Janaki Ballabh Patnaik

This article is about the politician. For the sinologist and translator, see Janaki Ballabh.

Janaki Ballabh Patnaik
Janaki Ballabh Patnaik in 2009
25th Governor of Assam
In office 11 December 2009 – 10 December 2014
Chief Minister	Tarun Gogoi
Preceded by	Syed Sibtey Razi
Succeeded by	Padmanabha Acharya
11th Chief Minister of Odisha
In office 15 March 1995 – 17 February 1999
Preceded by	Biju Patnaik
Succeeded by	Giridhar Gamang
In office 9 June 1980 – 7 December 1989
Preceded by	Nilamani Routray
Succeeded by	Hemananda Biswal
Union Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Labour
In office 16 January 1980 – 7 June 1980
President of Indian Youth Congress, Odisha state unit
In office 1950–n/a
Personal details
Born	(1927-01-03)3 January 1927 Rameshwar, Bihar and Orissa Province, British India
Died	21 April 2015(2015-04-21) (aged 88) Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
Political party	Indian National Congress
Spouse	Jayanti Patnaik
Children	Pruthvi Ballabh Patnaik (son) Sudatta Patnaik (daughter) Supriya Patnaik (daughter)
Parent	Gokulananda Patnaik (father)
Relatives	Soumya Ranjan Patnaik (son in law)
Alma mater	Ravenshaw University Utkal University Banaras Hindu University
Website	Official website

Janaki Ballabh Patnaik (3 January 1927 – 21 April 2015) was an Indian politician who had been 25th Governor of Assam from 2009 to 2014. A leader of the Indian National Congress, he was Chief Minister of Odisha from 1980 to 1989 and again from 1995 to 1999, holding that post for the longest time on record before Naveen Patnaik. In 1950, he became the President of the Odisha state unit of the youth wing of the Congress. In 1980, he became the Union Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation and Labour from 16 January to 7 June.

Personal life

He was born in a humble Karan family. His father Gokulananda Patnaik was a reputed writer and teacher. He married to Jayanti Patnaik in 1953, a four-time Member of Parliament and first Chairperson of National Commission for Women. He completed his schooling from Khurda High School, he graduated in Sanskrit (Honours) from Utkal University in 1947 and received his Master's Degree in Political Science from the Banaras Hindu University in 1949. After completion of his education he took up Journalism and joined the Eastern Times (English Daily) as Sub-Editor. In 1950, he became the Joint Editor of the Eastern Times. Two years later, he became the Editor of the paper. Simultaneously, he took-up editorship of Prajatantra (Odia Daily). He was Editor of both the papers until 1967. He was the Editor of Paurusha, a monthly magazine published in Odia. He was a member of the Standing Committee of the All-India Newspaper Editor's Conference from 1956 to 1960 and of the Sahitya Akademi of Orissa from 1956 to 1967. He was a fellow of the Senate of Utkal University from 1957 to 1967. He was associated with many literary and Cultural Organisations in Odisha. Patnaik was former President of the All Odisha Basic School Techer's conference.

Political life

Patnaik was a student leader all through his college days. He was President of the State Youth Congress in 1950. He had successfully led a tenant's movement at Madhupur, Cuttack in 1953. He was a member of the Working Committee of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee from 1954 to 1960. Shri Patnaik was elected to Lok Sabha in 1971. He was Deputy Minister of Defence in Indira Gandhi's Cabinet from 1973 to 1975 and then Minister of State for Defence. Shri Patnaik was elected to Lok Sabha during the Lok Sabha Election held in January, 1980 and was the Union Minister of Tourism, Minister of Aviation and Minister of Labour. Shri Patnaik was unanimously elected as Leader of the Congress (I) Legislative Party of Orissa. He was elected from Athagarh constituency in a bye-election, 1980 and became the Chief Minister of Odisha. For the second time he was elected from Khurda and Athagarh Assembly constituency in 1985 and unanimously elected as leader of the Congress (I) party of Orissa and was sworn in as Chief Minister of Odisha. In 1995 he became the leader of Congress Legislature and took over the charge of Chief Minister for the third term on 15th March, 1995. He was Leader of the Opposition in the 13th Legislative assembly. He served as Governor of Assam from 2009 to 2014.

Controversy

He was involved in the Anjana Mishra rape case.

Death

Janaki Patnaik's statue in JB Patnaik memorial park, Khordha.

He died on Tuesday, 21 April 2015, aged 88 at Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. On Monday, 20 April 2015, he had gone to attend the convocation of Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, of which he was chancellor, and also visited the Lord Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala. Later in the night, he complained of severe chest pain and was subsequently shifted to Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) where he died at around 3:00 am. on 21 April. He leaves behind a legacy of having translated the Mahabharata, the Ramayana and the Bhagavad Gita into his mother tongue, as he was a Sanskrit-Odia scholar.

External links

• The Indian Express on Patnaik's marginalisation
• Q & A : J.B. Patnaik^[usurped] The Hindu
• Assam Governor JB Patnaik passes away in Tirupati Indian Express
• Farewell to JB Patnaik