Rhetorical Passage on Biju Patnaik

Some leaders in history are born and destined to enjoy more fame far beyond the reputation of their contemporaries. Shri Biju Patnaik was one such rare personality; He was the brightest luminary. No assessment can do justice to his courage and remarkable valour. Born into an influential and aristocratic family in the year 1916 at Cuttack, he left his rich and comfortable life of home to satisfy his passion to serve the people. He entered politics with a focus on odisha’s economic development, to give its people a life of dignity and free them from poverty and deprivation. He began his political career as a Congressman under the inspiring leadership of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and enjoyed his love and confidence. He served the state as its Chief Minister first time during the year 1961-63. During that period he developed his strategy to revamp the rural economy of Odisha with emphasis on small and cottage industries. He fought and lost elections but was never shaken and always looked to the future with optimism. Though his party won and ruled the state in 1977-80, but he with an intention to build a richer and stronger Odisha, preferred to be involved in the National politics and helped, run the first non-congress National Govt. at the center. It was Odisha’s good fortune that he became the state’s Chief Minister again in 1990. It was a great and decisive political victory for the people of the state. His greatest gift to the nation was the legislative act to reserve 33% of seats for women, not only in the Panchayati Raj Institutions but also in all government jobs. It is worth recapitulating the history of this magnetic personality. Biju Patnaik was a big man with a great mind and the country is yet to appreciate his thoughts and contributions that have shaped the thinking of generations here in the state and in the nation.