Biju Babu’s Tryst with Delhi Flying Club Created Epoch in Aviation History of India: Naveen

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s legendary leader Biju Babu’s tryst with Delhi Flying club created an epoch in the aviation history of India, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion of celebration of 105th birth centenary of Biju Babu by Delhi Flying Club, Naveen said, “Long years back during the British regime in India, a young man in Cuttack, in the East Coast of India, had a dream. The dream to fly high, high up in the air braving the storms. He loved the steel birds, impassioned to fly them across continents. And then, there was a Flying Club in Delhi that was ever ready to make such dreams realized”.

Among many of Biju Babu’s dare devil actions in the air, his role in Indonesian freedom movement is the most celebrated, Naveen said.

The former Odisha Chief Minister’s heroic act at Srinagar during Pak aggression in 1947, his help to Soviet Red Army during the Second World War and his support to leaders like Jayprakash Nathan, Aruna Asaf Ali by ferrying them to different places during freedom struggle are a few instances of his undaunted spirit. He is probably the only person who participated in freedom movement of three countries—India, Indonesia and Russia, Naveen said.

Delhi flying Club is an iconic flying institution of India from where Biju Babu received his flying license.

The people of Odisha and India owe to the Delhi Flying Club for adventures of Biju Babu in aviation.

Naveen further said, “Biju Babu continues to be a great source of inspiration for all of us. He always encouraged us to use our potential to stand strong for the weak and disadvantaged in the face of strong adversity”.