I invite my fellow bloggers to enlighten me about contribution of the lady in the right picture, in the development of our country.
I don’t know if we carry out a survey and ask the people to identify the above two snaps, how many will recognize the gentleman. He passed the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Michigan State University, U.S.A. with distinction. So he had secured the so called “Ticketâ€? to a good life. But instead of running after good life, he did the following:
He has enabled India to become the largest milk producer in the world.
A man with a rare vision, he devoted a lifetime to realize his dream – empowering the farmers of India.
He is known as Father of White Revolution in India.
Many years ago, a stupid half naked fakir called Gandhi, walked on this earth, saying that India had to utilize the local resources in order to make progress as a nation. This man in the above picture turned that stupid statement into reality. He is credited with architecting Operation Flood — the largest dairy development program in the world.
He was responsible for changing the millions of villagers’ lives in Gujarat.
Many, many years ago, I heard my father discussing that government had increased this man’s security. Why? A popular vegetable oil brand was using beef tallow in its product. He dared to introduce another vegetable oil, called “Dhara.â€? taking the winds out the the Dalda lobby’s sails. But why introducing another vegetable oil in the market posed danger to this man’s life? Because common man doesn’t think twice before buying his products and trusting it. And common man didn’t take a day in discontinuing with the use of that so called brand with beef tallow. People of that brand were out for his blood.
May be it seems that he comes from a far off place. But whenever an utterly butterly Amul packet is being opened, a tetra can is used for storing juice to increase its shelf life, a worm free Amul chocolate is being bitten, a Mother Dairy or Amul milk is used or an Amul ice cream, chocolate, pizza, shri knand, cheese is being enjoyed, this man’s vision and hard work too is residing in our kitchen or refrigerator. We trust his products everyday. He ensured our and our children’s health and made consumption of milk affordable.
But did we bat an eyelid when this man resigned from his post as a chairman of Gujarat Marketing Federation after serving it for 34 years? He resigned in disgrace. If I copied headline of weekly “The Week� his exit was termed as “Utterly Bitterly� exit. Had we exhibited a bit of care and compassion for this 84 year old man known as Dr Verghese Kurien? No. Because we are fast becoming a nation of REAL COOL people. We are more bothered about our weekends, hip hop nights, pub hounding, night clubs and performance of Djs and Vjs or how outrageous our tattoos and piercing can be than others.
Who cares if this man’s own team had engineered his ouster. Who cares if this one and truly nationalistic brand Amul will be corporatized instead of running as a truly co-operative and transparent fashion?
Co-operative movement? Arre yaar, kabhi kisi class mei study ki thi iske baare mei?
Peris Hilton? Oh! She has broken off with her latest boyfriend!
will do later, good to see one more nail in the wood.
yeah well, that’s the irony of our nation!! everyone knows Sonia Gandhi, not because of anything she’s done(she’s not made a contribution worth even a penny to india, not yet atleast) but because of her famous surname & lineage, being a widow & daughter-in-law of an ex-PM & having married in the family of the first PM of India has its expected benefits ofcourse!! 🙄 so when she pulled her name back as a prime ministrial candidate, people revered her. now that she’s resigned, people adore her!! but no one truly gives a damn about who Dr.Verghese is, yes, that’s afterall the truth!!
and this is not the first time, our history(near past & long gone past) is riddled with such cases. the recent being the Jessica Lal case, why is it so much the point of discussion amongst people? aren’t there any other cases where the suspect(possible guilty) was acquitted of all charges? but noone talks about them!! blame it on the media, they hype & popularise the insignificant news these days, whatever sells, having forgotten their moral & social duties as the owners of the medium that reach people, truly poisoned by the corporate society!!
& not to say, so much for the democracy, the development of the society!! 🙄
I’ve seen a quote on Dr Verghese Kurien: “He might enjoy his drink at the end of the day but I regard him as one of the few true Gandhians. For, he thinks it is he and he alone who not only has understood Gandhiji’s economic philosophy with its emphasis on rural economy and poverty – alleviation but achieved it single-handedly through his milk revolution.”
A great man,indeed!!
Oh by the way the very essence of co-operative movement is corporatization and thats how the middlemen were eliminated and money was put in the hands of the farmers to buy more cattle. Mr. Kurien’s ouster is indeed sad. I have really not bothered about it, because I know the man has done some thing which will still run even after he is gone. Today all the milk unions are run as corporates, farmers have more choices to sell their produce than ever. He has built a system which is self sustaining and independent of the very man who has created it. Thats what is essential, that is what he has done.
Yes, he should have been shown respect that he deserves. But I thought you would have liked to articulate the other side of the story as well.
On a seperate note. Do you vote Alka? Do you have a voters ID card? Else how are you going to change the system?
“Many years ago, a stupid half naked fakir called Gandhi”, : with all due respect, read ‘My Experiments with Truth’ before coming to such a conclusion.
when u wanna read abt real sensible and classy stuff, come to Alkas.
You post makes a hell lot of sense, and again disturbed the hell outta me. The man is sometihng great. And normal man does not even know about him. U were right, I did not recognise him from the pic.
Thanx u for the post, and i thank myself for visiting on time 🙂
I may differ from others in opinion but if public doesn’t recognize this man and praise or dislike woman it’s becuase of media. Even today larger portion of population listen or read news channel or paper, NOT the news magazine which once in a while print such article. Just take it out politician, bollywood and cricket (mind here I didn’t say sports) news papers will not be more than 2 pages out of which 1 and 1/2 will filled with advertisement. I have no problem with Sonia, no matter what she does, will be criticise by some portion of public and praised by her party and some portion of public. Still she is better than most of Indian politician even though her contibution to country is nill comparison to the man standing tall in this post.
Now cames to Dr. Vergese, he is one of the person who actually understand what Gandhi said. Most of the followers don’t try to understand the meaning hidden behind the words, they just blindly follow the name of the person NOT that person’s principle. It’s unfortunate we have larger population of such kind of people.
Did Dr. Vergese get any padam shri kind of honor yet? I don’t think so or don’t know. We don’t know how to honor real heros who actually contibute positively for country’s real development. He is a great man indeed but same time in the wrong place.
“Many years ago, a stupid half naked fakir called Gandhi�,
I don’t think Gandhi deserve this line.
I mean we should have some respect for this man.
“Many years ago, a stupid half naked fakir called Gandhi, walked on this earth, saying that India had to utilize the local resources in order to make progress as a nation.”
The fact that his dream was achievable shows that he wasn’t a “stupid, half naked fakir”. Incidentally are you related to Winston Churchill (http://www.kamat.com/mmgandhi/churchill.htm)
Whew..that’s a big loss for Amul…Dr. Kurien’s departure…sigh…that’s one of the maladies of our country,(And,many others,too,including here)..good people just cannot survive without being brought down by their detractors..something like the proverbial frogs in the well,who do not want to get out and who do not allow the brave ones also to jump out.
Hmm…Sonia- Amar Singh’s have good entertainment values. Actually most of the things that we talk of now in India have good market entertainment value. They are “in”– who said Alka nowadays you have to do something for someone’s development to gain popularity? Just market yourself well, that is what is perhaps needed. I think we would also change- a deluge would come and clean us up someday. I hope it happens. I dream- someday again Noah builds his arc. and if I am dreaming may be I become a Noah someday..haha
I see many people objecting to the expression: “Many years ago, a stupid half naked fakir called Gandhiâ€?. Hey guys, can’t you make it she’s said it mockingly? She’s mocked those who say Gandhian thinking is outdated and has no relevance in today’s “liberalized” world.
Regarding Dr. Kurien: as I keep on saying, this world goes on because of the efforts of a few people. It doesn’t really matter how many people know Dr. Kurien and how many know Sonia Gandhi; he’ll be known where it matters, and I think that’s what really matters.
Very nicely written.
I didn’t know much about it except few days back read in ET.
Tarun, I waited for your comment.
Amit, I have not visited your blog or any blog for a long time. I especially like your Hindi blog. Read your posts soon. And thank you very much for your valuable input. Jessica Lall case is getting so much importance, because its a case of urban middle class. Anyone of us can be in a similar situation in any pub or eating joint or night club. You see, nowadays these places are not visited by the upper class youth only. These are not some exclusive hanging out places now. So seeing that this case reach its logical conclusion, is like ensuring our future safe.
Ganga, I agree with you totally. Even if , Gandhiji were alive today, he too would have declared him a true Gandhian, irrespective of his drinking.
Mallik, I don’t want to discuss corporate and co-operatives and their benefits and drawbacks. And what happens without him, is yet to be seen. Whether his fears are justified or not. I have not articulated the other side of the story, I think if one of you can do it. Otherwise it will have become a very long post.
I do have a voter ID card. And I voted when I liked the candidate. But from my city, only mafias contest election or a sole representative from VHP, who is in recent Lok Sabha. Now tell me to whom should I vote for?
Pradeep, I have read “My Experiments with Truth.� And I wrote that sentence to mock those who call Gandhi outdated. I have the highest of regards for Mahatma. He is an institution in himself.
Girl, do you really think, I deserve your praise? I don’t know what to say when you are writing so many complimentary things. Thank you for visiting and taking time out to comment.
sad but true. though i recognised his face i dint really kno he’d done all that. this is what i like about your writing. every time i come here i kno i’m sure to find food for thought.
Tarun, thanks for analyzing the newspapers and TV channels and the lady in picture. Dr. Kurien did receive Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan including 66 other awards. I think he got 16 or 15 honaray doctorates too. And I am glad to see that Gandhiji still command so much respect from all over the world, including youths.
Red, I will never get tired of declaring that I don’t belong to Churchillian clan. Consider me in tune with Einstein, who said
“Generations to come, it may be, will scarcely believe that such a one, as this, ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth. �
AmitL, your state was his karmabhoomi. Why don’t you write something about him? After reading your comment i think you will write quite effectively about this matter.
Tanmoy, I am not discussing this from Dr. Kurien’s point of view. Its about us, as a nation. Don’t we know how to honour our real heroes?
Amrit, very true. I used those words for Mahatma while quite annoyed. Otherwise you know how much I respect him.
Khotta, how are you and your studies? You must be doing very well in academics. You are being very generous while commenting. Whenever I VISIT your blog I get first hand information about the psyche of an Indian student in an alien land.
Dr. Kurien did receive Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan including 66 other awards
That’s really nice to know he got those awards for his work, But how many times he got media coverage for same. I think that’s the reason he hardly get noticed by general public. I remember seeing his photo last time was 12 years back.
Written a post in Hindi, would love your views 🙂
Sort of agreed with Tanmay on RDB, but then i hv myself done a detailed review. Hope u read that!
About this post, so true, so true! Wonder why that lady gets so much hype. Amit has wonderfully summed up her ‘contribution’ (or more correctly her lack of them) for the country!!
Alka, I am so moved by this article, that I cant expressed my words. I have read a lot about this fine gentleman in lots of magazines and in news. Lately, he was in midst of lots of controveries regarding his chairmanship of the position he was holding. I know, it pinches, it pains when a person who has dedicated his life to the almost selfless motive and then he becomes a pawn to some petty politics. We surely have lost a great corporate leader with true values and wisdom , but thats the price we have to play to be the so called industrailised country, where anything can be done by the shareholders and the likes.
I deeply regret the resignation of this fine gentleman.
-ATG
alka ji,
what this got to do with going to a disc, I do go to one, bar hop as well – and duly introspected on the changing times when the eminment Dr Kurien quit. I wondered why, I wondered about the politics, I wondered if it was time for him to go or if he was being thrown out. I don’t know, I read all the stories I could, didn’t get too much data to form an opinion.
So I watched Paris Hilton on the FTV and sipped some beer in condolance to Dr Kurien, at least he will enjoy his tipple in peace 😉
ah yes, I know how busy you can get!! 🙂 still, if you are able to take sometime out, then do try to pay a visit, a hot debate is on(at my Hindi blog & soon others as well) & I hope you can add more fat to the fire!! 😉
stop writing good posts & I’ll stop giving my input, that’s all I can say!! 🙂
Hi,Alka,I will write about the topic…but,after returning to India(perhaps around June.:)Before that, life out here is just too tiring and hectic to ‘Think’ after work hours.
intersting …..
It’s pity that Today’s India treats its heroes this way. His contribution to India is immense and he deserves Bharat Rtana like one else.
I didn’t get your logic of comparing him to Sonia. You could have compared to any politician for that matter, but why only sonia? I find in blogosphe a systematic targeting of Sonai like Rajive was hounded with Bofors… even though he was innocent.
Ofcourse am inviting sycophant gandhi loyalist tag………which will be pity …as I despise the gandhi family as much a RSS.
no doubt contribution of this man is far greater than lady but why everybody needs to be apologetic… this man lived his own vision, own dreams and trust me, ppl like him dont need sympathy or support of others… it is good if it comes and good even if they r alone… so dont feel that bad for man… feel bad for nation itself who lost his services and who is carefree abt thier loss… those who ask for recofnition and suport for their service cant go on for long… they will definitely break down… we must learn to love ourselves and others more with their weaknesses if we want to serve them…
We have no faith or respect in ourselves. Our education does not instill a sense of pride in our history. We only concentrate on the bad things like caste. Which society or civilization hasn’t had class/caste system ? It is not surprising that we dont respect our real heroes because deep down we hate ourselves and look up to the west.
We suck up to any white person. Just listen to any foreign tourist, gushing about the love and attention bestowed on him/her by Indians. I never experienced such things in my 30 years of living in India.
There is more to come. It wont be long when Rahul Ghandy will be our PM. The very thought makes me sick. This country will not be saved as long as there is any member of this Nehru-Ghandy family is alive.
Sadly–as a nation we hardly know how to honor our heroes! We don’t even know: who is our hero!
Jo Dikhta Hai Woh Bikta Hai. Kurien didn’t so not tear shed, while “Tallest” leader of the country has a PR, is visible so she sells!! This is India.
Kids were dying of malnutrition and hunger. Even me might have had. Milk was a luxury. This man thought of a revolution – white revolution. No kid can’t afford to not have milk. We are now leading producers of milk in the world.
But zeroes always out number heroes. They pip them at every opportunity. I saw his intervew in CNBC. He was a dejected man. He didn’t deserve this. But then, he did what he did. Lord knows, and those who matter know.
Great post Alka. We should be ashamed of ourselves for being citizens without gratitude. If Gandhi was the father of the nation, Dr. Kurien could easily be the mother of the nation, for he is the person who flooded all of us with the most primary source of nourishment called milk. That way he has supplemented the duty of all the mothers of India.
It is a sad predicament of our country that on one hand we celebrate imported shit packed in a nice glossy container but fail to respect, let alone appreciate the selfless deeds of the legendary personality.
And you know most of his heartless disciples are MBAs. They were talking of him trying to make the Amul a one-man show and monopolise the environment with his ideals. That only goes to show how illiterate our Business Management graduates are, whatever may be the salary they may command abroad.
If he were to do that, today he would have been the richest person in India by Corporatising Amul. His only mistake is that he did not know to sell himself as a celebrity and put his disciples at a safe distance.
Hey Alka.
Thanks for dropping by at Jammy Sunday Times. I am not sure if you remember you did come to my earlier blog on blurty.com a couple of times 😀
Anyway, about this issue. Definitely, there is no question about Kurien’s contribution to this single handedly propelled success story. From an era where India was looking upto milk imports to becoming World’s second largest milk producer today, it was his innovative idea of Co-operative operation. This idea not only churned out gallons of milk, but also, millions of jobs for the farmers across the country. This model was then adopted by other states also.
He preferred to stick to the basics of Co-operative managment but was creative enough to roll out Amul The Brand. It all went on for the good of Amul unless a few years back when Amrita Patel tried to merge co-operative milk societies of various states(mostly sick) and run it with a different model with Amul driving the movement forward. Apparently, Dr.Kurien did not accept this idea as he was sure this intervention would ruin the otherwise smoothly running co-operative movement.
There might be a stark political angle to it as well. According to surveys most of these white co-operative societies are huge vote banks and to lure them to the Saffron camp, Dr.Kurien was the hurdle. This sounds quite logical because the board memebers not so long back merrily appointed Kurien back and now are driving movements against him.
Oops it became a lil too long, but I really admire the efforts of this man and it indeed is a shame on part of the people involved for having dishonoured his efforts shamelessly. All this when there are people from other countries wanting him to drive similar revolutions in their lands.
point well made
Okay! The post’s topic piqued my interest and ensured that it does not meet the fate of innumerable blogs that one browses through every day.
I have the honor to call the academic institute, that Dr. K. chairpersoned, my alma mater. I had the honor to finish my internship at an organization that Dr. K. chairpersoned and I also had the honor to serve at an organization that Dr. K. chairpersoned.
So you can understand how much I owe to the great persona. I just cannot help but draw a parallel between God himself (or herself if you like) and Dr. K. Both of them have given me caliber and resources with which I am able to shape my world and the world around me.
Now let me point towards the crucial point where the two depart. God gave me the bounties and got off my back leaving the rest to my intelligence. He had the humility to. That’s where we hear the biggest criticism about Dr. K. He gave the people the bounties and never could forget that he has given it ‘away’ to them and now he must move on.
Vedic system recognizes four ashrams or life stages. Dr. K. had come near the Sanyas stage (80+) but vehemently and doggedly refused to move on from Vanprastha to Sanyas and that is all which was there at the root of unpleasant yet inevitable fallouts.
So relax guys, the people he was surrounded with are not ungrateful scoundrels. Give some credence to the fact that an institute that continues to thread 2.4 mn producers across 12 k village societies takes more than just the genius of a Michigan State M Sc grad.
Hi,
My Q is what have u done for the country? Agreed that Mr. VK has done a lot, so has Dr. Manmohan Singh & Dr. APJ Abdul Kalaam. And Sonia Gandhi is resting on the legacy (??) of the Nehru-Gandhi family. But atleast she is livin in India & doing something for the country. But here is a woman of our country sitting in a foreign land (NRI) & criticizing ppl. Also, mind yr words while referring to Mahatma Gandhi. I think i m wasting my time reading yr article. Its better u live in India, do something for the country & then judge others. Till then u r no better than sonia or anyone else.
Khundak, I am not questioning the credibility of the people now running the cooperative. I was just voicing my disgust how Dr. was thrown out. No one will say that its dignified.
Ankur, we are greatful to Soniaji that she has obliged us by living in this country. But man, what gave you an idea that I am an NRI? I AM VERY MUCH LIVING IN INDIA. As far as doing anything for my country, the least I have done is THIS COUNTRY DOESN’T HAVE TO WASTE MILLIONS ON MY SECURITY AND THEN I DO GOOD FOR FEW.
Who is asking you to waste your time on my blog?
Alka:
Nice post. But I think you need to look at Kurien’s exit from GCMMF in perspective.
I believe – barring VERY VERY few – most successful people become their own caricatures (even the mighty Gandhi was not spared from this “disease”). Dr. K – as we from IRMA (Institute of Rural management) – call him was a great visionary. But he also had a big ego and had become one heck of a megalomaniac.
He thought nothing of keeping the professors or directors he liked and have the institute run the way he wanted. There was a huge uproar when he unilaterally sacked the IRMA Director because he wouldnt be his puppet.
GCMMF was a always a big political fight between Amrita Patel and Dr. K .. so it wasnt as if he was above all that.
There comes a time in every successful person’s life when he or she should take a bow out of the empire one has built and let the new generation take on from there. People like billionaires Gates and Buffett understand that. Alas those like Gandhi and Kurien whose entire life went in serving people cannot get that basic and most important lesson in life!! Their nemesis was born out of their inability to let go… or an Ego born out of Altruism!!
Cheers,
Desh
Drishtikone.com
hmmm….quite a lot food for thought…hmmm…desh certainly has a point in there…
Alka ji, Enjoyment, detachment, renunciation. That is the ladder which wise men from Bhartiya philosophic system have advised. In the course of delivering our duties in a social conglomeration people often become attached. चिपचपी वसà¥?तà¥?ओं से पीछा छà¥?ड़ने के लिà¤? साबà¥?न का पà¥?रयोग तो करना ही पड़ता है ना। और फिर गनà¥?दा पानी à¤à¥€ बहता ही है।