Most Naveen Patnaik opponents keep spreading the rumour that the popular Chief Minister cannot ever have a heart for the people of Odisha as he does not want to know the Odia language only to shirk work and avoid the trouble of listening to their woes and hurting issues. He loves being on his own without having to take any trouble. For all this, he has picked up a few trusted bureaucrats who would play slave blindly and take his bizarre orders to keep him happy, no matter what the cost. Some wicked enemies without much grey matter in the skull have also spread the rumour that Naveen trusts non-Odia officers more than Odias only to avoid solving people’s problems. That’s a big bad rumour which needs to be demolished right away.
The other day, BJP vandals stormed into Karthikeyan Pandian’s house and did things that are even unfit to be written lest it should pollute the text. The BJP is evidently desperate to create some cracks in the BJD walls by frightening the CM’s capable Private Secretary Pandian. The brainless vandals believed the dastardly act would scare Karthikeyan away; and Naveen would lose courage to rule the State comfortably. Karthikeyan is a simple, shy person but, for sure, a genius who means business and operates on a no-nonsense mode as an administrator. He does not indulge in the affairs of the BJD, but some of the political acts are bound to be affected or influenced by sensitive administrative moves and steps.
Some educated social researchers embarked upon a full study on Pandian only to know why Naveen chose him for help on all State matters restricted only to administration, never political affairs. Incidentally, this IAS officer happens to be a young Tamil boy married to an Odia girl, Sujata Rout, the first-ever woman IAS officer on record to get the Odisha cadre. Needless to say, Karthikeyan has turned half Odia already. His two children, a boy and the other younger girl, live like any other ordinary Odisha kids.
Most importantly, as many people of Odisha may not know, Naveen is just not a casual or lax guy. He may not be ranting or rumbling about political issues day in and day out, but it is by now too well-known that he means strict, non-negotiable business as only the sole view to improving the quality of life of Odisha people. Naveen is fairly well-read and widely exposed to the wider world. Most Odias may have forgotten that the Telegraph Sunday Magazine of 23 years ago had carried a ‘Celebrity of the week’ story on the last page introducing Naveen as a least-known icon. The illustrated story had told synoptically that this genius painter, author was the most sought-after company to world celebrities for getting to know India in the best perspective. Naveen was considered a master guide who could explain India in minutes to the first-time visitors. Such was his grasp and command over the mind-bogglingly diversified and disparate Indian society. When Bijubabu lived like a colossus, he kept his children away from the political scene on purpose because he knew dynastic politics may creep in and cause image damage. Naveen was a dear kid to his parents; so, they had named their Bhubaneswar house after him. Naveen’s own family members including his first cousin married in Baleswar would recall with nostalgia, “Naveen was the sweetest among siblings and cousins. Gita, though huge-hearted, was the campus bully because she knew more and was a strict disciplinarian. They would all go catching dragonflies for adventure. Naveen would nurture his catch with the gentlest and kindest care. The moment the dragon dies, Naveen would lose heart and go collecting funds or help to give the dead creature a respectful burial at an appropriate spot in the Anand Bhawan campus.”
After Naveen became CM, his only worry was the band of corrupt politicians. So, he chose a person whose integrity was impeccable, mastered the rulebook and meant serious business of making the masses happy with good governance. Pyari MOhapatra was an obvious choice as the family too trusted him. Bad times came by temporarily; and Pyari fell from grace because of himself as the whole world knows. Naveen has the superb sixth sense toassess people so as to identify those truly skilled officials who would understand statecraft, are thoroughly clear about the rulebook, remain sincere and loyal to the State interests as envisioned by him and has the extreme patience and resilience to take his orders to be implemented in a hurry. Naveen, as most people may not be aware, is one who has strong likes and dislikes, for which to keep up with him on his plans and dreams may appear tough. One has to be amazingly sharp-minded to capture his thoughts and get him the results quickest. Karthikeyan fitted too well in here. He was spotted while serving as the District Magistrate of Ganjam, Naveen’s home and constituency district. What impressed him immensely about Karthikeyan was when, after a big political meeting, Naveen was keen to know from the Collector what expenses were incurred in providing food and travel facilities to the thousands of people who had congregated, and who was expected to cough out the money. Karthikeyan told him in plain and firm voice that there was no provision for such expenses, but he was told that officials foot the bills by robbing the local business outfits or forcing collections from among local officials. Naveen was impressed beyond limits to know that a clean, upright young, energetic officer stood before him. Pyaribabu had just fallen from grace around that time. Naveen was frantically looking for someone honest and efficient to take charge of guiding him on field activities and policymaking as per prevailing laws and norms. Karthikeyan was the obvious choice. Naveen was even more particular about the pro-poor sentiment and commitment factor. Further scrutiny made the picture crystal clear. This young officer was seen to be an outstanding performer. But only because he was by nature a severely shy guy, he made sure there was no publicity of his magnificent work. Karthikeyan had already bagged two national ‘Best NREGS district’ awards. He had been declared the pioneer to introduce ‘bank payments in wages’ against terrible odds particularly when it was not mandatory in any manner. Rs 100 crore was disbursed through the banking machinery to avoid pilferage by wicked elements. His commendable national award for HIV-affected rehabilitation work in Ganjam is a cross-reference even today by global HIV/AIDS field experts. AIDS orphans ostracised even by close family members were handpicked by Karthikeyan like a messiah. He set up a huge home for them with public funding on priority. Most significantly, Odisha people must know that the archaic law of ‘Gramkantahapormbook’ land under the Madras Presidency under which Ganjam had remained a part for long. The obsolete law had at least eight lakh acres of home and other utility land which could not be settled at all despite dwelling and use for over hundreds of years.The poor people suffered like in hell; and Karthikeyan took upon himself the big challenge, and with relentless efforts at the highest policymaking levels got it eventually amended, creating history of a unique kind. Eight lakh families in the entire south Odisha got back their land rights after centuries.
Similarly, when Karthikeyan was Mayubhanj DM, he got a national award for the ‘Best District in Rehabilitation of the Disabled’. He is one of the fewest bureaucrats to have been the recipient of the most prestigious ‘Helen Kellar award’ for bringing joy to the disabled. In Rourkela, where horrible road and government land-encroaching crooks had made life of the ordinary people hell, they got tossed out of the prime area Chhend market in a historic eviction drive. The farmers of Kalahandi and Dharamgarh in particular say today that their saviour boy is serving the whole of Odisha from Bhubaneswar. The orphanage in Dharamgarh is place of a ‘must visit’ for social workers today besides the orphanage for HIV-positive in Ganjam. Karthikeyan says smiling to people that these small places occupy the members of his extended family as his heart is still throbbing there.
In Dharamgarh, he was only the Sub-Collector. The poor farmers were exploited by the greedy millers who never gave the minimum support price. Karthikeyan ensured the poor farmers got their due with one stern intervention. The entire sub-division, particularly Dharamgah town, celebrated with crackers the birth of Karthikeyan’s son Srimukh. They consider Karthikeyan as their family member. All this information was gathered from the folks across the places which Karthikeyan has worked as an official having left behind indelible footprints.
Naveen has chosen the right person with truly impressive track records only to ensure people stand to gain and he personally does not suffer the drudgery of reinventing the wheel like one without wisdom.
(The writer is a core member of Transparency International, Odisha)