National Milk Day 2018: Everything You Want to Know About Dr Verghese Kurian Aka Father of the White Revolution
Dr Kurien's "billion-litre-idea" helped India earn the reputation of the world's largest agricultural dairy development programme.
India and its love for milk in unimaginable! It is a staple in every household, not only in India but all across the world. Milk an essential ingredient for the beverages like tea and coffee and also is known as a complete food when it comes to the nutrition part of it. Oftentimes, our day often starts and ends with a glass of milk. A major source of calcium, milk plays an important role in the development of the kids as well. Could you imagine Indian cuisine without ghee, butter, curd, buttermilk or paneer, or opening your front door in the morning and not finding a bottle of milk left next to the newspaper? As a country, today we are self-sufficient in milk. In fact, dairy farming is India's largest self-sustaining industry. But in the 1950s, the situation was different and our country was dependent on imports to meet our dairy-related needs. Today, we owe our self-sufficiency to one man's dogged efforts -- Dr Verghese Kurien, the Father of India's White Revolution. Dr Kurien's "billion-litre-idea" helped India earn the reputation of the world's largest agricultural dairy development programme. Every year on his birthday, November 26, India observes National Milk Day to commemorate his profound contribution to India's progress. Here's what you should know about the Milkman of India.
Early Years
Dr Kurien was born into an affluent Syrian Christian family in Calicut. Both his parents were accomplished individuals. His father was a civil surgeon in British Cochin. His mother too was highly educated and was adept at playing the piano. National Milk Day 2018: 6 Healthy Non-Dairy Substitute of Milk for Lactose Intolerants and Vegans.
He pursued physics at Loyola College in Madras (present-day Chennai). During his younger days, he was known for his love for sports. Dr Kurien played cricket, badminton, boxing and tennis for his college during his days at Loyola.
After earning a distinction in mechanical engineering from America, he returned to Anand in Gujarat, where he was to work as an officer at the dairy division in return for his government scholarship. Although he was initially reluctant to live and work in a village, it was at Anand that he realised his life's purpose. The place became an inextricable part of his life World Milk Day 2018 Date and Theme: Know the Significance & History of This Day.
A Hero For The People
Dr Kurien's story may sound something out of a Bollywood movie -- an honest man fighting for the exploited against influential, avaricious people. During his time at Anand, he worked at grassroots to understand the grievances of the dairy farmers. He gauged that they were being exploited by the milk distributors, controlled by a shrewd businessman Pestonjee Edulji who marketed a brand of butter known as Polson.
He was moved by the struggles of the people, and even more so, by the perseverance of their leader, Tribhuvandas Patel who was waging a battle for the farmers. Dr Kurien joined Patel in the agitation and started the Milk Cooperative movement under Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers Union, known today as "Amul."
Operation Flood
Dr Kurien's efforts gave rise to Operation Flood, a programme that changed India's status from a milk-deficient status to milk-sufficient. Launched in 1970, it gave dairy farmers autonomy over the milk production in the area. Over 700 towns and cities in India was linked by the National Milk Grid, bridging the gap between milk producers and consumers. The set up helped reduce seasonal and regional price variations, equally benefiting the dairy farmers and the consumers. Dr Kurien's commitment to the cause helped increase milk production, increase rural incomes and present fair prices for consumers.
Manthan
Shyam Benegal made a movie, aptly titled Manthan (churning), on the struggles of the farmers and the success of Operation Flood. When the movie ran into financial troubles, it was Dr Kurien who found an ingenious way to fund it. After Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Shree Narayan Singh to Make a Movie on Verghese Kurien.
Benegal himself spoke to the Indian Express about how Dr Kurien bailed the movie out. He pitched the idea to Dr Kurien, saying documentaries on Operation Flood may not be enough to put the message out; a movie may be able to reach out to more people. But the filmmaker needed a total of Rs 10 lakh to bring the movie into fruition. So Dr Kurien asked the farmers who came to Anand centres to donate a measly sum of Rs 2 each, making each of the dairy farmers producers of the film. It is said that the farmers arrived in hordes in trucks to watch the film.
Utterly-Butterly Delicious
The mascot for Amul is the Amul girl, a wide-eyed, cherubic little girl dressed in a frock. Created by the DaCunha ad agency in Mumbai, the Amul girl is one of the most-recognised and much-loved cultural icon of India. When Dr Kurien approached the agency to create an ad campaign for Amul, he reposed a lot of faith in the experts. Unlike the nosy clients of today, Dr Kurien was known to be non-interfering in the creative aspects of the ad. For instance, when ad makers presented the slogan for Amul -- Utterly Butterly Delicious, Dr Kurien replied: “I think it’s utterly mad; but if you think it’ll work, go ahead.”
His faith paid off. Even to this day, the jingle is unforgettable.
Personal Life and Death
Dr Kurien got married to Susan Molly Peter in 1953 and had a daughter Nirmala Kurien. For his achievements, he was conferred with many accolades such as Ramon Magsaysay Award, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Krishi Ratna, World Food Prize, Padma Vibhushan, etc. He was also given 15 honorary doctorates from various universities from across the world.
Dr Kurien who was initially reluctant to work in a rural place like Anand, swore to live there as long as he lived. He even refused his daughter's offer to live with her, saying Anand was his home and he will be forever working for its people. After a bout of illness, Dr Kurien passed away in September 2012.
Dr Kurien who was brought up a Christian became an atheist later in life. Due to his beliefs, he wasn't given a Christian burial, but was cremated. Verghese Kurien Donated Amul's Profit Money For Religious Conversions, Says Gujarat BJP Leader ahead of National Milk Day.
Even the people of Gujarat respected and loved the man for everything he did for them.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 26, 2018 08:36 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).