Amul on Tuesday paid tribute to Dr Verghese Kurien, the architect of India’s White Revolution, on his 14th death anniversary, recalling his transformative contribution to the country’s dairy and cooperative movement.
Dr Kurien passed away on September 9, 2012. His vision of organising milk producers into farmer-owned cooperatives laid the foundation for the Amul model and helped reshape India’s dairy economy. Amul describes him as the “Father of the White Revolution” who revolutionised the Indian dairy industry.
Through Operation Flood, launched in 1970, the cooperative model pioneered in Anand was expanded across the country. The programme helped transform India from a milk-deficient nation into the world’s leading milk producer, while strengthening farmers’ incomes and giving producers greater control over the value chain.
Kurien’s legacy extends beyond dairy production. His emphasis on farmer ownership, professional management and direct links between producers and consumers made cooperatives an important instrument of rural economic development. The model also created significant opportunities for women and strengthened the role of dairy cooperatives in village economies.
Amul’s tribute comes as his cooperative vision continues to influence India’s dairy sector. His contribution remains closely associated with the enduring success of the Amul movement and the wider cooperative approach to empowering producers.
Today, Dr Kurien’s legacy is remembered not merely for increasing milk production, but for demonstrating how farmer-owned institutions can become powerful engines of inclusive rural development.
