T.N. CM Stalin announces naming of Thanjavur Agricultural College after late scientist M.S. Swaminathan
In an announcement made in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, the CM, praising the renowned agricultural scientist’s contributions, also said a student award would be instituted under his name
Late agricultural scientist M. S. Swaminathan. File
| Photo Credit: K. Bhagya Prakash
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, announced in the State Assembly on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 that the Agricultural College and Research Institute in Eachangkottai in Thanjavur district would be named after renowned agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan, who recently passed away.
Making a statement in the Legislative Assembly, CM Stalin also said that the student who stands first in the college, will be given an award, instituted in Dr. M.S. Swaminathan’s name.
“The evolution of the human society from hunter-gatherers to adopting agriculture, is also a symbol of scientific growth. Dr. M.S. Swaminathan conducted his research in agricultural science in such a manner that it could be implemented successfully in 20th century India,” Mr. Stalin said.
“Dr. M.S. Swaminathan had flagged the issue of global warming in 1969 and he warned that the sea level would rise in 1989 in Tokyo,” the CM recalled.
Dr. Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan, or M.S. Swaminathan, is known as the “Father of the Green Revolution in India”, for his leadership and success in introducing and further developing high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice in India.
In this 1965 photo Norman Borlaug (third from left) selects strains of high-yielding wheat, along with S.P. Kohli, M.S. Swaminathan (second from left) and V.S. Mathur, in New Delhi in 1965. The Green Revolution strategy kept famines at bay and partly made up for the absence of land reforms by encouraging direct cultivation by large landholders.
Then Union Agriculture Minister Rao Birender Singh, then Prime MInister Indira Gandhi, Chairman of the National Organising Committee Dr. M.S. Swaminathan and President of the World Genetics Congress are seen during the 10th World Genetics Congress at New Delhi on December 12, 1983.
M.S. Swaminathan at the Wheat Breeding Research Station of IARI in Wellington, on December 31, 2013. Dr. Swaminathan was an alumnus of The Indian Agricultural Research Institute.
President R. Venkataraman presents the Padma Bhushan award to Dr. M.S. at an investiture ceremony in the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi in 1989.
Dr. Swaminathan presents a garland of rice grains to the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at the International Rice Congress at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on October 9, 2006.
Dr. Swaminathan arrives with his wife Mina Swaminathan in the Parliament. He was a Rajya Sabha member from 2007 to 2013.
The then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee presents the Millennium Award to Dr. Swaminathan at the 88th Session of the Indian Science Congress in New Delhi.
M.S. Swaminathan, when he took over as Director General, ICAR, on January 14, 1972.
Dr. Swaminathan receives World Agriculture Prize from Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu at the 11th Global Agriculture Leadership Summit in New Delhi.
M.S. Swaminathan addressing a FICCI meet on 'Agriculture policy in the first 10 years of the next millennium' in New Delhi on November 12, 1999.
The Hindu Group Publishing Private Ltd. Director N. Ram pays his respects before the mortal remains of Swaminathan, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on September 28, 2023.
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The CM also said agricultural universities were created, and research was conducted in a significant way, during former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s tenure, resulting in an agricultural revolution.
Mr. Stalin said that Dr. Swaminathan had been affectionate towards former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, and also recalled how the scientist had remembered Mr. Karunanidhi when he had passed away. “M.S. Swaminathan had recalled how Kalaignar created a biotechnology policy for the State and said that Kalaignar had always worked for the welfare of the farmers,” he said.
Panruti MLA T. Velmurugan, CPI (M) MLA V.P. Nagai Mali, Papanasam MLA Prof. M.H. Jawahirullah, Congress Legislative Party leader, K. Selvaperunthagai, PMK MLA G.K. Mani, AIADMK MLA O.S. Manian and VCK floor leader Sinthanai Selvan welcomed the announcement.
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