Remembering Dr. M. S. Swaminathan on His Birth Anniversary
By Amit Kumar
Today, on 7th August, we remember and pay tribute to Dr. Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan,
the legendary agricultural scientist whose groundbreaking work transformed India from a fooddeficient country to a food-surplus nation. Born in 1925 in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, Dr.
Swaminathan is widely hailed as the Father of the Green Revolution in India.
His contributions to agricultural science and food security have left an indelible mark on the nation
and the world. At a time when India was facing severe food shortages in the 1960s, Dr. Swaminathan,
in collaboration with American scientist Norman Borlaug, introduced high-yielding varieties of
wheat and rice. These innovations helped India achieve self-sufficiency in food production, saving
millions from hunger and famine.
Dr. Swaminathan’s scientific vision extended beyond productivity. He was a passionate advocate of
sustainable agriculture, and he coined the term “Evergreen Revolution”, a movement aimed at
increasing agricultural output without harming the environment.
Throughout his illustrious career, he received over 50 national and international awards, including
the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and the prestigious World Food Prize in 1987.
In 2024, he was posthumously awarded India’s highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, recognizing
his monumental impact on Indian agriculture and farmers’ welfare.
Beyond his scientific achievements, Dr. Swaminathan was also a visionary policy maker and
humanitarian. He chaired the National Commission on Farmers and tirelessly advocated for women
farmers’ rights, biodiversity conservation, and nutrition security.
His legacy lives on through the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, which continues his
mission of combining science and social responsibility to build a hunger-free, sustainable world.
As we remember Dr. Swaminathan on his birth anniversary, let us honour his legacy by committing to
sustainable agriculture, empowering farmers, and ensuring food security for all.