www.expressindia.com - Weather | Horoscope | Stocks | RSS
expressindia web city
HomeBlogsCricketAstrology TendersClassifieds Reader Comments Hotels
Sign In / Register | Archive
Expressindia » Story

Naveen Patnaik's mother passes away

Font Size

Debabrata Mohanty

Posted: Feb 17, 2009 at 0942 hrs IST

Bhubaneswar Orissa Chief minister Naveen Patnaik was bereaved on Tuesday after his widowed mother Gyan Patnaik breathed her last at their family house in Aurangzeb Road in New Delhi.

Gyan Patnaik, wife of the legendary Biju Patnaik, was 89 and is survived by her two sons, Prem and Naveen and writer-daughter Geeta Mehta. Naveen, who stayed with his mother until he entered politics in 1997, was with her bedside when she died. Naveen had flown to Delhi on Monday to discuss the annual plan of Orissa with deputy chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

Though she used to come to Orissa and spend time with Naveen during winter every year, she could not come this time due to illness. Only last month Naveen's mother was admitted to a Delhi hospital after she was diagnosed with acute pneumonia. Naveen, known as 'pappu' by his parents, was more attached to the mother since childhood.

Biju, who was a pilot with the Royal Indian Air Force during World War II, married Gyan, a Punjabi from Lahore in 1938. The flamboyant Biju took the baraat by plane to Lahore for the wedding. She flew with her legendary husband during World War II to rescue Indonesian leader Suharto from Dutch-besieged Java. Though she used to stay in Orissa for a long time, she later restricted herself to their Aurangzeb Road house in Delhi only coming to Orissa in winter. Biju sometimes jocularly referred her as "my winter wife".

Incidentally, Biju Patnaik never went to the Aurangzeb Road house for the last 20 years of his life till he died in April 17, 1997. He breathed his last in the Delhi residence of former union minister Dilip Ray, who was later expelled by Naveen Patnaik from BJD.

Discuss this story on expressindia forums
Post Comments
Name* Email ID*
Subject* Country*
Message*
Characters remaining
 
TERMS OF USE: The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any person (s) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s).
I agree to the terms of use.
Condolence Message upon demise of Mrs. Gyan Patnaik by Prasanta Varma on 17 Feb 2009

For me it is a death in the family. Gyan Patnaik's death was a loss to the state of Orissa who is the wife of late Mr. Biju Patnaik and mother of present Chief Minister Mr. Navin Patnaik. May god give the bereaved family with lots of strength and courage to stand in such heart felt condolence. Prasanta Varma, Advocate, Supreme Court of India, Vice President, Delhi Oriya Lawyers Association.

Gyan by Pabitra Swain on 17 Feb 2009

My tribute to soul.We are indeed proud about the Kaling Sandh of Late Bijayananda patthanaik. he won highest civilial award Bhumi Putra of Indonesia.

tribute by srikanta panda on 17 Feb 2009

my hearty tribute to the heavenly soul

Is BJP in Delhi sleeping? by Jayant Ratanjankar on 17 Feb 2009

It is sad to know that in Delhi a major road is still named after the cruel mughal monarch Aurangzeb. How come the Hindutva parties are tolerating the same?

how can you displease allah ka banda by sarma on 17 Feb 2009

because you delhites voted moron congress

Latest News

Business

Showbiz

Sports

Rushdie cancels India visit, says 'paid assassins' out to kill him

Narendra Modi takes Sadbhavna Mission to Godhra

Age row: SC dismisses appeal supportive of Army chief's view

Has no intention of taking action against army chief Kayani: Pak govt

Digvijay rubbishes reports of quitting as UP poll in-charge

1984 riot victims burn Sonia effigy

Uma's entry in poll fray to increase infighting in BJP, says Digvijay

More
© 2011 The Indian Express Limited. All rights reserved
Advertise With Us | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Express Group | Site Map