Padmacharan Patnaik, 80, fondly remembers how Biju Patnaik used to pat him on his back when he worked as a storekeeper at Kalinga Tubes, which produced steel pipes and was one of the first industrial ventures of the former chief minister.

"For people like me, he is not just a former chief minister, but the architect of modern Odisha. He was an industrialist and a visionary. He had dreams for Odisha and gave it his blood and sweat. But people failed to pay him back," says Patnaik.

In 1959, Padmacharan completed his matriculation and went to Choudwar to join the company Biju babu had promoted.

"Since pursuing further education was not possible, I decided to join and work to earn a livelihood. We were given good salaries," he recalled.

Often turning sentimental as he spoke about his former employer, Padmacharan said Biju babu even appreciated an ordinary worker like him for his honesty.

"He had special love and affection for me. When he used to visit the unit, we used to stand and watch him from a distance. But he would come and inquire about our problems," the storekeeper's face lit up as he went down memory lane.

Padmacharan is one of the few former employees of Kalinga Tubes who still lives in Choudwar, the industrial town that Biju babu had developed.

"In each part of the city, you will find Biju babu's touch. This town owes its existence to him," he says.

Padmacharan says whenever there was labour unrest at Choudwar over issues such as bonus, Biju babu would rush to the town.

"I still remember one of our meetings with him which, to the satisfaction of all of us, had concluded on a positive note. Workers always held him in high regards," he said.

Talking about Biju babu's relationship with the workers, Padmacharan recalled how they got bicycles because of the former chief minister's personal initiative.

"Imagine riding a bicycle in 1960. Everyone would look at you with respect. It gave you a sense of pride," says the octogenarian who was part of a 2,000-stromh workforce at Kalinga Tubes.

Talking about the success story of Kalinga Tubes not surviving for long, Padmacharan said that people who Biju babu trusted had backstabbed him. This, he said, led the company to become a sick unit.

In the early 50s, Biju Patnaik had set up three major industrial units - Kalinga Tubes, maker of refrigerators Kalinga Sounxa and fabrication unit Kalinga Industry at Choudwar, in early 50s. But over the years these industries became sick and had to be sold off.

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The fall of the companies had much to do with Biju babu's increased involvement in politics.

The storekeeper recalled Biju babu's special love for Odias and indigenous industrialists.

"One day he rang up and asked the then management of the Kalinga Tubes to give him Rs one lakh as he urgently required money. As people at the helm expressed their inability, he decided to sell the unit. Industrialists from all parts of the country turned up to buy the unit. But he called Bansidhar Panda and asked him to take it over. He also promised to assist him."