Unsung Heroes - M.S. Swaminathan: Father of the Green Revolution in India

Unsung heroes, often hidden in the shadows, are the individuals whose remarkable contributions and selfless actions shape the world. While the world celebrates prominent figures, it is the unsung heroes who quietly work behind the scenes, driving change, progress, and compassion. These unheralded champions emerge in various walks of life, from the local communities to global stages, leaving an indelible mark on society. Their stories inspire us to appreciate the power of humility and the profound impact that individuals can have on the world, regardless of the recognition they receive. In this series of articles, we will be sharing stories of such unsung heroes of India.

A visionary agronomist and agricultural scientist, Mankombu Sambasivan (M.S.) Swaminathan dedicated his life to the welfare of India's poor farmers. While his recent passing marked the end of an era, his legacy continues to thrive through the revolutionary rice varieties he developed, which transformed the lives of countless farmers across the country. He has been acclaimed by ?TIME Magazine as one of the twenty most influential Asians of the 20th Century

A Life Committed to Farmers

Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan, born on August 7, 1925, in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, was the second son of general surgeon?M. K. Sambasivan who hailed from?Kerala.? However, M.S. lost his father at the age of 11 and was looked after by his father's brother. Many of his extended family members were farmers, grew rice, mangoes, and coconut, and later expanded into other areas such as coffee. In his childhood, he witnessed how fluctuations in the price of crops had on his family, including the devastation that weather and pests could cause to crops. It was his deep-rooted connection to the soil that ignited his passion for agriculture and led him on a path that would forever change the face of Indian farming. Swaminathan's primary interest lay in improving the lives of ?underprivileged farmers who toiled tirelessly to feed the nation.

In 1946, three years after millions of Indians died in a famine in Bengal, Dr. Swaminathan was so touched by Gandhi’s appeal to “the God of bread” to bless every family that he switched his higher studies from medicine to agricultural research.

He joined the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi after graduating from a leading agricultural college in Tamil Nadu.? He then pursued postgraduation in plant genetics in the Netherlands and later earned a Ph.D. in genetics from the University of Cambridge in 1952.

The Green Revolution Pioneer

M.S. Swaminathan was a key figure in the Green Revolution, a movement that aimed to significantly increase agricultural production to combat hunger and poverty. Swaminathan's groundbreaking work in developing high-yielding varieties of rice played a pivotal role in this revolution.

During the 1960s, India faced another severe food crisis. Traditional rice varieties had low yields, leading to widespread hunger and poverty. Swaminathan, undeterred by these challenges, initiated a focused research program. His team meticulously crossbred various rice varieties to create strains that were resistant to diseases, and pests, and could flourish in diverse environmental conditions.

Swaminathan worked with the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) as a senior scientist and researcher, and later as its director general. In Mexico, Norman Borlaug had registered success with his work on developing high-yielding foodgrain varieties that responded well to external inputs and provided higher productivity and production. Swaminathan worked with Borlaug to adopt these technologies in India.

In 1965, Swaminathan set up thousands of demonstration and test plots in the northern region of India, showing small-scale producers that the new, genetically superior grain could thrive in their own fields. The first year’s harvest tripled previous production levels. Not only did agricultural yields improve, but also scientific advances in agriculture were introduced and used by the producers themselves. Swaminathan’s direct work with farmers overcame the obstacles of illiteracy and lack of formal education and provided a generation of Indians with knowledge about the effectiveness of modern agriculture.

Swaminathan’s vision transformed India almost overnight. Raising the total crop yield of wheat from 12 million tons to 23 million tons in four crop seasons ended India’s reliance on grain imports. Swaminathan later worked with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to establish agricultural policies and programs that would maintain long-term self-sufficiency across the country.

Swaminathan founded M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, a non-profit trust in 1988 with the aim to accelerate the use of modern science and technology for agricultural and rural development to improve the livelihood of farmers. The Foundation has impacted the lives of over 600,000 farmer’s families spread across more than 17 countries.

The Miracle of IR8

Swaminathan's most iconic contribution came in the form of a rice variety known as IR8, also called "Miracle Rice." This high-yielding variety had a significantly shorter growth cycle, allowing for two crops a year. The IR8 rice variety was a game-changer for Indian agriculture. It boosted rice production, ensuring food security, and improving the economic condition of millions of farmers.

Empowering Farmers

Swaminathan's vision extended beyond the laboratory. He recognized that empowering farmers with the knowledge and tools to maximize their yields was as crucial as developing new varieties. He advocated for farmer-friendly policies, education, and infrastructure development.

Swaminathan's efforts led to the establishment of the National Commission on Farmers (NCF) in 2004. This commission aimed to address the issues plaguing Indian agriculture and formulate policies to uplift the farming community. His tireless advocacy played a pivotal role in bringing the struggles of farmers to the forefront of national consciousness.

A Legacy of Transformation

The impact of M.S. Swaminathan's work on Indian agriculture cannot be overstated. His relentless commitment to helping poor farmers led to the development of numerous high-yield crop varieties, including not just rice but also wheat and maize. His "Evergreen Revolution" concept advocated for sustainable and ecologically friendly farming practices.

Swaminathan's legacy lives on in the fields of India, where his innovations continue to drive increased agricultural productivity, raise living standards, and ensure food security for millions. His contributions earned him global recognition.

He was given the title of 'Father of Economic Ecology' by the United Nations Environment Programme for his contribution to agriculture.

Dr. Swaminathan was awarded the S.S. Bhatnagar Award for his contribution to biological sciences (1961), the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 1971, the Albert Einstein World Science Award in 1986, the first World Food Prize in 1987, the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Medal and the Mahatma Gandhi Prize of UNESCO in 2000, and the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award in 2007. He was a proud recipient of some of India’s highest honors including Padma Shri (1967), Padma Bhushan (1972), and Padma Vibhushan (1989).

He was a Fellow of many of the leading scientific academies of India and the world, including the Royal Society of London and the US National Academy of Sciences. He received 84 honorary doctorate degrees from universities around the world. He was a Member of the Parliament of India (Rajya Sabha) for the period 2007-13. He also chaired the Task Force set up by the Ministry of External Affairs to oversee the projects undertaken in Afghanistan and Myanmar in the field of agriculture and was elected as the “Living Legend of the International Union of Nutrition Sciences” at the 20th International Congress of Nutrition held at Granada, Spain.

Swaminathan was also a prolific scientific writer.? He published 46 single-author papers between 1950 and 1980 in the field of crop improvement, genetics, cytogenetics and phytogenetics. He also wrote books around the general theme of his life’s work, biodiversity and sustainable agriculture for the alleviation of hunger.

Swaminathan is survived by his three daughters- Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientists at WHO, Dr. Madhura Swaminathan, who is an economics professor at the Indian Statistical Institute and Nitya Swaminathan, a lecturer in gender analysis and development at the University of East?Anglia.

M.S. Swaminathan's recent passing left a void in the world of Indian agriculture, but his indomitable spirit and visionary work will continue to inspire generations of agronomists, scientists, and farmers. He was a true unsung hero, dedicating his life to transforming the fortunes of India's farmers through agricultural innovation. M.S. Swaminathan's legacy is a testament to the power of science and innovation in alleviating poverty and ensuring food security, making him an enduring symbol of hope for millions in India and beyond.