Dr. Verghese Kurien, the Father of the White Revolution, passed away in the early hours today, after a brief illness. He was 91.
Dr. Kurien was the architect of India’s White Revolution, which helped India emerge as the largest milk producer in the world.
AIR Ahmedabad Correspondent reports that born on 26th November 1921 at Kozhikode in Kerala, Dr. Kurien was settled in Anand of Gujarat to become the undisputed ‘Milkman’ of the country.
AIR Correspondent reports, founder Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board -NDDB, the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation -GCMMF, and the Institute of Rural Management -Anand-IRMA, his professional life has been dedicated to empowering the Indian farmers through co-operatives.
Dr. Kurien has helped to lay the foundation of democratic enterprises at the grass roots. He believed that by placing technology and professional management in the hands of the farmers, the standard of living of millions of our poor people can be improved.
His leadership in cooperative movement has helped to create a model not only for India, but for developing countries throughout the world. The Operation Flood Program, of which Milk Producers’ Cooperatives were the central plank, emerged as India’s largest rural employment program and unleashed the larger dimension of dairy development. The people will never forget Dr. Kurien-along with his brand-Amul and the Taste of India.
AIR Correspondent adds that Dr. Kurien was conferred with many prestigious awards including Padmashri (1965), Padmabhushan (1966), Krishi Ratna (1986), Padma Vibhushan (1999) and Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership (1963).
The President, the Vice President and the Prime Minister have condoled the passing Dr. Verghese Kurien.
In his message, the President Pranab Mukherjee hailed Dr Kurien as one who made enormous contributions to the fields of agriculture, rural development and dairying.
The Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari said Kurien is credited with being the architect of the largest dairy development programme in the world and is recognised as the man behind the success of the Amul brand.
The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described Dr Kurien as an icon of India's cooperative movement and the dairy industry. He said Dr Kurien's contribution to the welfare of farmers and development of the country is immeasurable. In a rich tribute to Dr. Kurein, Gujarat Chief Minister Mr. Narendra Modi termed him the pioneer of white revolution of the country. Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation- GCMMF Chairman Vipul Chaudhary said, the Milk man Dr.Kurien guided the dairy co- operative movement and brought social and economic development in the lives of milk producers of the country.
