The passing away of Norman Borlaug has come as a huge shock to many the world over, particularly India. An agricultural scientist, Borlaug was as much a researcher as a crusader against hunger. He was critical of governments for their lackadaisical approach to food security.
I met him when he visited the Haryana Agricultural University in Hisar in 1975. He was more Indian than American when he expressed happiness over India setting itself free from PL 480 assistance. He inspired many scientists to work for peace through food.
M.S. Narwal,
Hisar
The world has lost a true visionary whose contribution to agriculture led to the rescue of millions from hunger and despair. He also showed us that science and research, when put to proper use, can make a positive difference to human lives. That is the best legacy he leaves for us. That his research could not be applied for the uplift of Africa is a sad reflection on how political interference can kill the best of ideas. Nonetheless, we all should be proud that such a man once walked on this planet.
S. Sudhir Kumar,
Hyderabad
We bid a tearful and grateful adieu to Norman Borlaug, Father of the Green Revolution. His discovery of a new strain of wheat saved the developing countries from large-scale famine and starvation deaths in the early 1970s. It was no wonder that India honoured him with a Padma Vibhushan.
V.M. Swaraj,
Chennai
The agriculture community comprising farmers, scientists, activists and the common man has lost a legend who scripted the Green Revolution across the sub-continent. There is no denying that Borlaug’s efforts nourished a whole country at the time of serious food crisis. When famine and starvation abounded, his wheat varieties became a panacea to tide over hunger.
M.K. Shanmuga Sundaram,
New Delhi
Borlaug’s outstanding contribution to the eradication of starvation will be remembered forever. Though a scientist, he was regarded and saluted as a social reformer. India is ever grateful to him for his timely help in the mid-1960s when the subcontinent was reeling under a severe food crisis.
D. Rajkumar,
Madurai
Borlaug lives on in every grain of high-yielding wheat and paddy. He was instrumental in preventing famine and starvation deaths in the 20th century and filled the hungry stomachs of millions of people in the developing countries. He was not only an agriculture scientist but also a great humanitarian. India is among the countries that have benefited immensely from Borlaug’s contribution.
J.P. Reddy,
Nalgonda
The world has lost a champion of agriculture who developed high-yielding, disease-resistant crops to prevent famine in developing countries. Besides the Nobel Peace Prize, Borlaug received extensive recognition in Canada, India, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, and the United States.
A. Jagadeesh,
Nellore
India will forever remain indebted to Norman Borlaug — the brilliant and compassionate scientist, rightly acknowledged as the Father of the Green Revolution. Though there are objections today to the methods of agriculture propagated in the 20th century, especially with respect to heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides, we must recognise that without food security, India would not have become strong. It would not have been able to resist political pressure from the developed countries.
M.P. Pratima,
Visakhapatnam
