BHUBANESWAR: Gyan Patnaik, always respected as the woman of courage, who saw history being made in the turbulent pre and post-Independence times, passed away at her Delhi residence in the wee hours of Tuesday. Gyan was widow of legendary Biju Patnaik and mother of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
She was 89 is survived by her two sons —Naveen and Prem and writer-daughter Geeta Mehta. She was ailing for the last one month. The end came at 1.15 am. Naveen, who had flown to New Delhi for Plan outlay discussion scheduled on Tuesday, was by her side.Her body, flown in to Bhubaneswar tonight, will be kept at Naveen Niwas till 11 am on Wednesday for the people to pay homage. Like Biju, she too will be cremated at swargadwar in Puri.
A Punjabi from Lahore, she was born on December 17, 1919. Gyan married Biju, former chief minister of Orissa, in 1938. She used to come to Bhubaneswar every winter to stay with Naveen. This year, she was unable to make it because of her failing health. A stream of dignitaries paid homage to Gyan in Delhi on Tuesday. Union minister Sharad Pawar, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission M S Ahluwalia and Leader of Opposition L K Advani paid their last respects. Many BJD and BJP MPs from Orissa also paid their tributes.
Governor M C Bhandare said that on Gyan’s demise, the State had lost a noble and kind-hearted soul. Her compassionate nature endeared her to one and all, he added.
Describing Gyan as a distinguished freedom fighter and lady of courage, State Congress president K P Singhdeo said she inspired the vision of great statesman of Orissa, Biju Patnaik.
