By D N Singh
It reminds the traces of a past that was never ever to be tossed into the glooms of forgotten memories. It has compact blend of bravery and achievement of an ace pilot turned to an unconventional politician, the legendary Biju Patnaik.
The Dakota plane which was wheeled in to Bhubaneswar has many daredevil tales which have made into the pages of history of Odisha.
An obviously elated son, Naveen Patnaik, the chief minister had his share of pride for being the son of Biju Patnaik who left a long trail of bravery on the ground and in the air. Patnaik himself was there to offer a floral tribute to the plane that came to Bhubaneswar.
Biju babu founded the Kalinga Airlines way back in 1940s with 12 planes four of which were Dakotas.
History has it that, it was the daredevil Biju Patnaik who undertook the challenge of an impossible nature.
It was in 1947, the Indian political dispensation trusted Biju Patnaik and assigned him the arduous task of rescuing Indonesian prime minister Sutan Sjahrir in April 1947. It was a herculean task accomplished by Biju babu who, risked the company of his wife as a co-pilot in that mission.
And the footprints of that valour left some indelible marks in the Indonesian history which conferred the nation’s highest civilian honour as ‘Bhumi Putra” and Biju Babu became a chapter of Indonesian political history. Biju babu was conferred with the highest civilian honour twice.
That was also one of the Dakotas that was used for the mission impossible.
Now the air craft which came from Kolkata in a dismantled shape, shall be suitably preserved at the Biju Patnaik International airport once reassembled.
