Verghese Kurien

Verghese Kurien
Verghese Kurien
Born November 26, 1921 (1921-11-26) (age 89)
Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Nationality Indian
Alma mater Loyola College
University of Madras
Michigan State University
Occupation Founding Chairman of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation

Verghese Kurien (born November 26, 1921 at Kozhikode, Kerala) is the founder of the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), an apex cooperative organization that manages the Amul food brand. He is recognised as the man behind the success of the Amul brand. Amul had a revenue of $2.2b USD in 2010-11.

He is credited with being the architect of Operation Flood -- the largest dairy development program in the world. Kurien helped modernise Anand model of cooperative dairy development and thus engineered the White Revolution in India, and made India the largest milk producer in the world.

Contents

Early life and education

Verghese Kurien was born on November 26, 1921. His father was a civil surgeon in Cochin. He graduated in Physics from Loyola College, Madras in 1940 and then did B.E. (Mech) from the University of Madras. After completing his degree, he joined the Tata Steel Technical Institute, Jamshedpur from where he graduated in 1946. He then went to USA on a government scholarship to earn his Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (with distinction) from Michigan State University.

Personal life

Kurien belongs to the Syrian Christian community of India.[1][2] He married his neighbor's daughter Molly. Molly was a gracious host and Dr Kurien's house used to serve as a guest house in Anand for the visiting dignitaries[citation needed]. He has one daughter Nirmala Kurien and a grandson, Siddharth.

The White Revolution

Kurien has since then built this organization into one of the largest and most successful institutions in India. The Amul pattern of cooperatives had been so successful, in 1965, then Prime Minister of India, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, created the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to replicate the program on a nationwide basis citing Kurien's "extraordinary and dynamic leadership" upon naming him chairman.

Kurien also set up GCMMF in 1973 to sell the products produced by the dairies. Today GCMMF sells AMUL brand products not only in India but also overseas. He quit the post of GCMMF Chairman in 2006 following disagreements with GCMMF management.[3]

Kurien, plays a key role in many other organizations, ranging from chairing the Viksit Bharat Foundation, a body set up by the President of India to chairman of the Institute of Rural Management, Anand's (IRMA) Board of Governors in India. Kurien was mentioned by the Ashoka foundation (www.ashoka.ca) as one of the eminent present Day Social Entrepreneurs.

Kurien's life story is chronicled in his memoirs 'I too had a dream'.[4]

Kurien and his team were pioneers in inventing the process of making milk powder and condensed milk from buffalo's milk instead of cow's milk. This was the reason Amul became so successful and competed well against Nestle who only used cow milk to make powder and condensed milk. In India buffalo milk was the main raw material unlike Europe where cow milk is abundant.

India's first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru visited Anand to inaugrate AMUL "factory" and he embraced Kurien for his groundbreaking work.

Awards and Honours

Year of Award or Honor Name of Award or Honor Awarding Organization
2010 Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) Karunya University.
Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda.
2007 Karmaveer Puraskaar iCONGO- Confederation of NGOs.
2007 Godfrey Phillips National Bravery Award Godfrey Phillips India Ltd.
1999 Padma Vibhushan President of India.
1989 World Food Prize World Dairy Expo, USA.
1986 Wateler Peace Prize Award Carnegie Foundation, USA.
1986 Krishi Ratna Award President of India.
1966 Padma Bhushan President of India.
1965 Padma Shri President of India.
1963 Ramon Magsaysay Award Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation.

See also

  • White Revolution

References

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Verghese Kurien — (né en 1921) est un indien, il est appelé le père de la révolution blanche. Il est lauréat des Prix Ramon Magsaysay et Rochdale Pioneers Award. (en) Cet article est partiellement ou en totalité issu de l’article de Wikipédia en anglais intitulé… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis — This is a list of Syrian Malabar Nasranis who have made significant contribution to public service, science, sports, literature and the arts.Politics and Public Service* A. K. Antony, Defence minister of India and former Chief Minister of Kerala… …   Wikipedia

  • Manthan — Directed by Shyam Benegal Produced by Gujarat Co operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd …   Wikipedia

  • Operation Flood — was a rural development programme started by India s National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in 1970. One of the largest of its kind, the programme objective was to create a nationwide milk grid. It resulted in making India the largest producer… …   Wikipedia

  • Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel — (October 22, 1903 in Anand, Gujarat), was the founder of the Kaira District Co operative Milk Producers Union in 1946, and later Amul co operative movement in Anand, Gujarat, India. BiographyBorn in October 22, 1903, in Anand, Gujarat, to… …   Wikipedia

  • Amul — Infobox Company company name = Amul company type = Cooperative company company slogan = The Taste of India foundation = 1946 | location = Anand, India key people = Chairman, Gujarat Co operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (GCMMF) industry =… …   Wikipedia

  • University of Allahabad — Vorlage:Infobox Hochschule/Logo fehltVorlage:Infobox Hochschule/Studenten fehltVorlage:Infobox Hochschule/Mitarbeiter fehlt इलाहाबाद विश्वविद्यालय University of Allahabad Universität Allahabad Motto Quot Rami Tot Arbores[1] Gründung …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Manthan — Données clés Réalisation Shyam Benegal Scénario Shyam Benegal Verghese Kurien Vijay Tendulkar Acteurs principaux Kulbhushan Kharbanda Girish Karnad Smita Patil Amrish Puri Naseeruddin Shah …   Wikipédia en Français

  • List of Magsaysay awardees — The following is a complete list of the awardees of the Ramon Magsaysay Award. Awardees individual nationality are mentioned, or country of origin and citizenship.Government Service*1958 Chiang Mon Lin Taiwan *1959 C D Deshmukh India, Jose… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Indian Christians — Religious Leaders *Valerian Cardinal Gracias First cardinal from India. *Simon Cardinal Lourdusamy First Indian to head a Sacred Congregation of the Catholic Church *Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil Head of the Syro Malabar Church *Mar Antony… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”