Saswat Nanda

सत्यं वद धर्मं चर

[The Seeker @TheSeeker268]

It's a shame no major film has been made about Biju Patnaik. He lived a life that sounds almost fictional:

In 1938, he flew his entire wedding procession by aircraft to Rawalpindi for his marriage to Gyanwati Sethi (who became the first Indian woman to hold a commercial pilot’s license, and the couple later flew daring missions together.)

While serving in the Royal Indian Air Force (including as head of Air Transport Command), he secretly ferried freedom fighters like Jayaprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, and Aruna Asaf Ali to their hideouts. He also airdropped 'Quit India' leaflets to Indian troops while evacuating British families.

The British once jailed him for transporting nationalist leaders and distributing anti-British literature but also honored him for bravery in evacuating civilians from Japanese-occupied Burma.

During WWII, he flew daring missions delivering arms and supplies to Soviet forces in Stalingrad, and over the treacherous 'Hump' route to China in
support of Chinese Nationalist forces against the Japanese.

In July 1947, he and his wife flew a Dakota into Indonesia, landed on an improvised airstrip while evading Dutch anti-aircraft fire, rescued Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir, refuelled using abandoned Japanese fuel, and flew him safely to India via Singapore.

A couple of months later, during the Pakistani invasion of Kashmir, he airlifted one of the first Indian troops into Srinagar.

The same year he founded Kalinga Airlines, one of India's earliest private airlines.

As Odisha CM post-1962 India-China war, he secretly visited CIA headquarters at Langley to forge a covert India-US partnership against China, which led to the Aviation Research Centre (ARC) at Charbatia, which supported U-2 recon missions over Tibet.

He was also a legendary administrator and statesman, laying much of the foundation of Odisha's industrial empire (mines, ports, heavy industries etc).

When he passed away, Indonesia observed 7 days of state mourning. Russia observed 1 day. He remains the only person in Indian history whose body was draped in the national flags of 3 nations - India, Indonesia, and Russia.

Few public figures have left such a footprint.

His extraordinary life needs to be brought to the big screen.

[Saswat Nanda @sass_nanda]

@TheGreatAshB Calling this sacred manifestation as an animal defies it's mythological and cultural essence by reducing it to other worldy beasts. Kindly rephrase your question giving appropriate respect to this sacred symbol

[@Gajapati (𑀩𑀺𑀱𑁆𑀡𑀼 𑀫𑁄𑀳𑀦 𑀅𑀥𑀺𑀓𑀸𑀭𑀻) @VAdkri]

#Gajapati_Dibasa

[Manas Muduli @manas_muduli]

The King Who Took Odisha from the Ganga to the Kaveri!

591 years ago today, Gajapati Kapilendra Deva was crowned, marking the beginning of one of the most glorious chapters in Odisha’s history.

Under his rule, the Gajapati Empire stretched from the lower Ganga in the north to the Kaveri in the south - a symbol of Odisha’s power and glory.

A fearless conqueror and a devoted worshipper of Mahaprabhu Jagannatha, he remains one of the greatest rulers in Indian history.

Fittingly, his coronation anniversary coincides with the sacred Snana Purnima this year - a beautiful convergence of Odisha’s glorious past and its eternal spiritual tradition.

[India Aesthetica @IndiaAesthetica]

Himalayan Monal famously known as the nine-coloured bird and state bird of Uttarakhand 🌈🐦🪽 🇮🇳

[Manas Muduli @manas_muduli]

On 29 June, Odisha celebrates Gajapati Dibasa, marking the 591st coronation anniversary of Gajapati Kapilendra Deva - the most powerful king in Odisha’s history.

Under his reign, the Gajapati Empire extended from the lower Ganga in the north to the Kaveri in the south, showcasing the might and glory of Odisha.

#GajapatiDibasa #Odisha

[ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷା, ସାହିତ୍ୟ ଓ ସଂସ୍କୃତି ବିଭାଗ @Culturedeptt]

#ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ_ଶ୍ରୀ_ଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କ_ବିଶ୍ୱପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ_ରଥଯାତ୍ରା- ୨୦୨୬

​ପୁରୀ ଶ୍ରୀମନ୍ଦିରର ପବିତ୍ର ପରମ୍ପରା ଅନୁଯାୟୀ ପାଳିତ ହେବାକୁ ଥିବା ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କ ରଥଯାତ୍ରା ଏବଂ ଏହା ସହିତ ଜଡ଼ିତ ସମସ୍ତ ନୀତିକାନ୍ତିର ସୂଚୀ।

#RathaJatra2026 #PuriRathayatra #ShreeMandir #ରଥଯାତ୍ରା୨୦୨୬ #culture #odishaculture #Odisha

[Manas Muduli @manas_muduli]

Bhubaneswar and Cupertino are sister cities.

Odisha’s capital has been linked with Cupertino, the city that is home to Apple HQ.

A fascinating global connection between a fast-growing Indian city and the heart of Silicon Valley.

[Soumya Swaminathan @doctorsoumya]

Wonderful outlet of Mission Shakti in Bhubaneswar showcasing handicrafts & produce from all districts of #Odisha. Very well designed and laid out - a treat to shop here!

[Governor Odisha @GovernorOdisha]

‘ଉତ୍କଳ ଗୌରବ’ ମଧୁସୂଦନ ଦାସ (ମଧୁବାବୁ)ଙ୍କ ଜନ୍ମ ଜୟନ୍ତୀରେ ବିନମ୍ର ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି।

ତାଙ୍କ ଦୃଢ଼ ସଙ୍କଳ୍ପ, ସ୍ୱାଭିମାନ ଓ ସେବା ସର୍ବଦା ପ୍ରେରଣାର ଉତ୍ସ ହୋଇରହିବ।

[ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷା, ସାହିତ୍ୟ ଓ ସଂସ୍କୃତି ବିଭାଗ @Culturedeptt]

ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଜାତିର ସ୍ୱାଭିମାନ ଏବଂ ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର ଓଡ଼ିଶା ପ୍ରଦେଶ ଗଠନର ମୁଖ୍ୟ ପୁରୋଧା ତଥା ପାରଳା ମହାରାଜା କୃଷ୍ଣଚନ୍ଦ୍ର ଗଜପତି ନାରାୟଣ ଦେବଙ୍କ ଜୟନ୍ତୀରେ ଶତ ଶତ ପ୍ରଣାମ l

#culture #odishaculture #Odisha #MaharajaKrushnachndraGajapati #OdishaPride

[Saswat Nanda @sass_nanda]

@Ajayksf @adithya what's the tool kindly share

[Saswat Nanda @sass_nanda]

ମହାବିଷୁବ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି ଅବସରରେ ଅନେକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା

[Narendra Modi @narendramodi]

Today, India takes a defining step in its civil nuclear journey, advancing the second stage of its nuclear programme.

The indigenously designed and built Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam has attained criticality.

This advanced reactor, capable of producing more fuel than it consumes, reflects the depth of our scientific capability and the strength of our engineering enterprise. It is a decisive step towards harnessing our vast thorium reserves in the third stage of the programme.

A proud moment for India. Congratulations to our scientists and engineers.

[Governor Odisha @GovernorOdisha]

ସ୍ୱଭାବ କବି ଗଙ୍ଗାଧର ମେହେରଙ୍କ ପୁଣ୍ୟ ତିଥି ଅବସରରେ ଭକ୍ତିପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି।

ତାଙ୍କର କାଳଜୟୀ ସୃଷ୍ଟି ‘ତପସ୍ୱିନୀ’, ‘ପ୍ରଣୟ ବଲ୍ଲରୀ’ ଓ ‘କୀଚକ ବଧ’ ଭଳି କାବ୍ୟ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସାହିତ୍ୟକୁ ସଦାସର୍ବଦା ଗୌରବାନ୍ବିତ କରି ରଖିବ।

[Saswat Nanda @sass_nanda]

@adithya Kindly share her insta account

[Manas Muduli @manas_muduli]

Many don’t know this.

Beyond Rath Jatra, Puri has many centuries-old spiritual traditions.

This is “Sahi Jata” - One of world’s oldest open-air Ramayana plays, begins every year on Ram Navami.

A living heritage. A city that breathes its traditions.

[Amitabh Kant @amitabhk87]

Absolutely beautiful book ‘The Orissan’ by Sandip Das, his daughter Pallavi Das, and Odia cuisine expert/ food photographer Alka Jena. It is a stunning cultural cookbook that captures the soul of Odisha through its food, festivals, maritime legacy and people. Across a 376-page visual journey, it takes us through the fascinating regional diversity of Odisha. I have known Sandip and his creative family for years. Highly recommend.

For more information: https://t.co/TZy2bE7tkK

[Saswat Nanda @sass_nanda]

@VedaGhosham Shree Gurubhyo Namaha

[Saswat Nanda @sass_nanda]

https://t.co/Xr1aF5dnbm

[Saswat Nanda @sass_nanda]

Passing through these tumultuous years, I chanced upon a marvel which I should have carried with me from the very beginning. Now, after all these years, listening to Odissi music soothes my ears and calms my soul.
Adding something below if you're intrigued.