M.S. SWAMINATHAN, FATHER OF INDIA'S GREEN REVOLUTION, DIES AT 98

Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan, popularly known as M.S. Swaminathan, passed away at 11.20 am on Thursday at his home in Chennai.

- LATHA SRINIVASAN

His last rites would reportedly be held on Sunday. He is survived by three daughters, including Dr Soumya Swaminathan, the former deputy director general at WHO.

The world-renowned agronomist helped turn India into a food-surplus nation from a food deficit one thanks to his pioneering work in agriculture. Born on 7 August, 1925, in Kumbakonam (Tamil Nadu), Dr Swaminathan studied agriculture at the University of Madras and went on to earn a PhD in cytogenetics from the Cambridge University, UK. He then returned to India and joined the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi. He was Director of IARI from 1961 to 1972.

Later, he went on to serve as the Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (197279) and Principal Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture (1979-80), Acting Deputy Chairman. He was also Member (Science and Agriculture), Planning Commission (1980-82) and Director General, International Rice Research Institute, the Philippines (1982-88).