Dr Swaminathan, who passed away on Thursday, was an Agriculture Scientist who brought in “Green Revolution” in India. He created high yielding hybrid variety in wheat when we did not have enough to eat. Soon after Indian Independence wheat production in India was less than requirement. Then our PM Sastri asked people to miss a meal once every week. Further US was donating us ship loads of wheat every year to cover the shortage (under PL480 scheme). He is known as Father of India’s Green Revolution.
In such a situation Dr Swaminathan’s research filled the stomachs of North Indians who use wheat. After this he did his research with rice. He went to Philippines to head the Rice Research Institute there.
Dr. Swaminathan headed a commissiion to recommend measures to help farmers. He evolved a formula which is known as Swaminathan’s formula according to which the Minimum Support Price (MSM) for paddy or wheat has to be fixed taking into account the investment, wages of the members of the farmer’s family and profit. However, no government so far has implemented his recommendations. Dr. Swaminathan was frequently referred to in the meetings held by farmers during their movement against three farm laws which were later withdrawn by the government.
Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan was born on 7 August 1925 at Kumbakonam in Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu. He studied at university of Kerala and Madras and went to do PhD at Cambridge. He further studied at Wisconsin university in the US. He won Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award and Ramon Magsaysay award for his work in agriculture. He was also given Albert Einstein World Science Award. He won the World Food Prize and was honoured with Padma Vibhushan Award in 1989.
Let us say “Om Santi” for this real life hero on this day on which he left this world for his heavenly home.
