MAKERS OF MODERN ODISHA

Utkala Gourav Madhusudan Das Utkalamani Pandit Gopabandhu Das

Maharaja K.C. Gajapati Narayan Dev

Maharaja S.C. Bhanj Deo Vyasakabi Fakir Mohan Senapati

MAKERS OF MODERN ODISHA

Kabibara Radhanath Ray

Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab

Pandit Neelakantha Das

Swabhavakabi Gangadhar Meher

Biju Patnaik

BANDE UTKALA JANANIKantakabi Laxmikanta Mohapatra

BANDE UTKALA JANANICHARU HASAMAYI CHARU BHASAMAYI

JANANI, JANANI, JANANI !

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PUTA-PAYODHI-BIDHAUTA-SHARIRATALA-TAMALA-SUSOBHITA-TIRA

SHUBHRA TATINIKULA-SHIKARA-SHAMIRAJANANI, JANANI, JANANI !

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GHANA BANABHUMI RAJITA ANGENILA BHUDHARAMALA SAJE TARANGE

KALA KALA MUKHARITA CHARU BIHANGEJANANI, JANANI, JANANI !

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SUNDARASHALI-SUSOBHITA-KSHETRAGYANA BIGYANA-PRADARSHITA-NETRA

JOGI RUSHIGANA - UTAJA-PAVITRAJANANI, JANANI, JANANI !

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SUNDARA MANDIRAMANDITA-DESHACHARU KALABALI-SHOBHITA-BESHA

PUNYA TIRTHACHAYA-PURNA PRADESHAJANANI, JANANI, JANANI !

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UTKALA SURABARA-DARPITA-GEHAARIKULA-SHONITA-CHARCHITA-DEHA

VISWA BHUMANDALA-KRUTAVAR-SNEHAJANANI, JANANI, JANANI !

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KABIKULAMAULI SUNANDANA-BANDYABHUBANA BIGHOSHITA-KIRTI ANINDYA

DHANYE, PUNYE, CHIRA SHARANYEJANANI, JANANI, JANANI !

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Legendary leader and visionary Biju Patnaik(5th March 1916 - 17th April 1997)

Our Sincere Obeisance....

Former Lok Sabha Speaker andVeteran Socialist leader late Rabi Ray

Our Sincere Obeisance....

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FAKIR MOHAN SENAPATI

Born on January 14, 1843, atMallikashpur in Balasore. Father, Laxman CharanSenapati and mother Tulsi Devi. He played aleading role in establishing the distinct identity ofOriya language and literature. FakirmohanSenapati is regarded as the father ofOriya nationalism and the modernOriya literature. He dedicated his lifefor the progress of Oriya language inthe later 19th and early 20th century.The story of Fakirmohan is indeedthe story of the “Renaissance” ofOriya literature. Besides he was asocial reformer and educator whoused his pen to criticize and correctthe aberrations prevalent in thesociety. He is called the father ofOriya fiction.

He is aptly called as Thomas Hardy ofOrissa. The four novels of Fakirmohan, writtenbetween 1897 and 1915, reflect the socio-cultural conditions of Orissa during the eighteenthand the nineteenth centuries. While the threenovels, Chhamana Atha Guntha, Mamun andPrayaschita explore the realities of social life inits multiple dimensions. Lachhma is a historical

romance dealing with the anarchical conditionsof Orissa in the wake of Maratha invasions duringthe eighteenth century. He has written quite a fewmemorable short stories, such as ‘Rebati’,‘Patent Medicine’ and ‘Randipua Ananta’.Fakir Mohan is also the writer of the first

autobiography in Oriya, ‘ AtmaJeevan Charita’.

Fakir Mohan’s first originalpoem ‘ Utkala Bhramanam’ (Toursof Orissa) appeared in 1892. It isnot really a travel book but ratheran unusual and humorous survey ofthe contemporary personalitiesprominent in the then public life ofOrissa. His other original poemspublished are Puspamala (TheGarland), Upahar (Gift), PujaPhula (Flowers of Worship),

Prarthana (Prayer) and Dhuli (Dust-grains).Fakir Mohan Senapati translated single-handedlythe whole of the ‘ Ramayana’ and the ‘Mahabharat’. For having translated both the ‘Ramayan’ and the ‘ Mahabharat’ single-handedand his wide versatility in the word of letters, heis popularly known as ‘ Vyasakabi’ in Orissa. Hewas also conferred the title ‘ Saraswati’ by theking of Bamra, the then feudal state. A great lover

Makers of Modern Odisha

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and a creator of new era in Oriya literature hewas the founder of an organization called ‘ UtkalaBhasa Unnati Bidhani Sabha’, which was startedin 1867 to create a new awareness among thepeople of Orissa and to propagate Oriya language.Died on June 14, 1918.UTKAL GOURAB MADHUSUDAN DAS

Born on 1848, April 28 at Satyabhamapurof Cuttack District. Father Choudhuri RaghunathDas, Mother–Parvati Devi. Madhusudan Das wasthe first Oriya to fetch the degreeof M.A.B.L., from CalcuttaUniversity. He was popularlyknown as Madhu Barrister,respectfully regarded andaddressed as “Utkal Gourav”. Hewas deeply moved and shockedto see the discrimination, madeagainst the Oriyas byadministrative authority. He wasconvinced that the miserable plightof the Oriyas was only due to theapathetic and indifferent attitudeof authorities towards the interestof the Oriya people. The Oriyascould not stand united only because of theirvivisection and annexation with three differentprovinces. So, he took a solid stand for theunification of the scattered Oriyas by organisingand mobilising strong public opinion among theOriyas and pressurised the British rulers for theunification of the scattered Oriya-speaking tractsfor the socio-economic and cultural growth of theOriyas at large.

Madhusudan organised Utkal UnionConference to form the channel for discussionand negotiations with the authorities to solve theproblems and open avenues for a new era of

unification and integration and played a pilotingrole in engineering the plans and programmes,pioneering the aims and objectives andchampioning the cause of the Oriya movement.“Utkal Sammilani” came into existence in the year1903 with the extinction of “Utkal Sabha”, itspearheaded the movement of the unification ofOriya-speaking units under one administrationwith right earnestness, disciplined plans andprogrammes.

Due to the ability andinspiration of Mr. Das, people ofall categories and sectionsconglomerated under onepolitical banner. It inspiredpeople with a surging up feelingof oneness of culture, traditionand language and a rare senseof nationality. This impactthundered the sky of Orissa. Itwent up to such an extent that“freedom movement” and theOriya movement got inter-linkedunder the stable leadership ofMr. Das and Utkalmani

Gopabandhu Das. Sometimes the twomovements were lacking harmony on the issue ofpriority. This situation impelled people to join handswith Mr. Das in the forum of Oriya movement,then the Congress. Utkal Sammilani or the UtkalUnion Conference maintained its separate identityfrom the Congress.

As a legislator, Madhusudan Das acclaimeda commendable height of wide appreciation andposition. It was mostly due to his sharp wit andinspiring speech of effective magnitude. He wasselected as the Minister of local self-Governmentof Bihar-Orissa.

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He was a leader of versatile performanceand could arrest appreciation and love of thepeople and the Government during the tenure ofhis ministry. Inspite of his popularity, he resignedin 1923 on a matter of principle. It speaks of hisintegrity.

His journalistic approach was reflected inhis weekly paper ‘The Oriya’ started in 1917. Itwas his intense desire to highlight the interest ofOriyas, criticising the Government’s policy throughthis channel of weekly paper. He was verygenuine and emphatic in his voice and action.

He was a national pioneer and a staunchpatron of Orissan development. He breathed hislast on the 4th February 1934. He was a bonafidebenefactor, a nationalist in true sense, acquiringthe first Master Degree and first B.L. Degree asthe first Oriya. He was the first Oriya to be themember of Legislative Council, the first Oriya tosail abroad, to visit England twice and to havethe membership of Central Legislative Assemblyas the first Oriya and the first Indian Minister.

GANGADHAR MEHER

Born on August 9, 1862 on the day ofSravana Purnima at Barapalli, Sambalpur in aweaver family. Educatedup to 5th class. Dr.Mayadhar Mansingh hashigh esteem forGangadhar Meher andin his History of Oriyaliterature he has opined“All told, GangadharMeher is one of therarest personalities andpoets in the whole range of Oriya Literature’’. Hispoetic creation includes ‘ PRANAYA-BALLARI’,

‘KICHAKA BADHA’, ‘ INDUMATI,’ UTKALLAXMI’, AYODHYA DRUSYA’, ‘ KABITAKALLOLA’, ‘ARGHYA THALI’, ‘ AHALYASTABA’, MAHIMA’ BHARATI BHABANA’, ‘KUMARA JANMOTSAV’, BHAKTIUPAHAR, ‘PADMINI’, KABITA MALA &KRUSHAKA SANGITA’. His prose creationinclude ATMA JEEVANI’, SHRI NRUPARAJSINGH’, ‘ PURANA KABI FAKIR MOHAN’,SWARGIYA KASHINATH PANDA’, ‘EHAKIPRUTHIBIRA SABDA?, SIKSHIT’, ASIKHSIT& SIKSHYABHIMANINI.

The popularity of his literary creation isdue to narration of the beauty of the nature justlike Kabibara Radhanath Ray. It is unique.Gangadhar is widely known as poet of nature,can be compared with poet Shelly, Byron andKeats. He was the messenger of UpendraBhanja’s style and ideals. His popularity is notaccidental. There are many reasons behind this.Just like Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja, hispoetries are replete with high ornamental words,unique composition style, using in befitting cases,simile and metaphor and appropriate words. Hispoetries are sonorous of rhythm of words andlanguages. He is rated as a great poet in IndianLiterature. Died on April 4, 1924. His poetriescan be divided into lyrics, devotional, patriotic,reformative, ethical, agricultural, elegy, andnarration of nature.

SRIRAM CHANDRA BHANJA DEO

Born on 17th December 1871 in a royalfamily of princely state of Mayurbhanj, Sri RamChandra ascended the throne on 15th August1892. He worked for the all-round developmentof Mayurbhanj state and implemented variousbenevolent measures for the welfare of the people.

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Pandit Utkalmani Gopabandhu became the friend,philosopher and guide of this ruler. Sri RamChandra broughtabout significantchanges in thespheres of language,health andadministration. Anarrow gaugerailway wasc o m m i s s i o n e dbetween Rupsa -Baripada during hisreign. He constructed two major reservoirs atHaldiha and Haladia with an expenditure of Rs.6lakh from royal treasury. Similarly in theeducational sector he raised the number of primaryschools from 44 to 400 in his royal jurisdiction.

Although he was the king of Mayurbhanj,he had great love for the entire Orissa. Under theable leadership of Madhusudan he gavemomentum to the cause of making Orissa aseparate Province. In 1903 Sri Ram Chandrapresided over the 1st session of Utkal Sammilani.Afterwards owing to the concerted efforts of thisSammilani the dream of Orissa for becoming aseparate State came to reality on 1st April 1936.This illustrious son of Orissa passed away on 22ndFebruary 1912.

UTKALAMANI PANDIT GOPABANDHUDAS

Born–9th October 1877

The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi,has aptly written, “The second half of the 19thcentury gave birth to outstanding men and womenin various parts of the country. The brilliance,

social reforms, education, law and literature areastonishing. Shri Gopabandhu Das was one suchnation builder”.

The age long hopes, yearning and prayersof the people of Orissa were fulfilled with theadvent of Utkalamani Gopabandhu. He was thebuilder of modern Orissa and was the source ofinspiration and ideals for her people. He dedicatedhimself completely for the country to that extentthat he had to lose hisonly son in his bid toredress the suffering ofothers. He wanted asociety - free frompoverty and ignorancewhere man could livewith self- respect andwould be able todevelop his ownconsciousness. Hevowed and worked throughout his life to achievethe objective.

Recognising the noble standings ofGopabandu, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray on28.6.1924, the veteran scientist and patriot ofBengal assigned the title of Utkalamani, (Jewel ofUtkal) to his name. In 1909 he had startedSatyavadi (M.E. National) school with PanditNilakantha Das and others in which PanditGodavarish and Acharya Harihar also joined littlelater. The school soon became popular, for itsqualitative and character building values. Alongwith Madhusudan Das he continued his struggleto arouse the people of Orissa to press theirdemands for the separate Orissa province throughUtkal Union Conference. He gave it a new imageby his practical works to keep up the cultural,literary and linguistic affinity and independentidentity of Oriyas then living in Bihar, Bengal and

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other Provinces. At Bahadaguda of Dhalbhumhe also started an Oriya M.E. School. Then inorder to spread the Oriya language and literaturehe started weekly ‘ Samaja’ on the 4th October1919.

His immortal words still inspire theyounger generation.“Let my body mingle with the dust of this Land, And let my countrymen walk along my back.

Let all the holes in the road of freedom be filledwith my blood and bone,

And let my life be sacrificed when my peopleawake into freedom."

He was a poet par excellence. The ideaof nationalism and love for Lord Jagannath andPuri has been emotionally described in his poem.

“ The Indian-lotus blooms in the world- pondAnd the Holy Nilachal is like pollens in one lotus,And whenever I am in India I am always in my

room,In my eyes the Indian stone is a holy stone,And every place is as beloved as my Puri,

And all water is as holy as the water of fine holyrivers,

And every holy place is my Nilachal”.Bandira Atmakatha & Abakasha Chinta arehis unique creations. He was versatile, genius, afreedom fighter, maker of modern Orissa, saviourof Oriya language, a social worker, and idealteacher, philanthrophist, journalist, poet,philosopher and a preacher of Jagannath cult.Died on 17th June 1928.

PANDIT NILAKANTHA DAS

In the early part of the twentieth century,those highly qualified youths who wanted to bring

renaissance in thefield of education andculture on Orissansoil, PanditNilakantha Das isone of them. Theothers were PanditU t k a l a m a n iGopabandhu Das,Acharya HariharDas, PanditGodabarisha Mishra and Pandit KrupasindhuMishra. These five comrades are popularly knownas “PANCHA SAKHA OF SATYABADIERA”. At the prime of their youth these fivecomrades had taken a vow not to enter intoGovernment Service and serve the country andensure its prosperity.

This illustrious son of Orissa was bornon 5th August, 1884 in the family of Ananda Dasat Sri Ramachandrapur village in the district ofPuri. He had his early education at the villageschool. In 1899 he was admitted to Puri ZillaSchool. In 1909 he passed his B.A. and hadbeen to Calcutta to continue his M.A. and B.L.studies. In 1911 after returning from CalcuttaPandit Nilakantha joined as a teacher inSatyabadi School. He then continued as aHeadmaster of the school for a large period. Laterhe joined as a Professor in Oriya and Philosophybut relinquished his service in order to join non-co-operation movement.He was elected as aworking member of Utkala Pradesh CongressCommittee and also a member to All IndiaCongress Committee. He edited a newspapertitled ‘ Seba ‘ from Sambalpur. After staying ninemonths at Sambalpur he returned toSriRamachandrapur. He was arrested in 1922 foranti-British activities and put to Hajaribag Jail forsix months. In consultation with Pandit

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Gopabandhu Das he decided to contest forGeneral Assembly. In 1923 he was elected as amember of Central Assembly. He participated inSimla Conference in 1926. In 1928, after thedeath of Pandit Gopabandhu he took up theleadership of Congress in Orissa. As per LahoreCongress decision he resigned from CentralAssembly and joined ‘Salt-Satyagraha’movement and was imprisoned for 6 months. Hestarted untouchable movement and served for thedepressed class. For the second time he was alsoelected as a member to Central Assembly. In1933 he edited a monthly Oriya Journal titled ‘Naba Bharat’. In 1934 after the death ofMadhusudan the entire burden fell on his headand the first phase of Mahatma Gandhi’s tour toOrissa was arranged by him.

In 1936, Orissa became a separateprovince, Pandit Nilakantha joined as thePresident, P.C.C. For his able leadership, out of60 seats, the congress got 36 seats.

Under his chairmanship for the spread ofhigher education in Orissa, he decided to establishan university for which a committee wasconstituted and later on as per recommendationof the committee, Utkal University wasestablished. In 1951 he was elected to OrissaLegislative Assembly from ‘ Swadhin JanaSangha’ a new party. In 1955 as per request ofPandit Jawaharlal Nehru he joined Congress. Inthe said year he was appointed as Pro-Chancellorof Utkal University. He was re-elected in 1957.He remained as Speaker of Orissa LegislativeAssembly from 1957 May to 1961 July.

Death laid its icy finger on him on 6thNovember 1967. With his death, Orissa lost apatriot, freedom fighter, able legislator, reformerand a poet and one of the architects of modernOrissa.

MAHARAJA SHRI KRUSHNACHANDRA GAJAPATI NARAYAN DEO

Maharaja Shri Krushna Chandra GajapatiNarayan Deo of Paralakhemundi, the son of LateGoura Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo was bornon 26th April 1892, educated in Madras, assumedrulership in 1913, an enlightened and benevolentruler; a patron ofeducation and cultureorganised the annualsession of the UtkalUnion Conference atParalakhemundi in1914. In 1916, hewas nominated by theGovernment to holdthe post of HonoraryCommissioner of theLand-Force of theDefence of India, laida light railway through his Estate connectingNaupada with Paralakhemundi; set up a big libraryin his palace for research scholars, an importantmember of the justice party of Madras, memberof the Royal Agricultural Commission in 1927,member of the Madras Legislative Council,represented the case of Orissa at the Round TableConference, London, 1930-31, deposed beforethe joint Parliamentary Committee for the union ofParalakhemundi with Orissa in 1934, placed theprinted Memorandum before the authorities andstrongly advocated for inclusion of the Oriyaportions of Paralakhemundi in Orissa and Orissafor a separate province; formed the non-CongressMinistry in Orissa in 1937, the Governmentconferred on him the title of Maharaja in 1936 inrecognition of his honour and merit. In 1941November the Maharaja was invited to form theMinistry and assumed the Chief Ministership.

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Member of the Constituent Assembly of India1947-50, life member of the Royal Society of Artsand Royal Asiatic Society, London; Life Memberof Utkal University, Utkal University conferred onhim the degree of LL. D. This worthy illustriousson of Orissa passed on 25th May 1974.

DR. HAREKRUSHNA MAHTAB

Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab was the son ofKrushna Charan Das and Tohapha Debi. He wasborn on 21st November 1899 at Agarpada inundivided Balasore district. After matriculationfrom Bhadrak High School, he joined RavenshawCollege, Cuttack for his higher studies, which were

left incomplete as hewas irresistibly drawnto the NationalLiberation Movementin 1921. Thereafter hislife was a saga ofstruggle and dedicationto the cause ofcountry’s freedom. Hestarted weeklyPrajatantra in 1923 at

Balasore. First imprisonment on charge of seditionin the year 1922. He was the member of Biharand Orissa Council in 1924. He joined SaltMovement and imprisoned in 1930. Heparticipated in Harijan Movement in 1934 andopened his ancestral temple to Harijans for thefirst time in Orissa. He was the President of StatePeople’s Enquiry Committee in 1938 andrecommended cancellation of Sananda of Rulersand merger of Ex-State with Orissa Province. Heparticipated in Non-Co-operation Movementand courted imprisonment in 1941 and “Quit IndiaMovement” in 1942. Dr. Harekrushna Mahatabwas the Chief Minister of Orissa from 1946 to1950, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry

from 1950–52, Secretary General, CongressParty in Parliament 1952, Governor of Bombayfrom 1955-56, resigned from Governorship in1956 and again became the Chief Minister ofOrissa from 1956 to 1960. Dr. Mahatab has beenrightly recognised as the architect of modernOrissa for his pivotal role in the merger andintegration of former princely States, founding theState’s Capital at Bhubaneswar and the sanctionand construction of the multi-purpose HirakudDam Project.

He was elected to Lok Sabha in 1962. Hewas also elected to Orissa Legislative Assemblyin 1967, 1971 and 1974.

He was the founder of the PrajatantraPrachar Samiti which till today publishes Daily‘Prajatantra’ and ‘Jhankar’ a monthly journal. Hewas Chief Editor of the publications sinceinception. He was the President of Orissa SahityaAcademy and Sangit Natak Academy for acouple of terms. Permanent member of the UtkalUniversity Senate. He was a distinguishedhistorian and writer in English and Oriya. He wasconferred Honorary Degree of Doctor by AndhraUniversity, Degree of Doctor of Literature byUtkal University and Doctor of Laws by SagarUniversity.

True to his multifaceted personality, Dr.Mahatab earned distinction as an accomplishedwriter “History of Orissa”, “Beginning of the End”.Apart from this, he had authored several novels,plays and poems which are acclaimed for theirliterary value. The compilation of his popularcolumn “Gaon Mazlis” published in DailyPrajatantra received the Central Sahitya AcademyAward in 1983.

Dr. Harekrushna Mahatab was a politicalleader par excellence. He towered over the time

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and events to lead the people of the State throughyears of transition during independence andthereafter. This illustrious son of this soil passedaway on 2nd January, 1987.

RAJA BAHADUR RAMACHANDRAMARDARAJ DEO

The significant contribution of many a greatleaders during 1920s and 30s resulted in theformation of a separate Orissa Province. RajaBahadur Ramachandra Mardaraj Deo ofKhallikote was one of them. He was born to RajaHarihar Mardaraj and Rani Kanak Manjari Devi

on 13th January 1900.In the days to come, hewas destined to shapethe future of Orissa.

As a child, hewas nicknamed Eric.He was brought upunder the guidance ofGoverness Mrs. F.Harvey Dunn. He lost

his father Raja Harihar Mardaraj Deo on 20thJuly 1909. Then he was sent to Madras forschooling at NewIngton. He studied at ChristianCollege upto the age of his eligibility to takecharge of his own estate. He came to the throneof Khallikote on 14th January 1921.

As first step in his pioneering effortstowards the formation of Orissa Province, heimpressed upon the Philip-Duff Committee set upin 1924 in favour of this cause. Mr. C.L. Philipand Mr. A.C. Duff came to Rambha, stayed inthe palace of Raja Sahib as his guests from 17thto 21st December 1924. A well attended publicmeeting was organised at Khallikotegarh and the

impressed Committee gave a report in favour ofthe amalgamation.

However, the O'donnel Commissionwhich was constituted later on gave a verydiscouraging report. But, Ramachandra Mardarajdebated against it in Madras Legislative Council.Inaugurating a special meeting of Utkal UnionConference on 21st August 1932, he emphasisedon the merger of Oriya tracts as per Philip-DuffCommittee recommendations.

Raja Sahib attended the 3rd Round TableConference in London where he forcefully madearguments for the cause. To augment hisapproach, he hosted the famous 'Orissa Banquet'on 12th January 1933 and there he impressedupon Sri Samuel Hoare, the Secretary of Statefor India and finally managed to get the approvalof Sir Samuel in favour of a separate OrissaProvince.

As per the deliberations of 3rd RoundTable Conference, a Joint ParliamentaryCommittee was constituted to look into this matter.Finally, the Government of India Act, 1935 wasadopted and the clause 289 of this Act providedfor the formation of a Separate Orissa Province.

Raja Ramachandra Mardaraj Deo wasa dynamic leader with full creative energy. Hiswide administrative and political experience andcompetence was a source of strength andinspiration for people who worked with him. Hededicated his life completely for the people ofOrissa and worked for their welfare. The greatRaja Sahib breathed his last on 23rd January1963.BIJAYANANDA PATNAIK

Bijayananda Patnaik popularly known asBiju Patnaik–Born on 5th March, 1916–Son of

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Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669

Late Laxminarayan Patnaik–Education : B.Sc.standard; Married : Shrimati Gyan Patnaik,two sons and one daughter ; Prior occupation :Business; Hobbies : Aeronautics and Industry;Travel Abroad : U. K., U. S. A., U. S. S. R.,Paris, Indonesia and several other countries;Political activities. Since boyhood fond ofadventurous life; Duringstudent life set out oncycle from Cuttack toPeshawar ; joined IndianNational Airways andbecame its ace pilot,During “Quit India”Movement collaboratedwith undergroundleaders; Imprisoned forthirty months ; At the riskof his life he brought the Indonesian Premier Mr.Sultan Siharir to New Delhi by plane at the timeof Indonesian Freedom Struggle. First Indianplane was landed by him in Kashmir in 1947, whenPakistan attacked India ; on returning to Orissatook interest in Industries and established many;President, U.P.C.C. for one term; Member,A.I.C.C., In 1961 Mid-term election under hisleadership brought unprecedented absolutemajority for Congress Party; Became ChiefMinister 1961–63 and resigned under “Kamraj”Plan; Kalinga Airways is one of his creations.Donor of 1,000 pound prize to UNESCO asScience Award; Elected to the Orissa LegislativeAssembly 1952, 1957, 1961 fromJagannathprasad, Surada (Ganjam) andChoudwar (Cuttack) respectively; again electedin 1971 and 1974 from Rajnagar (Cuttack);Chairman, Planning Board, Government of Orissa

from 1971 to 1972 June. Took active part andrendered valuable service to the people ofRajnagar area in particular who suffered from thehavoc caused by the cyclone in October, 1971.Elected to Parliament in 1977 and CabinetMinister of the Central Ministry 1977 to 1979.Elected to Lok Sabha from KendraparaConstituency in 1980. Again Shri Patnaik waselected to Lok Sabha from KendraparaParliamentary Constituency in 1984 Lok Sabhaelection. He was also elected from BhubaneswarAssembly Constituency to Orissa LegislativeAssembly in 1985 General Election. He resignedfrom Kendrapara Parliamentary Constituency andbecame the Opposition Leader in OrissaLegislative Assembly. Again he was elected toOrissa Legislative Assembly in 10th OrissaLegislative Assembly Election from BhubaneswarAssembly Constituency. In 1990 under hisdynamic leadership the Janata Dal secured morethan three fourth majority of the Orissa LegislativeAssembly which is quite unprecedented. He wasunanimously elected as the Leader of the JanataDal in Orissa Legislative Assembly and on his birthday he was sworn in as the Chief Minister ofOrissa on 5th March, 1990. Again he was electedfrom Bhubaneswar Assembly Constituency inMarch, 1995 and became Leader of Opposition.Later he contested for Lok Sabha Election heldin June, 1996 from Aska and CuttackConstituency. He was elected from both theConstituencies. He resigned from O. L. A. andjoined as Parliament Member from Aska LokSabha Constituency. This veteran leader passedaway on 17th April, 1997 at Escort Hospital,New Delhi.