MS Swaminathan, Father of India’s ‘Green Revolution,’ Passes Away At 98

MS Swaminathan, the trailblazer behind India's Green Revolution, passed away in Chennai at the age of 98 on Thursday. M.S. Swaminathan, born on August 7, 1925, in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India, is a prominent Indian geneticist and international administrator. 

He is widely recognized for his pivotal role in spearheading India's "Green Revolution." This initiative involved the introduction of high-yield varieties of wheat and rice seedlings into the farmlands of impoverished farmers. M. S. Swaminathan is often hailed as the Architect of the Green Revolution in India. He is a distinguished Indian agricultural scientist and geneticist who has made significant contributions to the agricultural domain, particularly in enhancing food production in India and other developing nations.

He established the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in 1988, utilizing the funds from the First World Food Prize he received in 1987. Born in Tamil Nadu's Thanjavur district, he achieved recognition as the inaugural recipient of the World Food Prize for his pivotal role in the development and promotion of high-yield wheat and rice varieties in India during the 1960s, a crucial period when the country faced the looming threat of widespread famine. Swaminathan worked closely with the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to shape agricultural policies.

Read More: Meet The Father Of Agronomy In India M. S. Swaminathan

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M. S. Swaminathan Awards & Achievements

Awards -

• Padma Shri (1967)

• Ramon Magsaysay Award (1971)

• Padma Bhushan (1972)

• World Food Prize (1987)

• Padma Vibhushan (1989)

Contribution -

• Development of Wheat Varieties

• Rice Revolution

• Technology Transfer

• Policy Advocacy

Furthermore, he served as the chairman for several prestigious international conferences, including the 1974 United Nations World Food Congress held in Rome.