Naveen Patnaik is the ongoing Chief Minister of Orissa, India. On the survey executed by the media poll, he is been rated high as the second best or popular CM after Nitish Kumar. He will be remembered for his significant work in international recognition of Indian designs and also for his works with handloom weavers to enlarge home market for Indian textiles. For making the government translucent and corruption free, a clean image man Naveen Patnaik is known as quite a popular figure.

Naveen Patnaik is the son of the former Chief Minister of Orissa, late Biju Patnaik. On October 16, 1946, Naveen Patnaik was born at Cuttack, Orissa to Grand Old Man Biju Patnaik and Gyan Patnaik. Gita Mehta is his sister, who is a world-renowned author (Karma Cola) and is the wife of Sonny Mehta, Editor-in-Chief of Alfred A. Knopf, New York. When he was only seven years old, he was sent to Welham Boys` School in Dehradun. After that he went to The Doon School, Dehradun and studied there until he passed out with a Senior Cambridge Certificate at 17 years. During his school days, he excelled in History, Oil painting and athletics. He went on to Delhi University at the age of 20 years to obtain his Bachelor`s Degree in Arts. Naveen Patnaik`s work always in one way or the other has been connected with Art, Ecology and Culture. In India and abroad, he has travelled extensively.

Upon the death of his father Biju Patnaik, Naveen Patnaik returned from the U.S. and entered the field of politics. From Aska Parliamentary Constituency, he was elected as Member of the 11th Lok Sabha in by-election. He has served as a member of the Consultative Committee of Ministry of Steel & Mines and also as the Member of Standing Committee on Commerce. He also held the post of the Member of Library Committee of Parliament. He formed the Biju Janata Dal Party in 1998 in Orissa. And contested for the 12th Lok Sabha election. He was elected from the Aska Parliamentary constituency. In 2000, with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party, as a result he became the Chief Minister of the state and has been ruling since. His party is part of the National Democratic Alliance.

Naveen Patnaik is a originator member of the Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH). He also authored three books: `A Second Paradise: Indian Country Life 1590-1947`, `A Desert Kingdom: The people of Bikaner` and the `Garden of Life: An introduction to the Healing Plants of India`, each one published in India, England and USA. For cultural and environmental publications, Mr Naveen has regularly contributed articles.