MS Swaminathan, father of India’s Green Revolution, passes away

CHENNAI: Father of Agronomy and Father of the Green Revolution in India, eminent scientist Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan, popularly known as MS Swaminathan, passed away in Chennai this morning

He was born on August 7, 1925 in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu.

He earned his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in agriculture from the University of Madras and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi, respectively.

He later pursued his doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

Swaminathan played a pivotal role in introducing and promoting these modern agricultural techniques in India during the 1960s and 1970s.

Swaminathan's contributions to agriculture and food security have earned him numerous awards and honors, including the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan, which are among India's highest civilian awards.

He has also received the World Food Prize for his work in improving food production and security in developing countries.

Even after his official retirement, MS Swaminathan remains active in the field of agriculture and continues to be a prominent figure in discussions related to food security, sustainable agriculture, and rural development. 

Kumbakonam school mourns distinguished alumnus

Teachers and students of Native Higher Secondary School, Kumbakonam paid a floral tribute on Thursday to their distinguished alumnus and eminent scientist MS Swaminthan (98) who spearheaded the green revolution in the nation.

Swaminathan studied from Classes 6 to 8 at Native Higher Secondary School from 1935 to 38 and continued his high school education at Little Flower Higher Secondary School from 1938 to 40. Subsequently, he completed his undergraduate at Government Arts College in Kumbakonam.

On Thursday, the students and teachers of Native Higher Secondary School led by headmaster C Manoharan paid floral tribute to the portrait of Swaminathan on hearing his demise.

Era in agriculture research ends: IARI Director

An era of agricultural research, education and extension marked by disruptive innovations has come to an end with the death of MS Swaminathan, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Director AK Singh said on Thursday.

Renowned agricultural scientist Swaminathan (98), also known as the father of Green Revolution in India, died on Thursday in Chennai due to age-related illness. He is survived by three daughters.

“In passing away of Prof Swaminathan, ends an era of agricultural research, education and extension that was full of disruptive innovation. If God appears to poor and hungry in form of bread as said by Mahatma Gandhi, that God is Dr Swaminathan who should be worshipped by every citizen while taking daily meals,” Singh said in a statement.

The celebrated agriculture icon was being treated for age-related illness for quite some time, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation sources said. The foundation posted on social media platform X that its founder-professor Swaminathan passed away this morning at 11.15 am at his residence in Chennai.

Condoling the demise of Swaminathan, Trilochan Mohapatra, former Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), said, “the country has lost the real Hero of modern Indian Agriculture.”

Mohapatra described Swaminathan as “Messiah of the Masses” and “the chief architect of India’s Green Revolution.” Swaminathan gave the call for ‘Ever-Green Revolution’ based on ecological principles, he recalled.

“He was a scientist of global repute as well as a known humanist. His concerns for farmers and their economic and social well-being were quite deep. A man full of new ideas and innovative approaches in research, administration and policy-making, was never tired. He is a role model for the agricultural fraternity. His legacy will remain forever,” Mohapatra said.