Biju Patnaik : Architect and Builder of Modern Odisha Biju Patnaik was a towering and multi-dimensional personality no less than a colossus in every sense of the term. This legendary leader and idol of the masses had almost a hectic and uninterrupted political career serving his state and the country in different capacities. The uncrowned hero of Kalinga, maker of new Odisha and formidable personality of Odisha politics, Biju Patnaik, was born on March 5, 1916 at Cuttack, Odisha.Indeed he was luckily to be born in a patriotic family. Biju Patnaiks life had, indeed, been one of challenges and adventures. These traits in his character led him to many spectacular achievements. Biju Patnaik was described by Julian Huxley in his memories as a remarkable Indian whose adventures will surely fill a book, and by Nehru as a man of energy and certain ability. He became an ace- pilot. During World War II he did not join the Indian Air Force which attracted many young Indians but became a dare devil transport pilot when the British commandeered all commercial planes into a sort of Air command. As he flew these military transport missions, he undertook cloak and dagger ventures to help Indian revolutionaries such as Jayaprakash Narayan, Arun Asaf Ali, Achyut Patwardhan, Manu Bhai Shah and others fighting against the British rule.During those war days he met a Kashmir girl, Gyan, in Delhi where they played tennis. Theyglamour, patriotism and rebellions all through the pages of history.had earlier once met in her sisters place. Very soon they got married in 1939. When the Dutch were at the throat of the Indonesian Republic, Biju Patnaik flew secret missions into the Indonesian Republic and at the instance of Nehru brought Sjahariar, the Prime Minister and Mohammed Hatta, the Vice President of Indonesia. In the summer of 1947 Biju flew to Jogjakarta on his helping mission. When Biju was ready with his Dakota plane, his wife Gyan was ready too. She went with him to invigorate his spirit who had left behind her a few months old baby. To reach Jogjakarta Biju had to fly over Jakarta, the capital of the province of Batavia, which was under Dutch control and he was well aware that the Dutch might try to shoot down his Dakota plane. The next day, on his enroute to Jakarta, he was surrounded by Dutch planes. But Biju flew the Dakota to such heights that, the Dutch pilots could not match their aerobatics and finally the Dutch pilots moved away form the Dakota. As luck would have it, Biju and Gyan returned safely after completing their mission. Apparently, Biju was far ahead of his time and society and also most of his party colleagues in thought and ideas. Much before he became the Chief Minister of Odisha, he had a thorough knowledge about science, economics, politics, geography and history. The new Odisha is the confluence of ancient Kalinga, Utkala, Odra and Kosala. Biju knew very well where the Kalinga was. His own Airlines christened as Kalinga Airlines. He also established Kalinga Tubes, Kalinga Refrigerators Corporation, Kalinga Iron Works, published Kalinga Oriya daily, founded Kalinga Trust, and introduced Kalinga Prize. When Biju set up the Kalinga group of Industries in the late 40s that were the hallmark of his entrepreneurial mind and the perception of a new Odisha. As an ardent industrialist people called him the Birla of Odisha. But he lost his mundane life and precious wealth in politics. Had not in politics he could have maintained the status of a TATA, BIRLA or AMBANI. Naveen Patnaik is also a versatile genius in literature. The influence of his patriotic father, the environment and atmosphere of his cosmopolitan family has tremendous impact on his mind. His books reflect his deep interest in Indian cultural history and tradition.A second paradise dealt with Indian culture, A Desert Kingdom with Indian history and The Garden of life with Indias environment and traditional knowledge. All these three books were published not just in India but also widely acclaimed in the USA and Britain. Biju Patnaiks Reign : An Era of Development The 1961 mid-term poll raised the possibility of an end to political instability, as the Congress Party under the dynamic leadership of Biju Patnaik emerged victorious with a stable majority. The election result was a surprise to many. For the first time in the electoral history of the State, the Congress Party under the leadership of Biju Patnaik secured absolute majority by capturing 82 seats in a House of 140 polling nearly 44 per cent of the total votes. Biju Patnaik who flushed with his magnificent victory in the 1961 election was awarded with the Chief Ministership of the State but appeared to think too much of himself. He gave an impression that he was all powerful to do anything he likes. He made many promises of bringing about industrialization in the State. However, due to his strong initiative, the construction of Paradeep Port and Sunabeda MIG factory was started. During his tenure as Chief Minister, the Lok Sabha elections were held in 1962. That was a big opportunity for Biju Patnaik to demonstrate his leadership before the party High Command. In the election, the Congress could win 14 seats and a massive 55.5 per cent of votes. Thus, the massive victory for the Congress Party in the Lok Sabha election during the Biju Patnaiks tenure as Chief Minister clearly demonstrated his full control over the party and the confidence he enjoyed from the people of the State despite factionalism in the party and opposition of the Mahatab group after he became the Chief Minister. In Odisha, Biju Patnaik embarked on this path of industrialization and development almost with a reckless abandon. In fact, his first spell of chiefministership in the 1960s was an era of industrialization and development. Ambitious and enterprising as he was from his boyhood, Biju Patnaik always cherished a dream to industrialize Odisha and turn himself into a top- flight industrialist by setting up large industries in his statewithout any help from capitalists like the Birlas, Dalmias or Tatas and show to the people in Odisha that it was possible for them to take up big enterprises on their own. After becoming a member of the State Legislative Assembly Biju showed restlessness to develop industries for him. And with Mahatab at the helm of affairs in the state Biju had no difficulty in obtaining state patronage. Mahatab tried to give him all legitimate help from government side. With such help Biju set up Orissa Textile Mills and also Kalinga Airlines. Soon he set up other industries like Kalinga Tubes, Kalinga Iron Woks, and Kalinga Refrigerator Corporation and in fact became monarch of an industrial empire in Odisha. All his earnings and income derived from his business activities were invested in Odisha for the purpose of setting up industries and development of scientific and technical education in Odisha. In 1947 he founded a Public Charitable Trust called the Kalinga Foundation Trust which established the chair of Geology in the Utkal University, the international Kalinga prize for popularization of science.It is obvious that in the late forties both Mahatab and Biju Patnaik came close to each other for their mutual interest. By 1950 Biju had practically become the principal financial prop of the party and Mahatab always encouraged him to remain as an industrialist without cherishing any political ambition.The spirit of adventure that had once prompted Biju Patnaik in his young days to move to the cockpit of an airplane from the less thrilling job of a ground engineer again goaded him to grasp the wheel of the administration in his own hands and steer the state through a rather uncharted course to a bright future of his dreams. Biju employed all his organizing ability for winning the mid- term poll in 1961. In the hustings Biju raised high hopes in the minds of the people with promises that under his rule milk and honey would flow in the lanes and by- lanes of the poor state. He used to urge the people to draw inspiration from his life- how he became a man of crores within a few years from a very humble beginning. In June 1961, Biju took over as the Chief Minister. Once at the helm of affairs, Biju tried to see that his ideas and dreams of making Odisha a modern industrial state came true. His greatest obsession was the sickening backwardness of Odisha. Naturally, he concentrated all his efforts in finding ways and means to make up the Lee way. With his great pull with the Prime Minister Nehru, Biju not only accelerated the process of development but was able to locate a number of prestigious projects in the state, e.g.- the Paradip Port, Sunabedha MIG factory, Talcher Thermal Power, Plant, Balimela Hydel Project, the Express Highway and many more. The concept of Panchayat industries to boost the rural economy was given a trial. A system of competition amongst the Panchayts and Panchayat Samities was introduced. The winning Panchayats were to get small scale industries as a prize up to the value of Rs. 1 lakh each and winning Panchayat Samities were to get medium scale industries up to the value of Rs. 1 crore each. By this method in geometrical progression, the entire state would have been industrialized within a span of 20/25 years. The scheme not only received the approval and active support of the Planning Commission and the Government of India but also inspired several State Governments to take up similar projects. These apart, Biju Patnaik was fortunate in having a Governor who was equally energetic. He was Ayodhya Nath Khosla, an eminent engineer who gave all help and encouragement to Biju Patnaik to give shape to his ideas. Khosla himself drafted a ten-year plan for the integrated development of the river basins of Odisha. The plan covering the period from 1963-1973 was called the Odisha??s decade of destiny. This was a modern industrialists approach to a conservative bureaucracy. Truly, the state had embarked on a new adventure under his stewardship. Everything was going tempo. But it was rather strange that a man like him, who had the noble ideas of building the state??s economy round the peasantry, was oblivious of a very fundamental aspect in his zeal for setting up a major port at Paradeep and to connect it by an Express Highway to facilitate iron ore movement by road. Both the costly projects proved to be a heavy burden on the state Exchequer and resulted in a lop- sided growth of the state since not much resources were left for the development of agriculture and irrigation, two most vital sectors for a poor state like Odisha, where 80% of people lived on agriculture.Moreover, by taking up the Paradeep Port Project he threw on the public exchequer a liability of about Rs. 16 crores - the amount spent on the project. The project became sort of a white elephant and Biju Patnaik had to face hostile criticism from his political opponents. The port was eventually taken over by the Government of India but the dispute over the reimbursement of the cost persisted and continued to be a bone of contention between the Centre and the State.Due to implementation of the Kamraj Plan he had to resign from his office at the instance of the Congress High Command for organizational work of the party on a full-time basis. Thus, Biju Patnaiks resignation ended the hope of political stability. Even with an absolute majority behind it, the Congress could not provide political stability in the State and the Party had three Chief Ministers in six years. After Biju Patnaiks resignation Biren Mitra formed the next Congress Government on October 2, 1963. Biju Patnaik was made the chairperson of the State Planning Board to look after planning and development of the State, the post that he held until January 29,1965. By that time, Biju Patnaik fell from the grace of the Prime Minister because of his pro-Sanjiva Reddy stand. As Biju Patnaik was defeated in the Assembly poll, he sought election to the Rajya Sabha. The Party recommended his name to the Central Parliamentary Board which rejected it and selected Narayan Patra as the Partys candidate though his name was not sent by the P.C.C. The followers of Patnaik revolted and set up T.Sanganna as their candidate. The outcome was a setback for the Congress(R) as both the official nominees Patra and rebel candidate Sanganna were defeated. Ultimately, the High Command accused Patnaik and suspended him on May 24, 1970 along with a few of his followers. Biju Patnaik, therefore, left Congress and formed his state-based party Utkal Congress. After the birth of the Utkal Congress, a new spate of developments took place in Odisha. Mahtab was waiting for such a situation. With Patnaik in it, he disliked Congress, when he was out, and he tried his best to enter into it. Biju Patnaik in the Opposition Bench Biju Patnaiks contribution to Indias democracy was the role he played tenaciously and repeatedly in Odisha and at national level for forming opposition unity through times of factional politics. The Indira wave virtually had no impact in the General Election of 1971 to the Odisha Legislative Assembly. The Swatantra Party secured 36 seats and the Utkal Congress of Biju Patnaik 32 seats, which after September by election became 36 seats. The Jharkhand, the P.S.P., and the C.P.I. secured four seats each.The CPI (M) begged two and Independents secured four seats. Soon after the election the attempt for a Coalition Government of Congress and UtkalCongress could not succeed. A coalition government was formed and Biswanath Das assumed the charge of office on 3rd April 1971in Odisha. The government headed by Biswanath Das depended on the Swatantra Party, the Jharakhand Party and the Utkal Congress. Despite his stay outside the formal power structure, Biju Patnaik was the unquestioned master of his Utkal Congress Party and coalition government. The Coalition Ministry came to the edge of fall down because of disagreement among the partners. By hook or by crook, the coalitions continued till June 1972. In the same time, the Utkal Congress Legislative Party under the leadership of Biju Patnaik, (this had 34 members) decided to rejoin the Congress Party. But the Congress Party admitted only 28 members of the Utkal Congress Party and the rest six members including Biju Patnaik remained in the opposition as Independent members. The Congress party,thereafter, formed Ministry with Smt. Nandini Satpathy as Chief Minister.Thus, the Utkal Congress was again revived in November 1972 and an 18 member legislative party including the left out seven Biju Patnaik as the leader. In February 1973, a combined front styled as the Pragati Legislative Party with the members of the Swatantra Party,six members of the erstwhile Utkal Congress Party and the members of the Independent Congress group was formed. The Pragati Party elected Biju Patnaik as its leader and he became as the leader of the opposition.On 1st March 1973 when the Assembly was in session, the political situation took a sudden turn. 25 members of the Congress Party including two Cabinet Ministers defected from the Congress and joined the Pragati Legislative Party. The Satpathy Ministry resigned immediately after that and the State came under Presidents rule on 3rd March 1973. Elections to the 147-member state Assembly were held on February 22 and February 24, 1974 in a favourable climate for the Congress. The Congress fought the election in alliance with the CPI. Therefore the fight was virtually restricted to the Congress and the Pragati combine of Utkal Congress, Swatantra Party and Samjukta Socialist Party. The emergence of the Pragati Party before 1974 elections was a significant development in the direction of bipolarization of the party system in the State. Biju Patnaiks idea of an all-India alternative was in fact realized in 1974 with the formation of Bharatiya Lok Dal.In the years 1974 and 1975 India faced a political turmoil of enormous proportions. Around this time the issue of corruption became the biggest issue. Jaya Prakash Narayans anticorruption movement was gradually taking unshakable roots. Raj Narayan challenged Indiras victory on the ground that she committed electoral malpractice. Mrs. Indira Gandhis electoral victory was soon giving place to Raj Narayans court victory. With the judgment in hand the opposition gave her two options; either to quite or face countrywide agitation. Indira Gandhi was not so weak leader to abdicate power by such provocations. A disillusioned Indira Gandhi became captive of circumstances of her own making. There was no alternative, except turning to the Constitution and Proclaiming National Emergency. On June, 25th 1975, President Fakiruddin Ali Ahmed signed a proclamation declaring a state of emergency in India on the ground of internal disturbances. Again on July 1st,1975, the President signed another ordinance amending the maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA)whereby the government could detain anyone it likes without assigning the grounds. The tenure of Lok Sabha was extended for one year. Many opposition leaders were put behind bars. At this Biju Patnaik and other leaders went to Jagjivan Ram with a suggestion that if he could come out from the Congress immediately they would support him. Biju Patnaik and Chandrasekhar spoke for the Janata Party. Nandini Satapathy and K.R.Ganesh spoke for PI only after they had finally checked up with their erstwhile comrades. Jagajivan Ram called his supporters to reach Delhi. When many arrived Ram said that he was leaving the Congress and he was going to announce this in the Congress Election Committee. On January 29th Ram finally decided to come out of the Party. The Jana Sangha, Bharatiya Lok Dal, Congress (O), the Socialist Party, the Congress for Democracy and Bharatiya Lok Dal merged together and named as the Janata Party. In Odisha, the Janata Party under the leadership of Biju Patnaik fought the elections in alliance with Congress for Democracy (C.F.D.) and the CPI (M). It bagged 16 (Janata 14, C.F.D. 1, CPI (M) 1) of the 21 parliamentary seats. Congress Party got only 4. In the Elections to the Odisha Legislative Assembly the Janata Party led by Biju Patnaik swept the polls while the Congress was completely routed. Out of 147 seats the Janata Party got 110 seats, Congress 26, CPI and CPI (M) one each and Independents nine. This was for the first time in the history of Odisha that a party under Biju won the election. The most remarkable feature of poll outcome was re-emergence of Biju Patnaik as the undisputed leader of Odisha. With a landslide victory of 110 seats a Ministry was formed with Nilamani Routray, a close lieutenant of Biju Patnaik, as the Chief Minister on 26 June, 1977.Biju Patnaiks Last Chance to fulfill his Dreams Following the election debacle of the Congress (I) in the Parliamentary elections of November 1989 at the national level in general and State level in particular. Janaki Ballav Patnaik, who frustrated the efforts of all his political rivals to remove him from the seat, owned the moral responsibility for the failure of the party in elections and as such resigned from the position on 1st December, 1989. Mr. Hemananda Biswal, a former critic, political rival of Janaki Ballav Patnaik and former Minister of Janaki Ballav Patnaiks Cabinet became the leader of the Congress Legislative Party and he took over as Odishas Chief Minister on 5th December, 1989. The Janata Dal led combine under the leadership of Biju Patnaik won a five-sixth majority, cornering 130 of the 147 seats with the Janata Dal alone getting 123. Biju Patnaik had played the pivotal role in the formation of National Front Government at the Centre and his contact with the Prime Minister V.P.Singh developed his image in Odisha. Biju Patnaiks appeal to the people to give him a chance at the fag end of the political carrier to build up Odisha of his dream had magic impact on the people. Waving of loans of small farmers up to 10,000/- also attracted the mass. The Boffors deal of Rajiv Gandhi also had an impact on the people. With a triumphant majority, Biju Patnaik returned as the Chief Minister of Odisha after a long gap of 27 years. His comeback was acclaimed all over the State as the emergence of an era of industrialization. The people of Odisha also nurtured a hope of getting something from Biju Patnaik at the fag end of his life. Before the election, Biju Patanaik was too in the asking of a last chance to serve the people. Biju Patnaik had cherished a dream of establishing a Second Steel Plant and empowering the women. During the Chief Ministership of Biju Patnaik, the process of liberalization, privatization and globalisation, which was started by the Centre assistance, was streamlined. More and more private investors were attracted to invest in Odishas market. He tried his best to establish a second steel plant in Odisha and selected Daitari as the proper place for the Second Steel Plant.When Biju became the Union Steel Minister during 1977, he tried to set up a shore based steel plant at Paradeep. But things couldnt move ahead because Moraraji Desais government fell half way through its tenure. Bijus plan suffered a setback. When Biju Patnaik again came to power in 1990 he was overconvinced that Odisha needs another Steel Plant and it was time to give solid shape to the concept, which had failed to take off. Biju always wanted to set up the plant in Paradeep because of the exportability of the product. A South Korean Company Pohang Iron and Steel co. (POSCO) was asked to study the feasibility of a port-based Steel Plant. The team of experts, however, showed unwillingness to Paradeep. Paradeep had another disadvantages attached to it. The Dredging Corporation of India in a report had said that to develop Paradeep for a Steel Plant would take 15 years of time and an amount of 250 crores would be needed as development costs. Finally, Biju gave in and Daitari was selected to be the right place for the second steel plant. The Kalinga Steel became the joint venture of the Government run concern IPICOL and Jindal Strips Limited was to set up the plant at Daitari. Before Jindals came the South Korean firm POSCO, had tried but backed out on the question of the place where the plant should come up. Although the investment of Jindals for a megaproject was totally beyond their corporate capability, they invested 70 crores in another project and finally they withdrew. After the oust of the Jindals, Biju Patnaik invited the Tatas to come and set-up the Steel Plant. To entrap the Tatas Biju offered many facilities. As all his efforts had gone into frivolous, he arrived in London in November 1991 to fructify his dreams. He persuaded Swaraj Paul, Chairman of the CAPARO group. Biju saw high hopes in Swaraj Paul. But his dream of 3 million tonne steel project received a severe jolt when the Germany unification came about in 1990. Without the help of congress Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, it was difficult to get foreign financial assistance directly for the Kalinga Steel Project. When he invited the South Korean Steel making firm POHANG Company to become a major partner along with the Jindal Strips, the Central Steel Minister accused him of violating the protocol by approaching a foreign company at his own. In the meanwhile the Narasimha Rao government at centre implemented the new Indian economic policy. These were governed by the principles of liberalization, privatization. Freedom to the entrepreneurs to establish any industry or trade or business venture was encouraged. State control, licenses, and permits system were also discouraged. For Biju Patnaik this was a golden opportunity. Again he successfully motivated Swaraj Paul to shoulder the responsibility of the Kalinga Steel. On 10th may, 1992 the Bhoomi Puja was held at Jakhapura near Daitari with the presence of Swaraj Paul, Biju Patnaik and the British High Commissioner in India. Meanwhile the Union Cabinet cleared the establishment of a giant steel plant in Odisha. Swaraj Paul was ready with the investment of money. But something happened in the midst, when Swraj Paul wanted to clarify that he was only an investor and not the principal promoter of the project as envisaged. He also said that the CAPARO group is also an equity investor and not leader as far as debt equity was concerned. Unless debt equity could be done at 3 is to 1 there was no way of proceeding with the Project. When this information reached Bijus secretariat every thing seemed to be unsettling for him. Finally, Swaraj Paul washed his hands off in the project. Three years of protracted negotiations, years of wavering and gallons of hopes all were dashed to the ground. A dream of Biju Patnaik became unfulfilled. However during the second term of Chief Ministership from March 5, 1990 to March 15, 1995 Panchayati Raj movement gained momentum under his dynamic leadership. He took a revolutionary step to reserve 33 per cent of seats for women in the three-tier of the Panchayati Raj system. As a mark of his profound love for Panchayati Raj institution the people of Odisha observe his Birth Day (March 5) as Panchayati Raj Divas. The son of the soil breathed his last on 17th April 1997 at the age of eighty-one. The whole country was stunned and messages condoling his death and eulogizing his contributions started pouring in from far and near.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 11:01:15 +0000
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