Cuttack, Aug. 24: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today said that being felicitated during a civic reception in Cuttack had "special significance" for him because the city was his birthplace.
He said: "It is a niyarah anubhav. I will remain indebted for this warm reception and felicitation."
Naveen said: "Cuttack is my birthplace. Whenever I come to Cuttack, I feel nostalgic." He was addressing a gathering at the Indoor Stadium, where he was being given civic reception and felicitation for receiving the Outlook Speak Out Best Administrator Award. Dedicating it to the people of Cuttack and the whole of Odisha, Naveen said: "This award is not mine, but recognition of our combined effort to take Odisha to new heights. Besides, the success of my government is the outcome of a team work." The chief minister claimed that "Odisha is progressing with strong atmabiswas. I have full faith that Odisha will become the number one state in the country".
At the special felicitation, Naveen was described as "pride for people of Odisha and more pride for Cuttack as it is birthplace" and "a leader with a difference who has scaled political heights with two pairs of white kurta pyjama and Kolhapuri chappals".
At the outset, noted singer Trupti Das paid her tribute in a melodious way by singing: " Sarah deshareh reh aji jayaganah, Naveena Naveena; nirmala sasana swacha prasasana, Naveena Naveena; amarah swapna ama swabhimana, sarbah srestha ama mukhya mantri."
Speaking on the occasion among others Justice A.S. Naidu described Naveen as "pride of Odisha, favourite of all, great son of the soil".
Pioneering Odissi dancer and former vice-chancellor of the National Law University, Odisha, Pryambada Hezmadi, said: "Our chief minister has won our hearts because of his silence, composure and dignity." Eminent neuro-surgeon Sanatan Rath said: "There is none to second him as a political leader in the state - apratidyantitah netah".
Utkal Sahitya Samaj president Bijayananda Singh said: "Naveen babu's contribution for promotion of Odia culture, literature and language, especially the Odisha Sahitya Akademi, has been immense by way of increased allotment of funds."
Former vice-chancellor of the Berhampur University and president of the All Odisha Minority Forum M.Q. Khan described Naveen as "worthy son of a worthy father who has accepted the challenge of fulfilling the dreams his father Biju babu had seen for Odisha".
"We are safe and living in peace under Naveen babu's regime," Khan said while giving the icing to his eulogies by saying, "He is not just a hero for us, but is the mehbooba of the heart of every one of us".
The Cuttack Mahanagar Shanti Committee, Bengali Samaj, Telugu Samaj, Christian Community, Sikh Community and the Marwari Samaj also felicitated him.
