Verghese Kurien, 'Milkman of India' will inspire millions

11 September, 2012

The dairy model christened by him soon caught the imagination of peagants, women, and people from the marginalized section of the society. Results were amazing, the once milk deficient nation was in the big league. India is now one of the leading milk producers of the world.

SOME MEN leave behind indomitable marks, which inspire human race for generations. Verghese Kurien, a scientist par excellence was one such human being. He dreamt, materialized, transformed, and touched millions during his illustrious life.

Kozhikode, Kerala born Kurien absolutely changed the paradigm of white asset, milk in India through his sheer visionary approach, seamless execution and will to overcome challenges. This legenday figure was born on November 26, 1921. An alumni of prestigious Loyola College, Kurien studied dairy engineering on an Indian government scholoarship. While studying dairy engineering, he dreamt of doing wonders in dairy and changing the way milk was produced.

Kurien sowed the seeds of white revolution in India by laying the foundation of a minute dairy, Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF). This small step later changed the dynamics of milk production in India; farmers were empowered, women’s groups were shown the path towards prosperity.

The then prime minister of India, Lal Bahadur Shastri appointed Kurien as the founder chairman of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in 1965, entrusted to overcome the rising demand of milk. Under his astute and dynamic leadership, seeds of whiteflood commonly known as milk revolution were sowed. Epithets like milkman of India and father of white revolution truly fits this legend.

The success of GCMMF was instrumental in creating a signature brand, Amul that has under its umbrella many a wide spectrum of Amul brands of dairy products like Amul Butter, Amul Milk and Amul Yoghurt.

Winners’ foresee future well in advance, they are way ahead of time, Kurien was one such legend. He played pivotal role in laying the foundation of nation’s frist of its kind MBA college that delves into rural management, IRMA, Anand.

Kurien’s feats fetched him many prestigious national and international awards, some of these are Padma Vibhushan, World Food Prize and Magsaysay Award. This legendary figure left for heavenly abode in the wee hours of Sunday leaving behind a monumental legacy to inspire.

What an irony? Though with his pioneering, Kurien transformed the lives of millions of people from marginalized sections of society, not many TV channels thought it fit to pay tribute to greatest ever milkman of India. In the battle of TRP, this legend went unnoticed. Print media more or less did render substantial coverage.

Dr. Kurien, was a true legend, nation will remain indebted to his parthbreaking initiatives, accomplishments. His work will inspire millions of people to come.

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COMMENTS (1)

Guest

Subroto Sarkar

It is exactly what I felt. TV channels have time to focus when a dist collector admits their daughter to a govt school but has no place for a genius who not only changed the milkman society but inspired many like me to venture in other rural based projects. He is our guru. He gave us the courage that it is possible. It would have been nice for India Govt to Honor him with Bharat Ratna. Like me there will be many predecessor of him who taking inspiration from his work venture out into the rural India to set up institution like Amul to help the poverty stricken villager bail out. Govt has missed an opportunity to give him a proper respect.