National Milk Day is celebrated every year on November 26 in India to recognize the immense contribution of milk and the dairy industry to the country’s growth. This day marks the birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien, also known as the Father of the White Revolution in India.
Dr. V Kurien’s life-long purpose of work can be summed up in one word: ‘empowerment’ – empowerment of small and marginal farmers and landless laborers. Apart from the Milk Revolution that he spearheaded so successfully, his work has greatly impacted on the lives of millions of cooperative dairy farmers — socially, politically, and most importantly, economically. The milk revolution is, in fact, a by-product of the empowerment he brought about through the Amul-model (also known as Anand-pattern) dairy cooperatives. In Dr. Kurien’s words, he was not in the business of milk. Milk was only the ‘medium’ that he used to empower the farmers.
Dr. Kurien is a man of vision and ended up as an institution builder. He started the Institute of Rural Management (IRMA) at Anand in 1979 to provide management training and research support to the cooperatives being established all over the country. He facilitated the restructuring the National Co-operative Dairy Federation of India, in 1988, to provide a National level body for the country’s State Co-operative dairy federations. To provide quality school education to the children of employees working in the different institutions in Anand he established the Anandalaya Education Society. In 1994 he helped to set up Vidya Dairy to provide hand on experience in dairy plant management to students graduating in dairy technology. He also served as Founder Chairman of the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd, from 1973 to 2006.
Dr. Kurien’s main contribution has been designing of systems and institutions, which enable people to develop themselves, as he believed development of man, can best be achieved by putting in his hands, the instruments of development. He believed that the greatest assets of this country, are its people and he has dedicated his life to the task of harnessing the power of the people in a manner which promotes their larger interests.
During his illustrious career, Dr. Verghese Kurien won many accolades and awards including the Ramon Magsasay Award for Community Leadership, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Krishi Ratna Award, Wateler Peace Prize Award of Carnegie Foundation, World Food Prize Laureate, International Person of the Year by the World Dairy Expo, Madison, Wisconsin, USA and the Padma Vibhushan.