UK born Robert Owen is held as the father of the co-operative movement, as far as western concept of the term is understood. Owen was born this month on May 14 and UK Cooperatives is celebrating his birthday.
Cooperatives UK tweeted “Today is the 250th anniversary of Robert Owen’s birth. He is known as the ‘Father of Co-operation’, but who was he and why was he so important to #coops? Read this blog”.
Describing Owen Wikipedia writes “a Welsh textile manufacturer, philanthropist and social reformer, was one founder of utopian socialism and the cooperative movement.”
In India, however, the spirit of cooperation is said to exist since time immemorial. Since ancient times village head would ensure that everyone in his village had his dinner before he took his own, claim Indian co-operators.