Then came a few women's selfhelp groups, a constituency he had carefully nurtured and empowered. They greeted Patnaik with an enthusiastic hulahuli (a type of ululation), and he welcomed them, praising their efforts in making lakhs of flags for the 75th Independence Day.
Between these two events, Patnaik met THE WEEK for an interview at his home office. The large space has idols of Shree Jagannatha covered in fresh flowers and the walls were painted with the famous Odia story of king Purushottama Deva, who undertook a journey with the blessings of Shree Jagannatha. It seemed an apt painting. Patnaik, who has ruled the state unhindered for 22 years, can also claim to have the Lord's blessings.
"I am 75 now, and I have to be careful about what I eat," he said, dressed in his trademark white kurta-pyjama. "I prefer home-cooked light meals. I travel extensively across the state to meet my people."
A history buff, Patnaik had once corrected a local guide about a monument in Rome when he was there to meet the pope. Currently, he is watching The Crown, a Netflix series on Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-serving British monarch. Patnaik himself will surpass Jyoti Basu next year, to rank second on the list of longest-serving Indian chief ministers. Former Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling sits at number one with more than 24 years in office. Excerpts from an interview:
Q/ Odisha has transformed a lot in the past two decades, and its human development index rating has improved quite a bit. What approach has led to this steady change?
A/ People first. Gandhiji's talisman has always been our guiding principle. Empowerment of our people-be it women, youth, children, tribals or other vulnerable groups is what our policies aim at. Citizen-centric governance is our guiding light.
Denne historien er fra October 09, 2022-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 09, 2022-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
What Will It Take To Clean Up Delhi Air?
IT IS ASKED, year after year, why Delhi’s air remains unbreathable despite several interventions to reduce pollution.
Trump and the crisis of liberalism
Although Donald Trump's election to a non-consecutive second term to the US presidency is not unprecedented—Grover Cleveland had done it in 1893—it is nevertheless a watershed moment.
Men eye the woman's purse
A couple of months ago, I chanced upon a young 20-something man at my gym walking out with a women’s sling bag.
When trees hold hands
A filmmaker explores the human-nature connect through the living root bridges
Ms Gee & Gen Z
The vibrant Anuja Chauhan and her daughter Nayantara on the generational gap in romance writing
Vikram Seth-a suitable man
Our golden boy of literature was the star attraction at the recent Shillong Literary Festival in mysterious Meghalaya.
Superman bites the dust
When my granddaughter Kim was about three, I often took her to play in a nearby park.
OLD MAN AND THE SEA
Meet G. Govinda Menon, the 102-year-old engineer who had a key role in surveying the Vizhinjam coast in the 1940s, assessing its potential for an international port
Managing volatility: smarter equity choices in uncertain markets
THE INDIAN STOCK MARKET has delivered a strong 11 per cent CAGR over the past decade, with positive returns for eight straight years.
Investing in actively managed low-volatility portfolios keeps risks at bay
AFTER A ROARING bull market over the past year, equity markets in the recent months have gone into a correction mode as FIIs go on a selling spree. Volatility has risen and investment returns are hurt.
