25 must read books - XXIV

I too had a dream

During our lifetime India became self reliant in milk and dairy products. Gone are the days of Polson butter. Now it is Amul all the way. 

His struggle against bureaucracy and politicians, how he fought the media, who framed and then blamed him for all fictitious charges and how he clears his name from all charges, come out in this book. His attempt to replicate the success in Pakistan and Sri Lanka are detailed and the reasons of failure are also mentioned very clearly. 

He bears no malice towards any one who stood in his way. He amply gives credit to all who deserved to be appreciated be it the farmers or Newzealand and Australia and in particular the assistance from European countries to make operation flood a success. 

The story tells readers how Dr. Kurien met the group of farmers in Anand, Gujarat, who were forming Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited, which is popularly known as Amul today. He became friends with the cooperative chief Mr. Tribhuvandas Patel and was impressed by the integrity and commitment of the members of the cooperative. He joined them to sell milk in a more organized fashion. The Anand model of cooperative became famous soon and seeing the idea working well, the Government requested him to form the National Dairy Development Board to promote such cooperatives all over India. Milk production expanded and India became a surplus nation.

Born and brought up in Calicut, Kerala to a Syrian Christian family, Verghese Kurien completed his graduation in physics from Loyola College, Madras and then became a mechanical engineer. For his achievement of the billion litre idea, also known as Operation Flood, he was nicknamed the 'Father of the White Revolution'. He is also known as the 'Milkman of India' and he won many awards including the Padma Vibhushan and the World Food Prize. He was the founder chairman of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, under which the Amul brand of dairy products became famous.

A must read book of a person who created massive change.


Namaste


Prabir