Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, economist Montek Singh Ahluwalia, former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi and others during book launch of “The Man Who Fed India” by Priyambada Jayakumar, a book that offers a detailed work of M.S. Swaminathan, on the occasion of his birth centenary, at India International Centre in New Delhi on August 6, 2025
| Photo Credit: ANI
The immunisation programme led by the country’s first Health Minister, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, and the Green Revolution initiated by M.S. Swaminathan were the reasons for the decrease in the death rate in India, former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi said in New Delhi on Wednesday (August 6, 2025).
Speaking at the launch of The Man Who Fed India, a biography of Dr. Swaminathan by the Singapore-based author Priyambada Jayakumar, Mr. Gandhi said three English words known by all farmers in the country was “Swaminathan Farmer Commission”.
Mr. Gandhi said Dr. Swaminathan had been part of the group of scientists around the world who stood for humanity and nuclear disarmament. “Swaminathan’s works for agriculture has given India’s farmers a life,” Mr. Gandhi said.
In a panel discussion that followed the book release, Shashi Tharoor, MP, said Dr. Swaminathan worked at a time when the memories of Bengal famine were haunting the country.
‘International contacts’
Former Planning Board Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said Dr. Swaminathan revolutionised the country’s agriculture through his international contacts.
DMK leader Kanimozhi said Dr. Swaminathan’s works for empowering women and ensuring ecologically friendly agriculture practices were not discussed the way it deserved.
Published – August 07, 2025 02:20 am IST