The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is understood to have considered favourably the Odisha Government’s proposal for conducting an air show as part of Biju Patnaik centenary celebrations.
Sources in the State’s Sports and Youth Services and Information and Public Relations Department said a plan has been jointly chalked out to organise an air show by Indian Air Force personnel on the vast stretch of Kathjodi riverbed in Cuttack in December this year.
Taking into account the fact that a defence air show would be a befitting tribute to Bijubabu, who was not only an accomplished pilot but whose exemplary courage in carrying out air operations has become a part of Odisha’s folklore, his son and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had made a request to the Centre in April to organise IAF air shows in the State during the yearlong celebrations of Biju birth centenary.
“This will not only provide a rare opportunity to the people of Odisha to witness the grand spectacle but will also inspire the youths of the state to join the Indian Air Force,” Patnaik had written to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
The IAF would display Surya Kiran AT, Sarang and Akash Ganga performances.
As per a decision of the State Government, a yearlong celebration starting fromMarch 5 this year has been undertaken to mark the birth centenary year of Biju Patnaik.
Notably, Mahatma Gandhi had profusely praised Biju Patnaik for what he did as the pilot of Governor General lord Wavell. In deference to his daredevil feat in the Soviet Union, where he ensured arms supply to Russian force stranded at Stalingrad making repeated sorties without fearing backlash from the dreaded Nazi army, the British regime back home appointed him as the personal pilot of lord Wavell.
He used this opportunity to surreptitiously lay his hands on the files containing vital secret information on country’s defence strategy and a blueprint of the plans to restrict movement of prominent leaders of freedom struggle and handed those over to Mahatma Gandhi. He also used the aircraft to ferry leaders including Aruna Asaf Ali to different political destinations. The British Government which could smell Biju’s dubious role arrested him and put him behind the bars.
An act of heroism he displayed in capturing the Air Traffic Control tower of the Srinagar airport which provided vital support to Indian army in thwarting attempts of advancing the Pakistani forces to capture Kashmir is chronicled in India’s history as a rare feat of bravery. Kashmir was saved, and it still continues to be an integral part of our country.
The stellar role Biju played in Indonesia’s freedom struggle is a unique saga of heroism the world knows. Carrying out the instructions of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, he went taking a single-engine Dakota plane and brought Indonesian Prime Minister Dr Saharyar and Vice-President Dr Mohamed Hatta to New Delhi after rescuing them. While the Indonesian Government in a rare gesture acceded to Biju’s request to take back its naval fleet which was requisitioned by Pakistan to use against India in 1965, it crowned him with the highest State honour “Bhumiputra”.
He also braved all odds to reach Dhaka to rescue Mujibur Rahman but could not succeed as by then the father of Bangladesh was assassinated, said sources.
Biju was also appointed as the War Advisor to Prime Minister Nehru during the Indo-Chinese war in 1962. Using his Kalinga Airlines flights he carried out the arduous work of airdropping food and war materials to the forces stationed at the Siachin glacier.
