The Controversy That Should Never Have Been
Odisha today finds itself in the midst of a controversy that should never have existed in the first place.
A statement made by Member of Parliament Mr. Nishikant Dubey—questioning and loosely casting aspersions on the patriotism and integrity of legendary leader Shri Biju Patnaik—has triggered outrage across the state. The remark, widely seen as uninformed and unnecessary, has led to protests, Assembly disruptions, and strong reactions cutting across party lines.
Let us understand this clearly.
This is not a routine political exchange. This is not a debate between parties.
This is what happens when an individual, without adequate knowledge or responsibility, attempts to comment on a legacy far greater than his own understanding.
A Man I Was Privileged to Know
I have spent decades in journalism. I have sat across the table from chief ministers, cabinet ministers, walked the corridors of the Odisha Legislative Assembly and secretariats, and witnessed political storms rise and fall across this land.
But in all those years, there is one man whose stature I never once saw matched — Bijayananda Patnaik.
Our Hero of Odisha, Biju Babu, as we who knew him called him with quiet reverence.
I was not merely a journalist who covered him. I was someone he trusted enough to keep close. There is a photograph in the AMF NEWS archives — Biju Babu and I, together — that captures not just two men in a frame, but the depth of a bond built over years of honest conversation, shared admiration for Odisha, and mutual respect.
That photograph is not a prop for me today.
It is a memory I carry with pride.
And it is from that place of truth—not hearsay—that I write today.
The Nehru Trust — A Testament No One Can Ignore
Those who casually question Biju Patnaik’s patriotism must first answer a simple question:
Would Jawaharlal Nehru have trusted him the way he did?
Nehru did not just know Biju Patnaik—he relied on him.
At a time when India was navigating some of its most sensitive national and international challenges, Nehru entrusted Biju Babu with strategic responsibilities. So deep was that trust that Biju Patnaik was given an office next to the Prime Minister in Delhi, even while serving as Chief Minister of Odisha.
Think about the significance of that.
A sitting Chief Minister, operating at the highest level of national strategy, working in direct proximity to the Prime Minister—not as a ceremonial figure, but as a trusted mind.
This is not folklore. This is recorded history.
To question the integrity of such a man is not boldness.
It is ignorance.
A Life of Courage, Not Commentary
Biju Patnaik did not build his reputation through speeches. He built it through action.
He was imprisoned during the Quit India Movement.
He flew into Srinagar in October 1947 at a moment when the nation’s security was at stake.
He risked his life to rescue Indonesian leaders during their freedom struggle—earning international honours rarely given to any Indian.
These are not political claims.
These are acts of courage.
And courage of that kind does not need validation from those who were not there, do not understand it, and cannot measure it.
Let Us Not Drag a Legend Into Political Mud
This is where restraint must prevail.
Biju Patnaik is not the property of any political party.
He does not belong to BJD. He does not belong to BJP. He does not belong to Congress.
He belongs to Odisha.
He belongs to India.
For decades, he has stood above political divisions—respected across ideologies, admired across generations.
Even today, responsible leaders across parties, including many within the BJP, have rightly acknowledged his towering contribution and stature.
That is the real political maturity this moment demands.
Let us not reduce a legend to a talking point.
Let us not drag a statesman into partisan mud.
Because when we do that, we are not diminishing Biju Patnaik—we are diminishing ourselves.
The Builder of a State
Modern Odisha is not an accident.
It is the result of vision.
Paradeep Port.
Bhubaneswar Airport.
Talcher Thermal Power Station.
Balimela Hydel Project.
NALCO.
HAL Sunabeda.
Choudwar and Barbil industrial belts.
Educational institutions that continue to shape generations.
These are not projects.
They are foundations.
Biju Patnaik did not merely govern Odisha.
He built it.
Odisha Has Responded — And Rightly So
The reaction across Odisha has been swift and united.
The Assembly has witnessed strong responses.
Leaders across political lines have spoken.
Public sentiment has been clear.
This is not manufactured outrage.
This is a society defending its memory.
Because for Odisha, Biju Babu is not history in books.
He is lived pride.
The Difference Between History and Noise
There is a fundamental difference between those who create history and those who comment on it.
Biju Patnaik created history.
Others merely react to it.
Statements may create temporary noise.
But history is not shaped by noise.
It is shaped by action.
And in that arena, Biju Patnaik stands unchallenged.
Final Word
As someone who knew him, observed him, and understood the scale of his mind and mission, I say this with complete clarity:
Biju Babu does not need defence.
But public discourse does.
Let us be responsible with our words.
Let us be informed in our opinions.
And above all, let us have the wisdom to recognise greatness when it stands before us in history.
Because legends are not made by narratives.
They are made by lives.
And Biju Patnaik lived a life that no careless remark can ever diminish.
