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Hindustan Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Naveen to accept Russian Embassy's honour to father Biju Patnaik
Bhubaneswar, Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly and BJD president Naveen Patnaik will accept the Russian Embassy's honour to his father Biju Patnaik for his contribution in the 'Stalingrad Operation' during World War II. Naveen to accept Russian Embassy's honour to father Biju Patnaik Patnaik left for the national capital on Tuesday to attend functions marking celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Russia's victory over Nazism in World War II. An official statement released by the office of the Leader of Opposition said that Patnaik will attend the two-day event at the Russian Embassy on both May 7 and 9. On May 9, Patnaik will accept the Russian Embassy's honour to his father Biju Patnaik for his contribution in the 'Stalingrad Operation' during World War II. Russia's Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, has invited Patnaik to attend the event in the national capital as Guest of Honour on May 9, which is observed as Victory Day in Russia to mark the defeat of Nazi Germany. Alipov, in a letter to Patnaik, said, "Among the heroes who we pay tribute to is your late father, Honourable Shri Biju Patnaik ji, a towering personality and a valiant pilot of the Indian National Airways, who had participated in the Stalingrad Operation, supplying weapons to the besieged Red Army." The Battle of Stalingrad, which took place from July 1942 to February 1943, marks the successful Soviet defence of the city of then Stalingrad during World War II. The letter said Russia will honour those "who stood together against Nazism in anti-Hitler coalition, and commemorate the heroic deeds of the people of the former Soviet Union and its allies, who bore the brunt of the most brutal conflict in human history." External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be the Chief Guest at the event on May 9. In a separate letter to Patnaik, Russian Embassy Counsellor Elena Remizova said: "This year all over the world the 80th Anniversary of the Great Victory in WWII will be celebrated widely. On fronts of that war, Russian and Indian soldiers and civilians shoulder to shoulder fought against German Nazism, Italian fascism and Japanese militarism." "On this great occasion this year we will open the marble plaque with the names of Indians, who took part in WWII and were awarded by orders and medals by Soviet/Russian government. Your esteemed father Bijayananda Patnaik ji was one of these heroes, and we have commemorated his name on the plaque," she said in the letter. It said that the Embassy will be very grateful if Patnaik could take part in the opening ceremony along with Ambassador of Russia to India Denis Alipov on May 7 at the venue of the Russian House in India. Biju Patnaik was the chief minister of Odisha for two terms — from 1961 to 1963 and again from 1990 to 1995. He died on April 17, 1997. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
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First Post
06-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Why is Russia honouring ex-Odisha CM Biju Patnaik on Victory Day?
Russia has invited BJD chief Naveen Patnaik for a special reception in honour of his father – Biju Patnaik – on Victory Day, celebrated on May 9, in New Delhi. The late Odisha chief minister was an ace pilot who played a key role during the Second World War, including the Battle of Stalingrad read more Russia will honour former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik on Victory Day. The Russian embassy in New Delhi has invited Naveen Patnaik, the late Odia leader's son and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president, to attend a special reception in recognition of his father's bravery on the Eastern Front during World War II. The event will be held on Victory Day, which is annually celebrated on May 9. This year will mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Germany in the Second World War, which is known as the Great Patriotic War in the Soviet Union. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But what is Biju Patnaik's connection to the Great Patriotic War? We will explain. Russia to honour Biju Patnaik The Russian embassy is hosting a reception to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory Day in New Delhi on Friday (May 9). It has also sent an invitation to former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik to attend the event. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be the chief guest. 'In this solemn moment of pride, grief, and unwavering remembrance, we honour those who stood together against Nazism in the anti-Hitler coalition and commemorate the heroic deeds of the people of the former Soviet Union and its allies who bore the brunt of the most brutal conflict in human history,' Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov wrote in the invitation. 'Among the heroes we pay tribute to is your late father, Biju Patnaik ji, a towering personality and a valiant pilot of the Indian National Airways who participated in the Stalingrad Operation, supplying weapons to the besieged Red Army,' he added. 'In 1995, Russia decorated Biju Patnaik with the jubilee medal — 50th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945 — for his feat of bravery and courage,' Alipov mentioned in the letter. Russia will pay tributes to towering leader Biju Patnaik for his valiant role in aiding Soviet Red Army in the Battle of Stalingrad against Nazi Germany during the Second World War To commemorate Biju Babu's contributions to Stalingrad operation, Russian Ambassador in India… — Soumyajit Pattnaik (@soumyajitt) May 5, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Biju Patnaik's valour in Second World War Biju Patnaik is remembered as a 'daredevil pilot'. He started training at the Delhi Flying Club in 1930, and went on to join the Royal Indian Air Force in 1936. Patnaik was a pilot with Indian National Airways in the early 1940s. During the Second World War, he flew to deliver crucial supplies to Soviet troops without being deterred by the Nazi forces, as per the Odia daily Pragativadi. His efforts helped the Soviets to persevere during the siege of Stalingrad. In July 1942, the Nazi Army bombed the Soviet city of Stalingrad, triggering one of the bloodiest conflicts. As the German Sixth Army tried to capture the city, the Soviet Red Army launched a counteroffensive to halt the Nazi troops. They eventually defeated the German soldiers, who were forced to surrender after being completely cut off from their supplies. The Battle of Stalingrad became a turning point in the war between the Soviet Union and Germany. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to Odisha Review, during World War II, Patnaik partook in several risky operations, including aiding Chinese revolutionaries. He also evacuated British families from Rangoon, or Yangon, when the Japanese invaded Burma, now known as Myanmar. Describing Patnaik's heroics, an obituary published in The Independent on May 1, 1997 read, 'As an officer in the Royal Indian Air Force in the early 1940s, Patnaik flew innumerable sorties to rescue British families fleeing the Japanese advance on Rangoon, the capital of Burma. He also dropped arms and supplies to Chinese troops fighting the Japanese and later to the Soviet army struggling against Hitler's onslaught near Stalingrad.' While rescuing the British in Yangon, Patnaik, who was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, used to drop leaflets from his plane on the Quit India Movement for Indian soldiers fighting against Myanmar. Indonesia's 'Bhoomi Putra' Biju Patnaik is hailed as a hero in Indonesia for his role in the country's freedom struggle. Indonesia gained freedom from Dutch rule in 1945, leading to the formation of a government led by President Sukarno. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, in 1946, the Dutch began invading Indonesia again. They launched an all-out attack in July 1947 and put Indonesian Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir under house arrest in Jakarta. Jawaharlal Nehru, who was friends with Biju Patnaik, requested him to fly Sjahrir and then Vice President Mohammad Hatta out of Indonesia, as per ThePrint report. Patnaik agreed to fly one of his Dakota planes into the Southeast Asian country. Legendary leader Biju Patnaik's 'Dakota' aircraft after it was unveiled for public viewing at the Biju Patnaik Airport, in Bhubaneswar, March 5, 2023. File Photo/PTI Despite the Dutch threatening to shoot down his aircraft, Patnaik flew out Sjahrir and Hatta to Singapore and then to India. In 1950, the Indonesian government conferred the title of 'Bhoomi Putra' on Patnaik and gave him an honorary citizenship for his courage. With inputs from agencies
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Russian embassy invites Naveen Patnaik to reception marking victory in Great Patriotic War
The Russian embassy in New Delhi has invited former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to a reception in recognition of his late father Biju Patnaik's heroics on the Eastern Front during World War II, which is referred to as the Great Patriotic War in the Soviet Union. The embassy is hosting the reception to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War on May 9 in New Delhi. 'In this solemn moment of pride, grief, and unwavering remembrance, we honour those who stood together against Nazism in the anti-Hitler coalition and commemorate the heroic deeds of the people of the former Soviet Union and its allies who bore the brunt of the most brutal conflict in human history,' said Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov in his invitation. Mr. Alipov said, 'Among the heroes we pay tribute to is your late father, Biju Patnaik ji, a towering personality and a valiant pilot of the Indian National Airways who participated in the Stalingrad Operation, supplying weapons to the besieged Red Army.' Biju decorated in 1995 'In 1995, Russia decorated Biju Patnaik with the jubilee medal — 50th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945 — for his feat of bravery and courage,' he said. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is likely to be present as chief guest. Late Biju Patnaik was also involved in the Indonesian liberation struggle. Former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru asked him to rescue Indonesian resistance fighters who were confronting Dutch colonial forces. The legendary leader flew a Dakota to Indonesia, and despite heavy 'enemy' fire successfully completed the mission. He was conferred the title 'Bhumiputra' in Indonesia.
