M.K. Stalin announces T.N. police honours for M.S. Swaminathan’s funeral | Updates

Indian agriculture scientists and policymakers remember M.S. Swaminathan as someone who walked ahead of time not just as a scientist, researcher and academic but also as a visionary administrator. The community believes that developing high yielding Basmati rice varieties, innovatively using the technology of mutation for various crops, application of genetics for increasing production and food security and launching programmes such as “lab to land” were his major contributions to the country’s agriculture sector.

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Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar expressed grief on the demise of eminent farm scientist M.S. Swaminathan and said his contribution to making India self-sufficient in foodgrains production can never be forgotten.

Mr. Tomar said Swaminathan’s extraordinary contribution to the development of the agriculture sector will always be remembered and will continue to inspire people.

Swaminathan has gained prestige not only in India but also in the whole world because of his contribution in the progress of agriculture sector, the Minister said.

“His demise is an irreparable loss for the agricultural sector of the entire country and the world,” he said.

The Minister said that farmers have benefitted a lot from innovations made by Swaminathan in the field of agriculture. India can never forget the contribution of Swaminathan in achieving self-sufficiency in food grains.

The Minister said the government is providing Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers on the basis of recommendations made by the Swaminathan committee.

“Deeply anguished to learn about the passing away of Dr. M S Swaminathan Ji. A legendary figure in India’s economic history Swaminathan Ji led a journey of transforming our agriculture sector by introducing the nation to the true power of its farmers. A scientific genius in his own right Swaminathan Ji,” Amit Shah wrote on X.

N. Ram, Director, The Hindu Group Publishing Private Limited, on September 28 said he cannot think of any Indian who was more decorated internationally in modern times than the agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan, who passed away in Chennai earlier in the day.

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday announced that the agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan’s funeral will happen with police honours as a recognition of his immense contributions.

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Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, conveying his deepest condolences to the bereaved family, said it is difficult to fill the void left by M.S. Swaminathan. The country’s farming sector and the farmers lost a guiding force.

“Swaminathan was the first scientist who worked his entire life with a vision to achieve food security and meet the demands of the country. He will be remembered forever by the country for developing different crop varieties to suit the different geographical soil conditions of all states,” Mr. Rao said.

Recalling his association with Swaminathan, the Chief Minister said the departed scientist extolled the initiatives taken up by the Telangana Government towards the development of the agricultural sector.

An era of agricultural research, education and extension marked by disruptive innovations has come to an end with the death of MS Swaminathan, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) director A.K. Singh said.

“In passing away of Prof. Swaminathan, ends an era of agricultural research, education and extension that was full of disruptive innovation. If God appears to poor and hungry in form of bread as said by Mahatma Gandhi, that God is Dr. Swaminathan who should be worshipped by every citizen while taking daily meals,” Mr. Singh said in a statement.

“Deeply pained by the passing away of MS Swaminathan ji -- the father of India’s Green Revolution,” the Vice-President’s Secretariat quoting Dhankhar as saying in a post on X.

Dhankhar said Swaminathan’s groundbreaking contribution to Indian agriculture ensured food security for the nation while contributing to the prosperity of millions of farmers.

“Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and well wishers during this difficult time,” he added.

M. S. Swaminathan left behind a rich legacy which would serve as a “guiding light to steer the world towards a safer and hunger-free future for humanity”, President Droupadi Murmu said as she condoled the demise of the renowned scientist.

“The demise of Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, internationally renowned agricultural scientist, saddens me no end. A visionary who worked endlessly to achieve food security, he was rightly called the Father of Green Revolution that ensured our country’s self-reliance in food grains,” Ms. Murmu said in a post on X.

“He pioneered path-breaking research in the agriculture science for which he got a range of awards- from Padma Vibhushan to the prestigious World Food Prize. He leaves behind a rich legacy of Indian agriculture science which may serve as a guiding light to steer the world towards a safer and hunger-free future for humanity,” the President said.

M. S. Swaminathan was the driving force behind India’s Green Revolution and his contribution in the field of the agriculture sector guided the nation towards achieving food security, senior Union Ministers said while expressing grief on the demise of the eminent scientist.

In his condolence message posted on X, Union Food Minister Piyush Goyal said, “Deeply saddened by the demise of Dr MS Swaminathan ji, the father of India’s Green Revolution.” Mr. Goyal, who is also the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Textiles, said Swaminathan’s relentless efforts in the field of agriculture guided the nation towards achieving food security.

“My sincere condolences to his family & friends in this hour of grief. Om Shanti,” he said.

Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala said, “Saddened to hear about the passing of Padma Vibhushan Dr. MS Swaminathan Ji. He was a visionary agricultural scientist and the driving force behind India’s Green Revolution. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this hour of grief. Om Shanti!”.

Union Health and Chemicals & Fertilizers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said, “Deeply saddened by the passing away of eminent agriculture scientist & father of the green revolution in India, MS Swaminathan Ji. His great contribution towards ensuring food security for the country will be remembered forever. My condolences to his family. Om Shanti.”

Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer and Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed grief at the death of eminent agricultural scientist M. S. Swaminathan.

The Governor said Swaminathan, a Padma Vibhushan awardee, was also a renowned agronomist, plant geneticist, administrator and a humanitarian, who was widely known for his role in India’s Green Revolution.

“Swaminathan…was widely known…for his role in India’s Green Revolution programme for introducing high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice,” said Mr. Nazeer in a press release. He offered his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy lauded Swaminathan for changing the rural landscape with his vision and termed him as the father of Green Revolution. Mr. Reddy recalled that the agronomist’s contribution made India strong in food production, enriching the rural economy. According to the Chief Minister, Swaminathan’s memory lives on in the lush fields forever.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda expressed grief at the death of agricultural scientist M. S. Swaminathan and said his demise is an irreparable loss to the agriculture sector.

Mr. Khattar said Swaminathan’s incomparable contribution to improving agricultural production by developing high-yielding crop varieties and modern technologies will always be remembered.

“The demise of renowned agricultural scientist Shri M S Swaminathan, the father of the Indian Green Revolution and Padma Vibhushan awardee, is an irreparable loss for the Indian agricultural sector,” Mr. Khattar said in a post in Hindi on X.

Former Haryana Chief Minister Hooda said the demise of Swaminathan, the pioneer of the Green Revolution, is an irreparable loss to the agriculture sector.

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Kumari Selja also expressed condolences over Swaminathan’s demise.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condoled the death of renowned agricultural scientist M. S. Swaminathan and said his “insurmountable” work in agriculture made India self-sufficient and “saved millions from food insecurity”.

“Heartfelt condolences on the demise of Dr MS Swaminathan ji, the revered father and pioneer of India’s Green Revolution,” the Aam Aadmi Party chief said in a post on X.

“His insurmountable works in the field of agriculture made India self-sufficient and saved millions from food insecurity, leaving an indelible mark on our nation. May his legacy continue to inspire generations,” he added.

The Congress paid rich tributes to M. S. Swaminathan, describing him as the key scientific architect of the Green Revolution and hailing his contribution to the agriculture sector.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, while paying his deepest condolences on the passing away of Swaminathan, said he was the key architect of India’s Green Revolution.

“A legendary scientist and a Padma Vibhushan recipient, his unmatched contribution to the field of agricultural science and his transformative intervention in making India self-sufficient in food grains shall always be cherished,” he said in a post on X.

The United Nations Environment Programme has called him “the father of economic ecology”, a richly deserved pseudonym, he noted.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Swaminathan made India self-sufficient in rice and wheat by the mid-70s. Mr. Ramesh said it was because of him that then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi created the Department of Agricultural Research and Education in April 1972.

“He will remain an iconic figure. I was in regular touch with him and every interaction was a source of great education for me,” he said in a post on X.

AICC general secretary K. C. Venugopal said he was deeply saddened to hear about the demise of Swaminathan. “His contribution to Indian agriculture transformed the lives of millions. We are committed to take his vision forward every opportunity we get,” he said on X.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik condoled the death of eminent agricultural scientist Dr. M. S. Swaminathan and said he was instrumental in revolutionising the farm sector in India.

In a message, Mr. Patnaik said, “I am deeply saddened by the passing away of eminent scientist Dr. M.S. Swaminathan. Popularly known as the Father of Green Revolution in India, Dr. Swaminathan was instrumental in revolutionising the farm sector in India, and catapulted the turnaround of farmers’ condition. All through his life, he had worked for the empowerment of farmers through technology, and advocated for appropriate public policy for farmers.”

Remembering his strong association with the State, the Chief Minister said he started his early days of research in Odisha, and was always available to help farmers of the State in every possible manner. His foundation is closely associated in improving farming activities in tribal areas of Odisha.

Former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda expressed grief over the demise of eminent scientist M. S. Swaminathan and said he had greatly benefited from his advice on many occasions.

Deve Gowda posted on social media platform X: “ I feel sad to learn the passing away of Dr. #MSSwaminathan. I have greatly benefited from his advise on many occasions and have been in touch with him till recently. My condolences to his family and friends. RIP Sir.”

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India will always remember the positive changes that M.S. Swaminathan brought to the country’s agriculture and farmers, and his contribution to food security, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said on Thursday, as he remembered the iconic scientist.

“The news of the death of famous agricultural scientist Dr MS Swaminathan, the father of the Green Revolution, is deeply saddening,” Mr. Tikait, the national spokesperson for the Bharatiya Kisan Union, posted in Hindi on X.

“This country will always remember his contribution to the positive changes to the condition of Indian agriculture and farmers, and for food security. We will all continue this fight for your ideas together,” Mr. Tikait added.

-PTI

M.S. Swaminathan wrote on food security and agricultural science in the Opinion columns of The Hindu between 2009 and 2012.

Read a collection his columns here.

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