Bhubaneswar, April 17: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, along with Deputy CMs Kanak Bardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida on Thursday paid heartfelt tribute to legendary former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik on his death anniversary.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Majhi wrote, "Humble tributes to the great public figure, freedom fighter and former Chief Minister of Odisha, Biju Patnaik, on his death anniversary. His contribution towards education and empowerment will always remain an inspiration for all. He was a proud Odia with self-esteem."
Naveen Patnaik, Leader of the Opposition in the Odisha Assembly and Biju Patnaik’s younger son, also paid floral tribute to his father at the Biju Patnaik Park in Bhubaneswar. The five-time former Chief Minister honored his father’s legacy, stating on X: " Tribute to the pride of Odias, the great people's leader Biju Babu on his death anniversary. His fearless life and indomitable courage are a source of inspiration for millions of Odias. The mantra he gave—to live with the people and work for the people—will always inspire us to serve the 4.5 crore people of Odisha."
Members of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the party named after the iconic leader, also marked the day with several commemorative events. Senior party leader and coordination committee chairman Debi Prasad Mishra led a ‘Tila Tarpan’ ritual at Bindu Sagar near the revered Shree Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar.
Biju Patnaik, a former chief minister, passed away on April 17, 1997. His legacy lives on through his son Naveen Patnaik, who entered politics after his father's demise.
Various events were conducted across different locations in Odisha today.
Born on March 5, 1916, in Cuttack to Odia father Lakshminarayan Patnaik and Bengali mother Ashalata Devi, with his ancestral home in Bellaguntha, Ganjam.
Known for his love of sports and adventure, he played a pivotal role in his school's football team, securing the inter-school championship for three consecutive years. In 1932, he embarked on a remarkable journey, cycling from Cuttack to Peshawar as part of the 'Visit India Mission,' spreading messages of humanity across roughly 4500 miles.
