Bhubaneswar, 19th Nov 2025: Harishchandra Baksi Patra was a prominent figure in Odisha’s social and political life. He was a man of struggle, but the opportunities to serve the state and the nation in higher capacities never fully came his way. Whether it was Biju Patnaik as the Union Steel Minister or George Fernandes as the Union Industry Minister, Baksi Patra consistently presented Odisha’s demands with dedication, logic, and factual reasoning, aiming to establish steel and aluminum industries in Odisha, particularly creating a new chapter of development in Koraput district.
In 1990, under the leadership of Biju Patnaik, he held responsibility for the Commerce and Transport departments in the Janata Dal cabinet, bringing revolutionary reforms in administration. However, due to political instability at the state and national levels, opportunities for dedicated, sensitive leaders like him to become state policymakers were denied.
Baksi Patra, with his pure dedication to struggle, was a beloved figure among Odisha’s two national leaders, but he had no personal ambition for power. His ornament was his Odia identity, recognized knowledge, and exceptional competence. Even well-wishers addressed him respectfully as “Bhaiana” rather than as someone born into a high caste because he was an advocate of social justice. From the perspective of Odisha’s broader collective interest, he actively supported the Mandal Commission.
In his early life, Baksi Patra was a leading proponent of communist thought. Understanding the realities of public life, class, and caste exploitation, he critically analyzed societal structures. As a socialist, he was fully aware of class divisions and exploitation, yet as a leader of the ‘Utkal Sammilani,’ he meticulously studied Odisha’s social system, especially caste relations. His fact-based approach highlighted how British colonial policies had diminished the population of certain castes in Odisha, by as much as 92%, affecting government employment opportunities for Odias.
Seeing social divisions based on caste, religion, and other differences, he dedicated himself to the unity of the Odia people. Even while living in remote Koraput, he actively participated in higher education initiatives, serving as the student union president of Ravenshaw College, showcasing his leadership abilities.
In 1954, when the States Reorganization Commission committed extreme injustice toward Odisha, communist student leader Harishchandra Baksi Patra led revolutionary movements against it. He opposed Congress leaders to protect Odisha’s interests, even facing arrest for his actions.
He opposed the imposition of central steel plants in other southern states by the Congress, which had lost support in Odisha. In 1974, he mobilized local resistance in Koraput against Indira Gandhi, leading the anti-Congress ‘Pragati Manch’ and winning legislative assembly elections, which later merged into the Lok Dal. He also participated in Jayaprakash Narayan’s ‘Total Revolution,’ protesting state conditions and spending time in jail.
Upon release in 1977, he contested elections and won, taking responsibility in the cabinet of Chief Minister Nilamani Routray. He handled important portfolios and played a key role in coordinating with the central government. Baksi Patra always prioritized Odisha’s interests over personal ambitions, struggling against central neglect.
In 1990, under Biju Patnaik, he served as a senior minister in the Janata Dal cabinet of Odisha. He worked to restore coordination between the state and central governments and ensured Odisha’s independent economic interests, particularly in the steel sector. Following a tragedy in Cuttack, senior leaders entrusted him with alternative arrangements, where he, with the cooperat…
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