniversary

Bhubaneswar: The people of Odisha and outside paid rich tributes to legendary leader and former Chief Minister of Odisha, Biju Patnaik or Bijayananda Patnaik on his 108th birth anniversary today. His birthday is observed as ‘Panchayati Raj Diwas’ in Odisha.

A brave and a revolutionary leader, Biju Patnaik was born to Laxminarayan and Ashalata Patnaik on March 5, 1916, at Cuttack in Odisha. After passing out with a degree in Aeronautics from the Aeronautical Training Institute of India, Biju babu started his career with the Indian National Airways.

He was imprisoned in 1945 for taking part in the Quit India Movement. Later, Biju babu also played a prominent role in the Nepalese democratic movement and Indonesia’s struggle for freedom from the Dutch rule. For his exemplary contribution to the Indonesian freedom struggle, he was conferred with the highest civilian award in Indonesia titled ‘Bhumi Putra’.

Biju Babu served as the Chief Minister of Odisha from 1961 to 1963 and again from 1990 to 1995. He passed away on April 17, 1997, in New Delhi. At present, his son and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo Naveen Patnaik is the Chief Minister of Odisha and has been working tirelessly for the people of the state for 19 years.

Current Chief Minister of Odisha and son of ex-CM Biju Patnaik, Naveen Patnaik paid tribute to him on his birth anniversary. CM Naveen Patnaik took to his official X (formerly Twitter) handle and shared, “Tributes to Biju Patnaik, the creator of modern Odisha, great freedom fighter and former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik on his birth anniversary. The blueprint he drew to strengthen development involving people from all sections of the society is still guiding us. Let’s remember the contribution of those development men and glorify the identity of Orthodox nationalism. To further strengthen the resolution of forming New Odisha.”