1. Volume 4 Issue 4 Aug -Nov.
A man who painted the Nation White
Honoured as the architect of India's White Revolution, which catapulted India to be the world's largest
milk producer, Kurien managed the feat in the 1970s
at a time when it faced grim uncertainties over its
food security.
Born on November 26, 1921 in Kozhikode, Kerala,
Kurien - who was destined to become India's top
'milkman' - graduated from Loyola College in 1940
and later completed his engineering from Guindy
College of Engineering, Chennai. But it was after a
brief stint at TISCO that he obtained a government of
India scholarship to study dairy engineering.
Having acquired specialized training at the Imperial Institute of Animal Husbandry and Dairying in Bangalore,
Kurien went to the US and completed his masters in
Mechanical Engineering with dairy engineering as a
minor subject from the Michigan State University, in
1948. A year later, he was assigned to a Government
Creamery in Anand, Gujarat as part of his bond commitment.
Arriving in Anand on a hot May 13 in 1949, Kurien was
a harried man, only waiting to be released from his
bond and leave the place as quickly as possible.
He got his release orders after six months and was all
set to pack up and go to the city of big bucks, Bombay
(now, Mumbai) - but a minor incident halted him in his
tracks.
Just as he was preparing his exit, Tribhuvandas Patel,
the then chairman of Kaira District Co-operative Milk
Producers Union, popularly known as 'Amul', with
whom Kurien had developed a good friendship, requested him to stay back in Anand for some more time
and help him organize his co-operative society's dairy
equipment.
Born
Died
Nationality
Other names
Ethnicity
Alma mater
Occupation
Known for
Religion
Spouse(s)
Children
Awards
Verghese Kurien
26 November 1921
Calicut, Madras Presidency,British India
(now Kozhikode, Kerala)
9 September 2012 (aged 90)
Nadiad, Gujarat, India
Indian
"Milkman of India"
Malayali
University of Madras
Michigan State University
Founder of Amul - ExChairmanGCMMF, NDDB, Institute of
Rural Management Anand
Widely acclaimed as the "Father of
the White revolution" in India[1]
None (Atheism)
Molly
Nirmala Kurien
World Food Prize (1989)
Padma Vibhushan (1999)
Padma Bhushan (1966)
Padma Shri (1965)
Ramon Magsaysay Award (1963)
Around 65 years later that figure has grown to a staggering 16,100 with 3.20 million milk producers pouring millions of tonnes of milk into the GCMMF containers twice
daily.
The NDDB, formed by Kurien's efforts, replicated the
Kurien stayed back for a few more days...going on to
Amul Model all over India with remarkable results which
become a legend through Operation Flood, launched in dramatically increased the country's milk production.
1971.
Through Kurien's efforts vide the Amul Model, the counThe Dairy co-operative movement had a modest begin- try's milk production shot up from a mere 20 million metning with the first Dairy Co-operative Union in Gujarat
ric tonnes (MMT) per annum in 1960 to a whopping 122
formed in 1942 with only two village co-operatives join- MMT last year.
ing as members.
2. Volume 4 Issue 4 Aug -Nov.
He proved it by the Operation Flood in 1971 - creating a
national milk grid - which was implemented in three phases.
Not only did it result in making India the world's largest producer of milk and milk products, it also helped reduce malpractices by milk producers and merchants, and alleviated
poverty during that era.
The world took note of Kurien's efforts and showered honours on him, including India's Padma Vibhushan, the World
Food Prize, Magsaysay Award, Carnegie-Wateler World
Peace Prize, International Person of Year from US and
other recognitions, for his work that touched millions of lives
everyday in remote areas.
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