It seems to be fuss over a colossus. The furor now set in motion over neglect of Centre to bestow Bharat Ratna on legendary leader Biju Patnaik is again an attempt to politicise and localise Biju.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which was named after Biju and is headed by his younger son and current Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has of late attacked the Centre on the issue in the wake of the nomination of former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee and freedom fighter and educationist MM Malviya for the award. As per norm, the Central Government can choose three eminent persons to bestow the award in a year. Hence, even as belated, the BJD has demanded the honour for Biju and declaration of his name for the award before March 5, the birth day of Biju.
There is, no doubt, that Biju more than deserves the recognition, given his high stature and contribution as a freedom fighter, daredevil pilot, uncompromising leader, Union Minster, Chief Minister and above all an enterprising entrepreneur. As an Odia he tried to promote Odia pride nationally and internationally. His involvement in rescuing Sultan Sjahrir of Indonesia during the Indonesian freedom movement in 1947 when his routes were blocked by the Dutch controlled air and sea ways is momentous. As a mark of their indebtedness to Biju, the Indonesian Government bestowed on Biju the Bhumi Putra award and later on the occasion of their 50 years of independence in 1996, Biju was given Indonesia's highest national award 'Bintang Jasa Utama'.
Biju as a leader in the post independence era in India was unique. A close aide of Nehru and a person who started his first innings as a Congress Chief Minister of Odisha in 1961, Biju parted ways with Congress after he fell out with Indira Gandhi over the Presidential election of 1969 and quit the Congress once and for all. He played a pioneering role in the JP movement and suffered jail term during the emergency period in 1975. He was Union Steel Minister in the Governments of Morarji Desai and Charan Singh. When Congress soaked in sympathy wave after the demise of Indira Gandhi and had a stunning victory in 1984, Biju had won from the Kendrapada lok Sabha seat in Janata Dal ticket. In 1990, he became the Chief Minister of Odisha for the second time. He died while an MP from Aska in 1997.
Biju's contribution to Odisha's development was immense. He set up Kalinga tubes, Kalinga Airlines, Kalinga Iron work, Kalinga Refractories and the Kalinga, a daily Oriya newspaper. In 1951 he established the international Kalinga Prize for popularisation of Science and Technology among the people and entrusted the responsibility to the UNESCO. He spearheaded the Port of Paradip, Odisha aviation centre, Bhubaneswar airport, the Cuttack-Jagatpur Mahanadi highway bridge, Regional Engineering College, Rourkela, Sainik School Bhubaneswar, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology-Bhubaneswar, Nalco and the Choudwar and Barbil industrial belts. He also established the Kalinga Cup in football.
It would be hard to capture all Biju's sparkle in a small anecdote. He was as much worthy a son of soil as a national and international leader and statesman. Therefore, whether or not he was nominated for the Bharat Ratna, he would continue to glow forever. If the award is given to him, it is not Biju's but the award's importance would increase.
The BJD has already exhausted Biju's name by using it as a brand name for various projects and schemes to give an impression as if Biju was only meant for it. During its long tenure, the BJD looks to have forgotten all other luminaries of the State. The party, therefore, must refrain from adding the issue of Biju's deprivation of Bhrat Ratna to its list of Centre bashing. Biju is not BJD's exclusive property and hence, should not be a means to an end. The ruling party should not localise Biju and limit his worth to a party or a region.