Answer to What are some interesting facts and tales about Biju Patnaik, that you have heard?
It’s difficult to pigeonhole a man like Biju Patnaik. Some days before thousands of irate striking employees went on a rampage inside the Orissa secretariat in Bhubaneswar, destroying property and roughing up senior officials, the Big Daddy of Indian politics was in Delhi trying to glue together the fractious Janata Dal. These stupid chaps,” the chief minister says of the mob that took potshots at him, “at least you should have learnt your cricket. You can’t even bowl properly.
We have heard many things about Biju Patnaik. People call him a very strong leader and a proud Odia. People have made many stories out of the personality of Biju Pattnaik. Some say that Nehru was not ready to build a port in Paradip but it was Biju Patnaik who convinced Nehru. People say that once when Nehru was taking an aerial view of the place, Biju Patnaik appointed his people there with Lanterns. When Nehru saw so many lights there, he asked about what’s going on. Then Biju Patnaik told him that he had already started the work of building the port. It’s a story made by people and they say it to signify his role in the development of Odisha. Fact or fiction people know, but it’s interesting.
There is also no doubt that he had contributed a lot in building a modern Odisha. People also say that Biju Patnaik was a so proud Odia that he had no faith in the education system of Odisha. His children went outside Odisha to complete their education in a situation when the Odia youth was needing motivation, especially in the education sector. Some people also say that he did right as he cared about his family. People know what they say.
Odisha Formally Names Wheeler Island As APJ Abdul Kalam Island
The state government has formally issued gazette notification
The state government has formally issued gazette notification renaming the outer Wheeler island in Bhadrak district as APJ Abdul Kalam island as a tribute to the former president of India on his second death anniversary.
Though the state government earlier announced to rename the island in September, 2015, the state revenue department has issued formal notification in the Odisha gazette following clearance from the ministry of home affairs.Ex
Revenue minister Late Maheswar Mohanty handed over a copy of the notification to chief minister Naveen Patnaik .
Dr Kalam had a very long association with Odisha that is why we decided to rename the island as APJ Abdul Kalam Island,
Naveen said here at a function at the state secretariat. He also paid tribute to the former president.
The Wheeler Island is located approximately 10 kilometres off the Odisha coast on the Bay of Bengal. The Island, which is about 2 kilometres in length and 390 acres, is considered as one of the Country’s most advanced missile testing range.
Former chief minister Biju Patnaik had allotted the historic Wheeler Island to the Ministry of Defence on the request of Kalam in 1993. While announcing the decision earlier, Naveen said renaming the island as Abdul Kalam Island will inspire our youngsters to work dedicatedly for scientific research.