“When the world saw a glass of milk, he saw a revolution. And filled it with opportunity, making India the largest milk producer in the world”, wrote R S Sodhi celebrating the 102nd birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurein, who is also known as Father of White Revolution. Sodhi was not alone as reports of co-operators saluting the great man came from across the country on Sunday.
Amul held a Clean Fuel (Bio CNG) Car Rally on this occasion that reached from Pune to Anand on 26th November 2023. The BioCNG car rally from Pune to Anand truly showcases the potential of manure to fuel the transportation sector, providing additional income to farmers and at the same time mitigating carbon emissions.
As soon as the rally arrived at Anand, NDDB Chairman Meenesh Shah welcomed the participants of the rally and paid tributes to Dr Kurien along with GCMMF MD Jayen Mehta, Maruti Corporation Director Kenichiro Toyofuku and others.
Well known co-operator Jyotindra Mehta, Nafcub President remembered Kurien on his birth anniversary. Mehta wrote on his facebook wall, “Today is the Birth Anniversary of milkman Dr. Varghese Kurian who proved that co-operatives can change the lives of kisans and poor people. Dr. Kurian gave full credit to Shri Tribhovanbhai Patel for his vision. Both were pioneers of “AMUL”, Mehta said.
Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman, NDDB welcomed Dr Shreekant Sambrani, Economist & Writer and First Member-Secretary & Director of IRMA to deliver the 11th Dr Verghese Kurien Memorial Lecture which was held at IRMA on the occasion of g the 102nd Birth Anniversary of Dr Kurien, celebrated as National Milk Day.
The lecture was attended by several dignitaries including members on the Board of IRMA, Director, IRMA, faculty, participants and alumni of IRMA.
Dr Shah in his address mentioned about his experiences of working with Dr Kurien and how Dr Kurien in his lifetime created a plethora of interlinked Institutions giving an effective dairying ecosystem to the nation which transformed the lives of millions.
Shah mentioned that his ideas continue to inspire generations as what he did was a transformation unseen. He then introduced Dr Sambrani as the one who had the opportunity to closely work with Dr Kurien and requested to put forth his experiences apart from delivering the lecture.
Dr Sambrani delivered a mesmerising and eloquent lecture on the topic “Letting Loose the Animal Spirits- The transformative potential of rural management” and also shared learning from the experiences he had with Dr Kurien wherein he commended Dr Kurien as a ‘Champion academic entrepreneur’.
