Janaki Ballabh Patnaik remembered as multifaceted leader, scholar

Bhubaneswar, Jan 3 : Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday paid rich tributes to former Chief Minister Janaki Ballabh Patnaik, remembering him as a man of versatile talents who left an indelible mark on politics, journalism, literature and scholarship.

Speaking at the birth centenary celebrations of Janaki Ballabh Patnaik, Majhi described him as a distinguished politician, accomplished journalist and editor, literary scholar, translator and a renowned Indologist. He said that Janaki Babu continues to inspire generations of leaders in Odisha as a mentor and guiding force.

The Chief Minister observed that Patnaik’s greatest strength was his ability to carry out public duty with determination and calm, undeterred by challenges. Continuous hard work and patience, he said, were the cornerstones of his success.

Highlighting two defining aspects of Patnaik’s life, Majhi said the former leader was revered both for his deep scholarship and his leadership. His multifaceted contributions to language, literature and culture played a pivotal role in the promotion and propagation of Odia language and literature. As a leader, Patnaik demonstrated that longevity in public life comes through patience, strong organisational skills and unwavering commitment to public service.

Tracing his long political career, Majhi said Janaki Ballabh Patnaik’s journey from 1971 to 2009 was remarkable. He served as Deputy Minister, Minister of State and Cabinet Minister at the Centre, was three times Chief Minister of Odisha, functioned as Leader of the Opposition, and later served as Governor of Assam from 2009 to 2014.

The Chief Minister also recalled Patnaik’s close association with journalism and literature. Beginning his career in journalism in 1949, he took up the profession as a mission and achieved rare distinction by becoming editor of two newspapers at a young age. His first major literary work, “Gautama Buddha”, was published in 1956. He later translated the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Shrimad Bhagavata into Odia prose, besides translating Bhartruhari’s Shringara Shataka, Niti Shataka and Vairagya Shataka.

Majhi said Patnaik’s literary works written during his tenure as Assam Governor, including “Writing from Assam” and his autobiography “Asamapta Atmalipi” (An Unfinished Autobiography), reflected his profound intellectual depth. In recognition of his scholarship in Sanskrit literature, he was conferred the title of Prajñāna Vāchaspati by Shri Jagannath Sanskrit University, Puri, and awarded a D.Litt by Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, Tirupati. He also served as Chancellor of Tirupati Sanskrit University till the end of his life.

Recalling his vision for youth empowerment, the Chief Minister said that in 1980 Janaki Ballabh Patnaik initiated large-scale industrialisation in Odisha to promote entrepreneurship, inspiring young people with his call to establish a thousand industries in a thousand days.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and former Union Minister Veerappa Moily, former Odisha Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang and several other leaders paid tribute at the programme. Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik addressed the gathering virtually.

Among those present were Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala, MP Saptagiri Ulaka, AICC Odisha in-charge Ajay Kumar Lallu, Congress Legislature Party leader Ramchandra Kadam, PCC President Bhakta Charan Das, former CLP leader Narasingha Mishra, Birth Centenary Committee chairman Niranjan Patnaik, and former Tirupati Sanskrit University Vice-Chancellor Dr Harekrushna Satapathy, who all paid homage to the legendary leader.