Legendary Agriculture Scientist and agronomist, famous as the leader of green revolution Dr. M. S. Swaminathan dies at the age of 98.

Eminent Agricultural scientist of global fame, famous as a pioneering leader of green revolution worldwide, Padmashri, Padma Bhushan twice and recipient of several prestigious awards and recognitions in India and abroad Dr. M. S. Swaminathan breathed his last at the age of 98 in Chennai due to age related ailments.

Extremely adored and respected not only as a great agricultural scientist , agronomist, humanist and architect of India’s green revolution but also as a gem of a person.

The president of India Draupadi Maurya while praising the father of India’s green revolution as an inspiring force and icon for the present and future Agricultural science and scientists said in her condolence message on X, earlier twitter : The demise of Dr M S Swaminathan, internationally renowned agricultural scientist, saddens me no end.

A visionary who worked endlessly to achieve food security, he was rightly called the Father of Green Revolution that ensured our country’s self-reliance in food grains. He pioneered path-breaking research in the agriculture science for which he got a range of awards- from Padma Vibhushan to the prestigious World Food Prize. He leaves behind a rich legacy of Indian agriculture science which may serve as a guiding light to steer the world towards a safer and hunger-free future for humanity.

The prime minister Narendra Modi while expressing his deepest condolences and paying tributes to this iconic agricultural scientist condoled his death by writing in detail on X earlier twitter : I will always cherish my conversations with Dr. Swaminathan. His passion to see India’s progress was exemplary. His life and work will inspire generations to come.

Condolences to his family and admirers further saying that beyond his revolutionary contributions to Agriculture he was a powerhouse of innovation and a nurturing mentor to many.

According to PM Modi Dr. Swaminathan’s unwavering commitment to research and mentorship has left an indelible mark on countless scientists and innovators. Dr. Modi expressing his shock over the sad demise of the towering scientist wrote : Deeply saddened by the demise of Dr. M. S. Swaminathan ji. At this critical period in our nation’s history his ground breaking in Agricultural transformation of millions of lives ensured food security for the entire nation tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge while expressing his condolences wrote : Our deepest condolences on the passing away of Dr. M. S. Swaminathan — the key architect of India’s Green Revolution.

A legendary scientist and a Padma Vibhushan recipient, his unmatched contribution to agricultural science and his transformative intervention in making India self-sufficient in food grains shall always be cherished. United Nations Environment Programme has called him ‘the Father of Economic Ecology’, a richly deserved pseudonym.

A great Institution builder, an able administrator and above all a humanitarian, his leadership as Director General of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines earned him the World Food Prize in 1987, recognized as the Nobel or the highest honours in the field of agriculture.

India will not only miss a great scientist but a national icon who was also instrumental in shaping a scientific temper amongst our people.

The communication chief of AICC and former union environment minister Jairam Ramesh wrote : Dr. M.S.Swaminathan, the key scientific architect of the Green Revolution, that made India self-sufficient in rice and wheat by the mid – 70s has just passed away.

He was a great institution builder, an inspiring teacher, a motivational leader, but above all, a man of the greatest humility and sobriety who allowed his achievements both in India and other parts of Asia to speak for themselves.

It was because of him that Indira Gandhi created the Department of Agricultural Research & Education in April 1972. Keeping in view the imperatives for ecological sustainability, he was the first to call for the Green Revolution to become what he called an EverGreen Revolution.

He spent the last three decades especially propagating this cause, both in government and through the research foundation he established in Chennai. He will remain an iconic figure. I was in regular touch with him and every interaction was a source of great education for me.

He also posted his picture with Dr. Swaminathan. Kindly recall that Dr. Swaminathan had held important offices during the rule of various governments. Dr. Swaminathan was a plant geneticist by training. His steller contribution to agricultural Renaissance was phenomenal having started his career at in the year 1949, two years after India sought independence researching on the genetics of potato, wheat, rice and jute. When India was badly affected by famine and there was shortage of food, Dr. M. S. Swaminathan played an outstanding role with Norman Borlaug amd other scientists to develop variety of seeds of wheat leading to exponential rise in production of wheat through adaptation of chemical and biological technology thus being named as the leader of green revolution having worked tirelessly during the tenure of the then agriculture ministers Babu Jagjivan Ram , C Subramaniam and other central ministers. Awarded with prestigious World Food Prize in 1987 after which he established MS Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai. Also recipient of prestigious, Ramon Megsaysay Award and Albert Einstein World Science award in 1986.

Having served as Director General of International Rice Research Institute , Dr. Swaminathan served as the principal secretary of ministry of agriculture in 1979. He also held the post of president of International Union of Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. In 2004 he took office as the chairman of National Commission of Farmers.

The prestigious Time Magazine named him among the twenty most influential Asians. Dr. Swaminathan’s entire life was devoted and dedicated to agriculture science and raising the productivity of Indian corps to improve the lot of the farmers of the country. He was nominated as Member of Parliament during the tenure of PM Dr. Manmohan Singh from 2007 to 2013.