MS Swaminathan, Father of Green Revolution, passes away at 98; tributes pour in

Father of India’s iconic Green Revolution, Professor Monkombu Sambasivan Swaminathan, or MS Swaminathan, as he is popularly known – passed away at his Chennai residence at around 11:20am

The celebrated agriculture icon was undergoing treatment for age-related illness for quite some time, sources at the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation have said.

Swaminathan was chiefly responsible for bringing in the social and agricultural revolution in India during the 1960s when the country was struggling with a famine-like situation. By injecting strategic policies, and developing high-yielding seeds suited to the Indian climate, he ensured a wave of change at the grassroots level in the Indian agricultural space.

The agriculture scientist served as the Director of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute from 1961 to 1972. Following this, he served as the Director General at ICAR and Secretary to the Government of India at the Department of Agricultural Research and Education from 1972 to 1979. Swaminathan also took up the position of the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture between 1979 and 1980.

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From 1980 to 1982, he served as the Acting Deputy Chairman, then Member (Science and Agriculture) of the Planning Commission. Later, from 1982 to 1988, Swaminathan served as the Director General at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines, which is funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.

In 1987, he was awarded the first World Food Prize after which Swaminathan set up the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in Chennai’s Taramani by using the $200,000 prize money.

Applauding the scientist’s condemnable efforts to bring in a Green Revolution in India, erstwhile United Nations secretary general, Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, had defined Swaminathan as “a living legend who will go into the annals of history as a world scientist of a rare distinction”.

Former US President Ronald Reagan had later hailed Swaminathan’s efforts, saying, “Many in the global food and agricultural community have known for a long time that your efforts have made a dramatic and lasting impact on improving world food supply.”

Swaminathan was also appointed chair of the National Commission on Farmers in 2004. This commission was aimed at recognising farmer distress amid alarming suicide cases across the nation.

According to a Time magazine review, Swaminathan was one of the 20 most influential people to see Asia in the 20th century.

Fond remembrance by daughter Dr Soumya Swaminathan

Soumya Swaminathan, daughter of Swaminathan, in an interaction with the media later today, said that the scientist had not been keeping well for the last few days. “His end came very peacefully this morning,” said his daughter, who is also the former Deputy Director General of WHO. “Till the end, he was committed to the farmers’ welfare and to the upliftment of the poorest in society”, she further added.

She also remembered the late scientist fondly for recognising the role of women in Indian agricultural practises. “My father was one of the few people who recognised that women are neglected in agriculture. He had taken a lot of initiatives to promote women’s empowerment. His ideas have led to programs like the Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana, meant to support women farmers”.

She hailed Swaminathan’s efforts in introducing a chapter on gender and environment during his tenure at the Sixth Planning Commission

On September 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to microblogging site, X, formerly Twitter to offer his condolences on Swaminathan’s demise. “At a very critical period in our nation’s history, his groundbreaking work in agriculture transformed the lives of millions and ensured food security for our nation,” wrote PM Modi.

President of India, Droupadi Murmu also paid her tribute to the crop geneticist. Applauding his efforts for ensuring food security in India, the president wrote on X, “A visionary who worked endlessly to achieve food security, he was rightly called the Father of Green Revolution that ensured our country’s self-reliance in food grains”.

“He pioneered path-breaking research in the agriculture science for which he got a range of awards- from Padma Vibhushan to the prestigious World Food Prize. He leaves behind a rich legacy of Indian agriculture science which may serve as a guiding light to steer the world towards a safer and hunger-free future for humanity,” said the president.

Former President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu, also offered his condolences on X. “Deeply grieved to learn about the sad demise of pioneering agricultural scientist & father of Bharat’s Green Revolution ”, Prof. MSSwaminathan” he wrote. “I will always remember the close association we shared & our numerous interactions”, said the former president while fondly remembering past interactions with the eminent scientist.

Pinarayi Vijayan Kerala Chief Minister remembered the scientist as a “visionary and a pioneer in Indian agriculture and sustainable development”. “A true visionary and pioneer in agriculture and sustainable development. His tireless efforts to ensure food security and improve the lives of our farmers will always be remembered. Heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones”, wrote Vijayan on the microblogging site.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, also took to X to condole the scientist’s demise. “Dr. MS Swaminathan’s steadfast commitment to revolutionising India’s agriculture turned us into a food surplus country,” Gandhi wrote. “His legacy as the Father of the Green Revolution will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences go out to his loved ones during this time of loss,” said the Wayanad MP.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also paid his tributes to the visionary. “His lifelong dedication to advancing agriculture and improving food security has left an indelible mark on our nation”, wrote the minister on X.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal hailed the Padma awardee for his “relentless efforts in the field of agriculture guided the nation towards achieving food security” while condoling his demise.

Swaminathan is survived by his wife  Mina, and three daughters, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, chairwoman of the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation; Madhura Swaminathan, a professor of economics at the Indian Statistical Institute in Bangalore; and Nitya Rao, a professor in gender and development at the University of East Anglia in England.
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