Cool, calm, composed, contemplative, he wears no sign of remorse and veiled melancholy on his face. A nonagenarian at present, having been born on January 1, 1923, he is seen frisking and frolicking with his grandchildren and seems to lead a contented life with charity to all and malice to none. Dr Benudhar Baliarsingh had both his private practice and Government job for quite some time before being elected to the State Assembly in 1971 from the Khordha constituency on a Congress ticket humbling his formidable rival Biju Patnaik. He was made a Minister in the Binayak Acharya Ministry and had carved a niche for himself as an honest Minister. Subsequently, he found a berth in the Nandini Satpathy Ministry. During his medical studentship days, he had aided the cause of the freedom movement, being inspired by the ideals of Gandhiji. He remembers with nostalgia how in his heydays he was inspired by the heroic tales of the Khordha Paika Militia, who had waged a relentless struggle against the mighty British since 1804. He strongly advocates that the history of India should be rewritten by our scholars by placing the Paika Rebellion in its proper place as the first war of Indian independence prior to the commencement of the Sepoy mutiny. He calls up on the youths of our country to emulate Gandhian thoughts as he finds no second statesman in the country to substitute the Father of the Nation. In an interview to The Pioneer, Baliarsingh spoke to Sugyan Choudhury at his Bhubaneswar residence. He was flanked by his eldest daughter and noted writer Dr Shakuntala Baliarsingh and his son advocate Prasanna Kumar Baliarsingh.
What is the secret of your good health at this ageIJ
During my early childhood days, grains of food were not of course as big as hen’s eggs, but unmistakably they were unadulterated. Nowadays, you all are consuming food which has been made somewhat toxic by use of pesticides and fertilisers. I am a doctor as well as a farmer. like my father and grandfather, I used to cultivate crops in our village fields and produced vegetables of all varieties in our farm house located at Narangarh, Khordha. That is how we used to consume organic food without any adulteration. Besides, we had a number of milching cows and buffalos that provided us milk and milk products for our succour and sustenance. That is probably the reason of my good health till date. I never consume bazaar food and I strongly believe that such a food habit of mine shall make me a centenarian. I wish the future generation of children and youths of Odisha and of my country as a whole should be able to avail unadulterated food for contributing towards a healthy nation.
How were you initiated into politics and public lifeIJ
From my student days at Olasing High School and at Khordha High School, we were inspired by Gandhiji’s ideals. I along with some of my friends used to contact people to join the laban Satyagraha of Gandhiji. We were also aiding the cause of the Quit India Movement although we were students. As I did not court any arrest as a student, my name had not entered into the list of freedom fighters. But I am happy to remember that I was deeply involved in the freedom struggle without the knowledge of the British. Of course, I was expelled for six months owing to my leading a strike in 1941 while I was a student leader. later on, as a practising doctor, I served the poor and the downtrodden and the needy people. People loved me in course of time and consequently, I joined politics. I have been defeated twice and I have also won twice and become Minister twice.
How were you inspired by Gandhiji’s idealsIJ
We were all inspired by Gandhiji’s ideals from our student days. I was particularly inspired by Gandhiji’s labana Satyagraha and Quit India Movement to corner the mighty British. He was not only a sage but also an astute political leader second to none in the world. How much I wish that the future generation of Indians should be in total agreement with Gandhiji’s philosophy for transforming India into a progressive nation!
Could you please narrate some of your memorable experiencesIJ
My memory is still fresh as to how I was close to the Panchasakha, particularly to the great Gopabandhu Das and Acharya Harihar. My impression of former Chief Minister Nabakrushna Choudhury is still vivid in my memory. He was like a perfect civilised gentleman in an otherwise pagan world of ours. He was very mild, gentle and was indeed a true friend of the poor and the suffering humanity. I remember how the late Gopabandhu Choudhury once came to my village and stayed with us. It was very interesting to note that the healthy and hearty Gopabandhu Choudhury was consuming the juice of 24 lemons at one go. I also remember how Gandhiji remained on fasting for two days protesting against the non-entry of Harijans to the temple of lord Jagannath. This happened at Berboi near Pipili when mother Kasturaba secretly visited the temple of lord Jagannath without the consent of Gandhiji. We all had assembled and senior leaders convinced Gandhiji with great difficulty to end his fasting. These are some of the memories which are still fresh in my mind.
What’s your opinion about present day politicsIJ
There are neither any ethics nor any value in present day politics. I shall narrate my own experience. Once, a wine merchant from Puri came to visit me at my residence while I was the Minister for Excise. He bowed before me and offered me the Prasad of lord Jagannath with Tulasi on the top. I at once took the holy Tulasi and prayed the lord while I offered the Prasad to be distributed among my staffs and the general public who had come to meet me. It took some time for the Prasad to be distributed among the public, but when it was being distributed, the distributor discovered to his amazement cash of Rs 5,000. The man had already vanished. Action was taken; the man was called; he repented for his misdeed and was returned with his money. But today, it is reportedly learnt that the Ministers and leaders are squeezing the lemon dry for getting any work done. Only God can help redeeming such a scenario!
What is your observation regarding the Paika RebellionIJ
The Paikas are a heroic race of Odias, who had waged a very formidable battle against the British since 1804 prior to the Sepoy Mutiny. It is not a matter of joke that tens and thousands of Paikas were slain and many Britishers were killed. Hence, the scholars and researchers should try to correct the error of history and rewrite the same that the first war of Indian independence was a mighty revolt by the Paikas and not just a mutiny by some paid disgruntled Sepoys of British India. Of course, we have our great respect for those mutineers. The Paika Rebellion was a well-organised movement and uprising against the foreign rule. It all started from this part of India, i.e., the Odishan soil of Khordha. I had personally requested late JB Patnaik to ensure formation of a Paika Regiment in the Indian Army in the models of the Rajput and the Sikh Regiments, but he did trifle little to honour the Odia sentiment.