Naveen Patnaik names schemes, awards after Biju

When Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik was only 16 years old, his father Biju Patnaik
named a house after his son. The house has since been known as 'Naveen Niwas'.
     
Thirty-eight years after, as the little Naveen grew to become the chief minister, he started paying back by naming over a dozen schemes and awards, parks, sports complexes and even a university after his father.
     
Statues of the legendary Biju are available in every town of the state. Now schemes, awards, parks, roads and institutions in Biju Patnaik's name is a common phenomenon in the state.
     
''In 1961-62, Biju Babu named the house as Naveen Niwas out of affection towards his youngest son,'' said Biju Patnaik's co-worker and freedom fighter Bhabani Patnaik.
     
Though the elder Patnaik named a house after his son, he had never allowed any of his three children or wife into politics. Naveen, in fact, entered politics after the demise of his father in 1997.
     
During his tenure as a Union minister under the NDA regime, Naveen ensured that the city airport, close to Naveen Niwas, be named as Biju Patnaik Airport.
     
Biju, an ace pilot, had a great passion for flying aircraft.