Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Sunday received the ‘Ideal Chief Minister’ award for his growing popularity among the people of Orissa.
Patnaik received the prestigious ‘Adarsh Mukhyamantri’ award from former Indian President Pratibha Patil at the 8th Indian Students Parliament Governing Council (or Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad) held at the MIT-World Peace University in Pune Sunday.
Patnaik dedicated the award to the people of the state, saying the entire 4.5 crore population in Orissa is his family. “I dedicate this honour to the four-and-a-half crore people of Orissa who have reposed their faith in us for the past 17 years and continuously blessed us.”
He dwelled on human evolution and technology that revolutionised life. “Who would have thought that Twitter and Facebook would become such integral parts of our lives and social relationships? That big data, block chains and nano-technology will revolutionise our daily lives like never before,” he said. However, everyone will agree that the evolution that one would have liked to have in governance and public service is yet to be achieved, he said, adding that more number of people needs to join politics, which he described as the powerful means to work for the development of people.
“Good governance and selfless public service are the pillars of democracy. The biggest challenge before everyone today, especially for my younger friends, is how to strengthen governance and instill public service thereby strengthening democracy.”
He said, “Twenty years ago I was a political novice. I would have never imagined that I will be standing here as one of the longest serving Chief Ministers of the country.
Today, I can say with conviction that politics is not complicated. Politics is the most powerful instrument to bring about change in the lives of people. If people are kept at the core of your intentions, efforts and initiatives, then there is no complication.”
“When you keep people first – it is good politics.
When you keep people first there is no anti- incumbency,” he said. He remembered Mahatma Gandhi and great visionary leader Martin Luther King and their philosophies that continue to inspire him.
Patnaik was chosen for the award by the 15 member BCS council whose members include Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Vice-President MIT group Rahul V Karad, Mahatma Gandhi Foundation president Tushar Gandhi, Prime Minister of Tibetan government in-exile Lobsang Sangay, Rajya Sabha MP Anu Aga and Rajeev Gowda among others.
Patnaik is scheduled to return to Orissa Monday afternoon. Around 20,000 BJD supporters and activists will give him a rousing welcome, BJD sources said.
PNN
