New Delhi:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced that the Government of India is conferring the Bharat Ratna to Dr. MS Swaminathan, an Indian agronomist and agricultural scientist.
"It is a matter of immense joy that the Government of India is conferring the Bharat Ratna on Dr. MS Swaminathan Ji, in recognition of his monumental contributions to our nation in agriculture and farmers’ welfare. He played a pivotal role in helping India achieve self-reliance in agriculture during challenging times and made outstanding efforts towards modernizing Indian agriculture," PM Modi said in a post on his social media handle.
"We also recognise his invaluable work as an innovator and mentor and encouraging learning and research among several students. Dr. Swaminathan’s visionary leadership has not only transformed Indian agriculture but also ensured the nation’s food security and prosperity. He was someone I knew closely and l always valued his insights and inputs," he added.
Dr MS Swaminathan, also known as the father of agricultural revolution in India, was a renowned agricultural scientist. He studied agriculture with the aim of ensuring that there was no food shortage in the country. He completed twin bachelor degrees, in Zoology and Agricultural Sciences. But he decided to pursue a career in the agricultural field after the Bengal Famine in 1943.
Swaminathan, the son of a surgeon, was educated in India and at the University of Cambridge as a geneticist. He helped introduce Mexican semi dwarf wheat plants to Indian fields and helped to bring about greater acceptance of modern farming methods.