PM Narender Modi Wrote An Article On M.S. Swaminathan
PM Narender Modi Wrote An Article On M.S. Swaminathan
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A few days ago we met Professor M. S. Lost Swaminathan. Our country lost a visionary who revolutionized agricultural science, a great man whose contribution to India will always be written in golden letters. Prof. M. S. Swaminathan loved India and wanted our country and especially our farmers to live a prosperous life.Academically gifted, he could have chosen any career but was so affected by the Bengal famine of 1943 that he was clear that if he would do one thing, it would be to study agriculture.
At a relatively young age, he Dr. Came in contact with Dr. Norman Borlaug and saw his work in great detail. In the 1950s, he was offered a faculty position in the US but turned it down as he wanted to work in and for India
I want you all to think about the challenging circumstances in which he stood as a great man and led our country on the path of self-reliance and self-reliance. In the first two decades after independence, we were dealing with many challenges and one of them was food shortage.In the early 1960s, India was grappling with the ominous specter of famine and it was only then that Prof. Swaminathan’s determination and vision ushered in a new era of agricultural prosperity. His pioneering work in specific areas such as agriculture and wheat breeding led to a significant increase in wheat production, thus transforming India from a food-deficient country to a self-sufficient country This remarkable achievement earned him the apt title of “Father of the Indian Green Revolution”..
The Green Revolution offered a glimpse of India’s “Can Do Spirit” – that if we have a billion challenges, we also have a billion minds with the fire of innovation to overcome those challenges. Five decades after the start of the Green Revolution, Indian agriculture has become much more modern and progressive. But, Prof. The foundation laid by Swaminathan can never be forgotten.
During these years, he pioneered research in dealing with parasites affecting the potato crop. His discovery made the potato crop capable of withstanding cold weather. Today, the world is talking about millets or Shree Anna as a superfood, but Prof. Vaminathan has been promoting the discussion about millets since the 1990s.
Prof. My personal interactions with Swaminathan were extensive. They started after I took over as Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001. In those days, Gujarat was not known for its agricultural power. Frequent droughts and a super cyclone and an earthquake affected the development trajectory of the state.Among the first of many we launched was the Soil Health Card, which enabled us to better understand the soil and address problems as they arose. In the context of this scheme, I met Prof. Happened with Swaminathan.He appreciated this scheme and also shared his valuable ideas for it. His support was enough to convince those who were skeptical of the scheme that it would ultimately set the stage for Gujarat’s agricultural success.
During my tenure as Chief Minister and even when I took over as Prime Minister, our talks continued. I met him at the International Agro-Biodiversity Congress in 2016 and the following year in 2017, I launched a two-part book series written by him.
Kural describes farmers as the pin that holds the world together because it is farmers who sustain everyone. Prof. Swaminathan understood this principle well. Many people call him “Krishi Vaigyanik” (“Krishi Vaigyanik”) – an agricultural scientist. But, I have always believed that they were much more. He was a true “Kisan Vaigyanik” (“Kisan Vaigyanik”) – an agronomist.He was a farmer at heart. The success of his works is not limited to his academic excellence; It lies in their influence outside the laboratories, on farms and fields. His work bridged the gap between scientific knowledge and its practical application. He consistently advocated for sustainable agriculture, emphasizing the delicate balance between human development and ecological sustainability.Here, I meet Prof. on improving the lives of smallholder farmers and ensuring that Attention should also be paid to Swaminathan’s special emphasis that they should also benefit from innovation. She was especially dedicated to improving the lives of women farmers.
Professor M. S. There is another aspect about Swaminathan that is remarkable – he is a great icon of innovation and guidance. When he won the World Food Prize in 1987, the first recipient of this prestigious honor, he used the prize money to establish a not-for-profit research foundation. Till date, it is doing extensive work in various fields.They have nurtured countless minds, instilled in them a passion for learning and innovation. In a rapidly changing world, their lives remind us of the enduring power of knowledge, guidance and innovation. He was also an institution builder, with several centers named after him where vibrant research takes place.One of his terms was as Director of the International Rice Research Institute, Manila. The South Asia Regional Center of the International Rice Research Institute was opened in Varanasi in 2018.
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