From Piloting the First Flight from Delhi to Srinagar and Sheltering Freedom Fighters at the Absconders’ Paradise: 20 Interesting Facts about Biju Babu

Bhubaneswar: Former Chief Minister of Odisha, the legendary Biju Patnaik was one of the very few charismatic leaders the country ever produced. The Iron Man of Odisha is well-known for his heroics both before and after the independence of the country. From giving shelter to the freedom fighters of the country against the British to flying the first army flight to Srinagar on October 27, 1947, to airlift the first Indian soldiers, Biju Babu’s contribution to the country is written on golden pages.

Some interesting facts about the Tall Man have been composed by Newsroom Odisha.

1. Biju Patnaik, full name Bijayananda Patnaik, was born on March 5, 1916 in Cuttack. Biju Patnaik’s parental home belongs to G. Nuagaon in Bellaguntha of Ganjam district.

2. During his stay in Delhi, Biju Patnaik was busy giving asylum to freedom fighters and trying to evade arrest by the British police. A foreign freedom fighter who was aware of this had named his house ‘Absconders’ Paradise’.

3. Biju Patnaik flew with private airlines but at the start of the World War II he joined the Royal Indian Air Force eventually becoming head of air transport command.

4. Biju Patnaik was honored by British rulers for his act of releasing some British families who were imprisoned by Japanese during the World War II.

5. Biju Patnaik helped the Soviet Army fight Hitler during World War II and was honored by the Russians for his service.

6. In 1943, he was sent to jail for two years for taking freedom fighters to secret places in his plane.

7. UNESCO Kalinga Prize was founded by Biju Patnaik in 1952 for the Popularization of Science.

8. When the Dutch attempted to quell Indonesian independence on 21 July 1947, Indonesian President Sukarno ordered Sjahrir, the former prime minister of Indonesia, to leave the country to attend the first Inter-Asia Conference, organised by Jawaharlal Nehru, in July 1947 and to foment international public opinion against the Dutch. Sjahrir was unable to leave as the Dutch controlled the Indonesian sea and air routes. Nehru asked Biju Patnaik, to rescue Sjahrir. Biju Patnaik and his wife flew to Java and brought Sultan Sjahrir out on a Dakota reaching India via Singapore on 24 July 1947.

9. For his act of bravery, Biju Patnaik was given honorary citizenship in Indonesia and awarded the ‘Bhoomi Putra’, the highest Indonesian award, rarely granted to a foreigner. In 1996, when Indonesia was celebrating its 50th Independence Day, Biju Patnaik was awarded the highest national award, the ‘Bintang Jasa Utama’.

10. Megawati, Indonesian President Sukarno’s daughter, was named by Biju Patnaik and his wife.

11. Biju Patnaik piloted the first plane from Delhi to Kashmir. On October 27, 1947, at Prime Minister Nehru’s request he helped airlift the first Indian soldiers into Srinagar. He flew from Palam Airport at dawn and landed at Srinagar Airport in the early morning. He brought 17 soldiers of 1-Sikh regiment commanded by Lt.Col. Dewan Ranjit Rai.

12. During the Sino-Indian War in 1962, Nehru consulted Biju Patnaik repeatedly for advice. For some time he was Nehru’s defence advisor, unofficially of course.

13. Most of Biju Patnaik’s ventures were named Kalinga, the erstwhile name of Odisha. He set up Kalinga tubes, Kalinga Airlines, Kalinga Iron work, Kalinga Refractories and Kalinga, a daily Oriya newspaper.

14. In 1946, Patnaik was elected uncontested to the Odisha Legislative Assembly from North Cuttack constituency.

15. When the Central government refused to give funds to build the Paradip port, Biju Patnaik: To hell with the Government of India. I will build the port with state government and my own money. And he spent Rs 1.60 billion on it. Later, of course, Nehru sanctioned funds for the project.

16. Biju Patnaik was an avid bridge player.

17. Biju Patnaik was an avid cyclist too. He was spotted many a time cycling to the State Secretariat. When he was studying, he had cycled all the way from Cuttack to Peshawar (now in Pakistan) to spread the message of humanity.

18. Biju Patnaik was Odisha’s Chief Minister twice and only for 7 years in total.

19. Biju Patnaik was one of the first to be arrested along with other opposition leaders during the Emergency declared in 1975. He was released in 1977.

20. When Biju Patnaik died, the national flags of three countries – India, Indonesia and Russia were wrapped on his body in his last journey. Heads of countries, Premiers often do not have such privilege.