Son of Lakshminarayan and Ashalata Patnaik, Bijayananda Patnaik was born in Cuttack. He hailed from a family of freedom fighters. He studied Aeronautics at Aeronautical Training Institute of India. He joined Indian National Airways, where he was involved with the war from 1940-42. He was jailed in 1945 for participating in Quit India Movement. He was associated with Nepalese Democratic movement.

During his formative years, he came under the impact of Mahatma Gandhi. Inspired, he joined national movement of India. He joined the freedom struggle and actively participated in the Quit India movement in close association with Aruna Asaf Ali and her underground activities against the British. He underwent imprisonment from 1943 to 1946 in the Red Fort, New Delhi, Ferozepur, Lahore and Cuttack.

He was a trained pilot. He had special interest in Science & Technology. He was responsible for instituting the prestigious Kalniga Prize. He was the pioneer of Industrial Movement of Orissa. He was a freedom fighter. He along-with Jayaprakash Narayan, Dr. Ram Mohan Lohia led the freedom movement from Orissa. He was honoured by Indonesians as Bhumiputra. Elected to Orissa Legislative Assembly in 1952. Chief Minister of Orissa from 1961-63, 1990-95. He was the member of Rajya Sabha from 1980-84. He was the member of Loksabha from 1996-97. He was the union Minister of Steel from 1977-80.

He laid the foundation for basic infrastructure development in Orissa. Paradeep Port, MIG factory at Sunabeda, Ferro Silicon at Theruvalli, Hydel project at balimela, Talcher Thermal Power Station, REC Rourkela, Burla Medical College, Daitari to Paradeep Express Highway, Sainik School, Regional College of Education, Regional Research Laboratory, OUAT are some of his gifts to the State.

He died in Delhi on April 17, 1997 of cardio respiratory failure.

More details can be had from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biju_Patnaik
http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/febmar2005/englishpdf/bptvoapatriot.pdf
http://lists.cs.columbia.edu/pipermail/ornet/2002-January/002800.html