Shri Janaki Ballav Patnaik, the Ex-Chief Minister of Orissa was born on 3rd January 1927 at Rameswar of Puri. In 1947, he Graduated in Sanskrit from Utkal University, and honored with Masters Degree in Political Science from Benaras Hindu University in the year 1949. He keeps interest in swimming and traveling. He wrote Autobiography of Gautama Buddha. He picked up journalism as his career and joined the English daily ‘Eastern Times’ as a Sub-Editor and then Joint Editor in 1950. After two year service he became the Editor of the same and also editor for the Odia daily, ‘The Prajatantra’. He became the editor for both papers until 1967. He also published a monthly journal named, ‘Pourusha’ for a long time.
- 1950: He became President of the State Youth Congress;
- 1953: He had successfully led a tenants’s movement at Madhupur, Cuttack;
- 1954 to 1960: Became member of the Working Committee of the Pradesh Congress Committee;
- 1956 to 1960: Became member of Standing Committee of the All-India Newspaper Editors’ Conference;
- 1956 to 1967: Became member of Sahitya Akademi of Orissa;
- 1957 to 1967: Became fellow of the Senate of Utkal University;
- He was associated with many literary and cultural association of Orissa and was the President of All Orissa Basic School Teacher’s Conference;
- 1971: Elected to Lok Sabha;
- 1973 to 1975: Became Deputy Minister of Defense in Mrs. Indira Gandhi’s Cabinet; and later Minister of State for Defense;
- 1980 January: Elected to Lok Sabha and became the Minister For Tourism and Civil Aviation and Labor;
- 9th June 1980 to 7th December 1989: Elected as a leader of Congress (I) Legislative Party on Orissa from Athagarh Constituency and became Chief Minister of Orissa;
- 15th March 1995 to 17th February 1999: Became Chief Minister of Orissa again.