Bhubaneswar: Veteran political personality, former Minister and Rajya Sabha Member Shri Anang Uday Singh Deo has issued a fresh and forceful appeal to the Union Government to confer the Bharat Ratna posthumously on the legendary Biju Patnaik.
Remembering Biju Babu on the occasion of the 29th death anniversary of the “Tall Man” of Odisha, Shri Singh Deo emphasized that this recognition is not merely a regional demand but a long-overdue national obligation to honor a statesman whose contributions spanned continents and defined the early decades of independent India.
Shri Singh Deo, who has been a consistent voice for this cause for decades, highlighted that Biju Patnaik’s legacy is unique in Indian history, combining the roles of a daring aviator, a fearless freedom fighter, and the visionary architect of modern Odisha.
During his tenure in the Rajya Sabha, Shri Singh Deo repeatedly raised this issue on the floor of the House, most notably in 2015, where he drew the nation’s attention to Biju Babu’s extraordinary international contributions.
Shri Singh Deo reminded the Union Government that Biju Patnaik remains one of the few Indians to be decorated with the highest civilian honors of foreign nations.
The international recognition of Biju Patnaik serves as a testament to his extraordinary role as a global statesman and a fearless champion of decolonization. His honors from Indonesia are deeply rooted in his heroic 1947 intervention during their struggle for independence, when he flew a Dakota aircraft through a Dutch blockade to rescue Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir and Vice President Mohammad Hatta.
This act of bravery led to him being named a Bhoomi Putra, or Son of the Soil, a rare honor for a foreigner that cemented his lifelong bond with the Indonesian people. This relationship was further formalized in 1995 when he was awarded the Bintang Jasa Utama, Indonesia’s highest national honor for civil bravery, during the 50th anniversary of their independence. His impact was so profound that at the request of President Sukarno, he even named the President’s daughter Megawati, who would eventually become Indonesia’s first female president.
Parallel to his contributions in Southeast Asia, Biju Patnaik was also honored by Russia for his perilous service as a pilot during the Second World War. His missions often involved dropping essential supplies to Soviet troops under heavy fire, including during the pivotal Battle of Stalingrad, and assisting the Red Army in their fight against Nazi forces.
For these anti-fascist efforts, he was recognized with high Soviet honors and later received the Jubilee Medal in 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. This dual recognition by two major world powers highlights a legacy that was truly global in scale.
The depth of this international respect was perhaps most movingly demonstrated at his funeral in 1997, where his casket was famously draped in the national flags of India, Indonesia, and Russia, symbolizing a leader whose courage and vision belonged to the world.
Shri Singh Deo argued that it is a historical anomaly for a leader to be celebrated as a hero by the international community while his own nation hesitates to grant him its highest distinction. He specifically pointed to Patnaik’s legendary rescue of Indonesian leaders in 1947 and his critical mission to airlift the first Indian troops to Srinagar to save Jammu and Kashmir from invaders as feats that changed the course of history.
The veteran leader further noted that Biju Patnaik’s vision for nation-building was unparalleled, evidenced by the creation of the Paradip Port, the MIG factory at Sunabeda, and the Kalinga Prize for Science.
Shri Singh Deo’s repeated advocacy serves as a reminder of the broad political and public consensus within Odisha regarding this honor. He stated that conferring the Bharat Ratna on Biju Patnaik would be a fitting tribute to a leader who symbolized the spirit of adventure and selfless service, effectively recognizing a “Son of the Soil” who belonged to the entire world.
As the demand gains renewed momentum in 2026, Shri Singh Deo’s consistent stand underscores the deep emotional and cultural resonance that Biju Patnaik continues to hold in the hearts of the people.