Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, renowned scientist and the father of the Green Revolution in India, has died at the age of 98. He was also the founder of the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), established in 1988.

Hailed from Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, Swaminathan received his bachelor”s degree in agricultural sciences at the Madras Agricultural College and pursued a Ph.D. in genetics and plant breeding at the University of Cambridge, England. Influenced by the Bengal famine in 1943, which caused the deaths of lakhs of people, he chose agricultural research as his domain with the intention of being a driving force in changing the lives of ordinary people.

Dr. Swaminathan was a key figure in the Green Revolution, which was launched by the Union government in 1965. This endeavor played a significant role in India”s transformation from a food-deficient nation to one of the world”s foremost agricultural nations. Swaminathan has been recognized by TIME magazine as one of the twenty most influential Asians of the 20th century, alongside Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore, the only other two Indians to receive this honor.

He has also held various governmental positions, including serving as the Director of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (1961-1972), Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (1972-1979). Additionally, he served as the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture (1979-1980), Acting Deputy Chairman, and subsequently Member (Science and Agriculture) of the Planning Commission (1980-1982), and Director General of the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines (1982-1988).

Swaminathan received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 1971, the Albert Einstein World Science Award in 1986, the First World Food Prize in 1987, Volvo, Tyler and UNEP Sasakawa Prize for Environment, the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development in 2000, the Franklin D Roosevelt Four Freedoms Medal, the Mahatma Gandhi Prize of UNESCO in 2000, and the Lal Bahadur Sastri National Award (2007). He was also honored with the Padma Shri (1967), Padma Bhushan (1972), and Padma Vibushan (1989).

PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi Pay Tribute to Dr. MS Swaminathan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of renowned agricultural scientist, Dr. MS Swaminathan, whose groundbreaking work in agriculture transformed the lives of millions and ensured food security for the nation.

Modi posted on X:

Deeply saddened by the demise of Dr. MS Swaminathan Ji. At a critical time in our nation”s history, his groundbreaking work in agriculture transformed the lives of millions and ensured food security for the nation.

Beyond his revolutionary contributions to agriculture, Dr. Swaminathan was a powerhouse of innovation and a nurturing mentor to many. His unwavering commitment to research and mentorship has left an indelible mark on countless scientists and innovators.

I will always cherish my conversations with Dr. Swaminathan. His passion to see India progress was exemplary.

His life and work will inspire generations to come. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.

Deeply saddened by the demise of Dr. MS Swaminathan Ji. At a very critical period in our nation’s history, his groundbreaking work in agriculture transformed the lives of millions and ensured food security for our nation. pic.twitter.com/BjLxHtAjC4

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 28, 2023

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also condoled the demise of Dr. MS Swaminathan, the “Father of the Green Revolution” in India.

Kharge, in a post on X, said:

Our deepest condolences on the passing away of Dr. MS Swaminathan, the key architect of India”s Green Revolution. A legendary scientist and 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.

India will not only miss a great scientist but a national icon, who was also instrumental in shaping a scientific temper among our people.

Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, said:

Dr. MS Swaminathan”s steadfast commitment to revolutionizing India”s agriculture turned us into a food surplus country. His legacy as the Father of the Green Revolution will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences go out to his loved ones during this time of loss.