India is one of the largest and most populous countries in the world, with a rich and diverse culture, history, and geography. However, India has also faced many challenges and struggles, especially in the field of agriculture and food security. For centuries, India was dependent on the monsoon rains and the vagaries of nature for its food production, which often resulted in famines, droughts, and poverty. The situation worsened during the colonial rule of the British, who exploited India's resources and imposed oppressive policies that crippled its agricultural sector. Even after gaining independence in 1947, India continued to suffer from food shortages and had to rely on food aid from other countries.
However, in the mid-20th century, a remarkable transformation took place in India's agricultural landscape, thanks to the vision and efforts of one man: Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan, popularly known as M.S. Swaminathan. He is widely regarded as the "Father of Green Revolution in India", for his role in introducing and developing high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice that dramatically increased India's food production and made it self-sufficient and food-surplus. His work not only saved millions of lives from hunger and malnutrition, but also improved the livelihoods and incomes of millions of farmers and rural communities. He also advocated for sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices that preserved the environment and biodiversity. He was a pioneer of agricultural science and innovation, who inspired generations of scientists, policymakers, and activists to work for the betterment of humanity.
Biography of M.S. Swaminathan:
M.S. Swaminathan was born on August 7, 1925, in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, to a family of doctors and social reformers. His father, M.K. Sambasivan, was a surgeon who participated in the freedom movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. His mother, Parvati Thangammal, was a homemaker who encouraged her children to pursue education and service. Swaminathan had two brothers and two sisters.
Swaminathan was a bright student who excelled in academics and sports. He developed an interest in agriculture at a young age, influenced by his father's involvement in rural development and his own exposure to the countryside. He was also deeply moved by the Bengal famine of 1943-44, which claimed millions of lives due to starvation caused by the British policies during World War II. He decided to dedicate his life to finding solutions to end hunger and poverty in India.
He obtained his bachelor's degree in Zoology from Loyola College, Chennai, in 1944. He then joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) as an officer trainee, but soon realized that his true calling was in agriculture. He resigned from the IPS and enrolled at the Agricultural College, Coimbatore (now Tamil Nadu Agricultural University), where he completed his bachelor's degree in agricultural science in 1947.
He then moved to New Delhi to pursue his master's degree in genetics and plant breeding at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), where he studied under eminent scientists like B.P. Pal and J.P. Srivastava. He graduated with distinction in 1949.
He received a scholarship from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to study abroad for his doctoral degree. He chose to go to Cambridge University in England, where he joined the School of Agriculture under the guidance of H.W. Howard, a renowned geneticist and cytologist. He completed his PhD thesis on "Species Differentiation, and the Nature of Polyploidy in certain species of the genus Solanum–section Tuberarium" in 1952.
He then went to the University of Wisconsin in the United States for his post-doctoral research under E.C. Cocking, a pioneer of plant tissue culture. He worked on the induction of haploidy (a condition where cells have only one set of chromosomes) in plants using anther culture (a technique where pollen grains are grown into plants).
He returned to India in 1954 and joined the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) at Cuttack, Odisha, as an assistant cytologist (a scientist who studies cells). He worked on improving rice varieties through hybridization (a process where two different plants are crossed to produce offspring with desirable traits) and mutation breeding (a process where plants are exposed to radiation or chemicals to induce changes in their genes).
In 1957, he moved back to IARI as an associate professor of genetics. He became a full professor in 1961 and the head of the department of genetics and plant breeding in 1962. He also served as the deputy director of IARI from 1965 to 1966.
He was appointed as the director of IARI in 1966, a position he held till 1972. He was also the director general of ICAR from 1972 to 1979. He played a pivotal role in leading India's Green Revolution during this period.
Research and Success of M.S. Swaminathan:
M.S. Swaminathan was a prolific researcher who made significant contributions to various fields of agricultural science, such as genetics, cytogenetics, plant breeding, biotechnology, ecological economics, and sustainable development. He published over 300 research papers and authored or edited over 70 books on various topics related to agriculture and food security.
However, he is best known for his work on developing high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice that revolutionized India's food production and made it self-reliant and food-surplus. He is widely regarded as the "Father of Green Revolution in India" for this achievement.
The Green Revolution was a set of technological innovations and policy interventions that aimed to increase agricultural productivity and production through the use of improved seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, pesticides, and mechanization. It was initiated by the Rockefeller Foundation and the Ford Foundation in Mexico in the 1940s and 1950s, where American agronomist Norman Borlaug developed high-yielding dwarf varieties of wheat that could resist diseases and respond well to fertilizers.
Borlaug's wheat varieties were introduced in India in the mid-1960s, when the country was facing a severe food crisis due to droughts, population growth, and political instability. Swaminathan was instrumental in adapting Borlaug's wheat varieties to Indian conditions and disseminating them among Indian farmers. He also collaborated with Borlaug and other scientists to develop high-yielding varieties of rice, especially semi-dwarf varieties that could withstand lodging (falling over due to heavy grains) and produce more grains per plant.
Swaminathan's efforts resulted in a dramatic increase in India's food production and productivity. India's wheat production rose from 11 million tonnes in 1965-66 to 17 million tonnes in 1967-68, and reached 76 million tonnes by 1990-91. India's rice production rose from 35 million tonnes in 1965-66 to 42 million tonnes in 1967-68, and reached 132 million tonnes by 1990-91. India became self-sufficient in food grains by the early 1970s and started exporting surplus grains to other countries.
The Green Revolution not only saved millions of lives from hunger and malnutrition, but also improved the livelihoods and incomes of millions of farmers and rural communities. It also reduced India's dependence on foreign aid and enhanced its national security and sovereignty.
Impact of M.S. Swaminathan on Modern India:
M.S. Swaminathan had a profound impact on modern India, not only through his scientific achievements, but also through his social and environmental activism, his policy advocacy, his institutional leadership, his mentorship, and his humanitarianism.
He was a champion of social justice and equity, who advocated for the rights and welfare of small and marginal farmers, women, tribal people, landless labourers, and other disadvantaged groups. He promoted participatory approaches to agricultural development that involved farmers as partners rather than beneficiaries. He also supported organic farming, agroforestry, integrated pest management, biofertilizers, biopesticides, biogas, vermicomposting, rainwater harvesting, watershed management, microfinance, self-help groups, cooperatives, rural entrepreneurship, value addition, marketing linkages, and other initiatives that empowered rural communities.
He was a pioneer of sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation, who recognized the need to balance productivity with ecological integrity. He warned about the negative impacts of the Green Revolution on soil health, water resources, biodiversity and human health. He advocated for the conservation and enhancement of genetic diversity, soil fertility, water quality, and ecosystem services. He also supported the use of renewable energy, biotechnology, nanotechnology, information technology, and other innovations that could reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture and enhance its resilience to climate change and other stresses.
He was a leader and a visionary, who shaped India's agricultural policies and institutions. He served as the director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the principal advisor on agriculture and rural development to the Planning Commission, the chairman of the National Commission on Farmers, the chairman of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), and the president of several national and international scientific organizations. He also played a key role in establishing or strengthening various institutions, such as the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), and the National Innovation Foundation (NIF).
He was a mentor and a teacher, who inspired and trained thousands of students and researchers in India and abroad. He shared his knowledge and experience with generosity and humility. He encouraged young people to pursue careers in science and innovation, especially in agriculture and allied fields. He also fostered collaboration and cooperation among scientists from different disciplines, regions, and countries.
He was a humanitarian and a philanthropist, who dedicated his life to serving humanity and alleviating hunger and poverty. He received numerous awards and honors for his contributions, such as the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the World Food Prize, the Padma Shri, the Padma Bhushan, the Padma Vibhushan, and the Indira Gandhi Prize. He also received honorary doctorates from over 60 universities around the world. He donated most of his earnings and prizes to support various causes and initiatives related to agriculture, education, health, environment, and social welfare.
Conclusion:
M.S. Swaminathan was a remarkable man who made a lasting impact on India's agriculture and food security. He was a scientist who revolutionized India's food production and made it self-sufficient and food-surplus. He was a social activist who advocated for the rights and welfare of farmers and rural communities. He was an environmentalist who promoted sustainable agriculture and conservation of natural resources. He was a leader who shaped India's agricultural policies and institutions. He was a mentor who inspired generations of scientists and innovators. He was a humanitarian who dedicated his life to serving humanity and alleviating hunger and poverty.
M.S. Swaminathan passed away today, on September 28, 2023, at the age of 98, leaving behind a legacy of excellence, service, and compassion. He will be remembered as one of India's greatest sons and one of the world's greatest benefactors. He will be missed by millions of people who owe their lives and livelihoods to his work. He will be honored by millions of people who admire his vision and values.
M.S. Swaminathan was not just the father of Green Revolution in India, he was also much more than that. He was a friend of farmers, a champion of nature, a leader of science, a teacher of wisdom, a giver of hope, and a lover of humanity. He will live forever in the heart of Indians as well as in the Evergreen Fields of Wheats & Paddies.