By Dilip Ray
What mattered and concerned to him the most was the development of his motherland. All his actions and decisions throughout his public life were shaped solely by this consideration.
His daredevilry was not confined to his air skills but he was an equally great daredevil leader who never shied away from taking tough and bold decisions for the expeditious development of the state. Many a times, his decisions courted controversies but that could never fetter his spirit and quest to see Odisha as a prosperous state.
Such was Biju Patnaik’s dedication, devotion and determination for the cause of the state that even a commission, which was constituted to enquire into the charges of corruption and administrative impropriety levelled against him, ended up paying rich compliments to his efforts and noted that the development works undertaken by him will have great impact on history of Odisha and its future development.
In term of being in the government, Biju Babu’s tenure may not appear impressive but what makes him stand out distinguishably was his foresightedness , unmatched and unparalleled vision and his sheer unwillingness to compromise on the larger interests of the state for myopic electoral gains.
I still vividly recall him explaining me the difference between a politician and a statesman with his words of wisdom: “A politician thinks of the next election but a statesman thinks of the next generation.”
So true was he to his words. Not yielding to short-term electoral considerations may have associated costs but on its hindsight it earns you the respect and admiration of the masses, which is above and beyond everything.
He was the maker of modern Odisha and pioneer of Industrial Revolution in the state, and under his leadership, Odisha witnessed seminal moments. Politics was always any experiment to him, in which he made all possible efforts by exploring all possible options to put the mineral rich state on the track of growth and prosperity.
The word “colossus” to some extent does justice to the towering personality that he commanded. He in every sense and term was the “Colossus of Indian Politics”.
Biju Babu was perhaps the only Indian leader in whose funeral the national flags of three nations – India, Indonesia and the USSR – were draped. His role in Indian freedom struggle, Indonesian freedom struggle, saving Kashmir from Pakistan backed infiltrators, equally significant role played by him in Sino-India 1962 conflict is well documented. The list of the sagas of his bravery goes on. A dauntless patriot, he always volunteered himself to the service of the nation, whenever time and circumstances demanded so.
The first director general of UNESCO and recipient of Kalinga Prize, Sir Julian Huxley had rightly described him as a “remarkable Indian whose adventures would fill a book” and in fact, it will not even be a stretch to say that every facet of his personality can fill a book.
I pay my humble heartfelt tributes to my mentor, idol and guide Biju Patnaik on his birth anniversary. Matching the attributes of his towering personality is too difficult a task, if not impossible, but we all in our individual capacities can commit ourselves to make a difference and contribute, whichever ways possible, towards the development of our motherland, for that will be the best tribute to the illustrious son of soil.
(Ray, a former Union minister, was closely associated with Biju Patnaik. This tribute has been reproduced from his Facebook page)
