On the day of Dr. U. S. Awasthi’s farewell, cooperators and farmers, friends and fraternity members poured their hearts out for a man who had been a constant presence for 40 long years, someone who became a habit, the go-to person for everything big or small. Cooperative luminaries from across India and abroad had gathered to bid him farewell.
It is not possible to include everyone’s remarks here, but a few are being shared below.
ICA-AP President Dr. Chandra Pal Singh Yadav paid a heartfelt tribute to Dr. U. S. Awasthi, recognising his monumental contributions to the cooperative and fertiliser sectors on the occasion of his farewell.
He said, “On this special occasion, I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to the honourable Dr. Awasthi. I pray for his continued good health. The way he dedicated his entire life to the cooperative and fertiliser sectors, and to improving the condition of farmers, is truly inspirational.”
“I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to work closely with him for a long time and under his dynamic leadership. Dr. Awasthi became the Managing Director of IFFCO in 1992, and I had the honour of joining the IFFCO Board as a Director in 1993. Since then, our journey together has been long and enriching.”
“He also extended his support and guidance to us at KRIBHCO, where he served on the Board for many years. His contribution there too was immense. Under his leadership, IFFCO witnessed remarkable growth, not only were all plants modernised, but production was also doubled. His efforts will never be forgotten.”
“Dr. Awasthi played a pivotal role in the Indian cooperative sector. On this momentous occasion, I wish him a long, healthy, and fulfilling life ahead.”
Dileep Sanghani, Chairman of IFFCO, expressed his heartfelt sentiments on the farewell of MD Dr. U.S. Awasthi, “Late Udaybhan Singh ji, from Porbandar, Gujarat, was the founder Chairman of IFFCO. He brought together small societies to lay the foundation of this great organization. But there is no doubt that Dr. Awasthi played a vital role in taking IFFCO to new heights. Today, we have gathered to bid him farewell, and on this occasion, we extend our best wishes for his future. His immense contributions to IFFCO will always be remembered.”
“I have even discussed Dr. Awasthi’s contributions with the Prime Minister and Union Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah. When I joined IFFCO, Dr. Awasthi had expressed his desire to retire due to age. But the entire Board of Directors opposed that move. I was deeply moved by his affection towards IFFCO and its people”.
“During the selection process for a new MD, we shortlisted seven names, five of them were
on extension. Among the remaining, the choice came down to Manish Gupta and K.J. Patel,” said Sanghani. “Manish Gupta has done remarkable work at IFFCO, and it was a difficult decision. However, K.J. Patel’s exposure across all three levels, field operations, mechanical, and international, tipped the balance in his favour,” he added.
“We all must now work together. There has been extensive research on IFFCO Nano Urea. When the research was ongoing, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya visited the Kalol unit and showed keen interest in the product’s potential. Ramesh Raliya has done commendable work on nano-based innovations. I urge all our SMMs and Directors to raise awareness about the IFFCO Nano range of products across the country.”
“Furthermore, we are committed to ensuring justice for every IFFCO employee whose salary is below Rs 20,000. We will take appropriate steps in their interest.”
K J Patel: Reflecting on the legacy of his predecessor, Dr. U.S. Awasthi, IFFCO’s newly appointed MD K J Patel recalled the remarkable transformation IFFCO underwent under his leadership. “When Dr. Awasthi joined IFFCO in 1993, fertiliser production stood at 25 lakh tonnes. Today, it has reached 96 lakh tonnes. The turnover, which was Rs 14000 crore with a profit of Rs 116 crore, has seen tremendous growth. In 2008, the turnover of IFFCO was around Rs 100 crore, and now it exceeds Rs 3000 crore,” he said.
Patel lauded Dr. Awasthi for diversifying IFFCO’s operations beyond fertilisers. “Under his visionary leadership, IFFCO expanded into multiple areas, establishing 9 subsidiaries and forming 5 international joint ventures,” he noted.
Sanjay Pachpor of Sahakar Bharati paid rich tribute to Dr. U. S. Awasthi, highlighting his unwavering commitment to the development of IFFCO and the welfare of farmers. He said, “Dr. Awasthi dedicated himself 24 hours a day to the progress of IFFCO and to thinking about the betterment of farmers. His contributions are truly remarkable. By devoting his entire life to the cause, he elevated the IFFCO family to global recognition. I sincerely pray for his long life and continued good health.”
IFFCO Vice-Chairman Balvir Singh said, “Today is an emotional moment for all of us. During the board
meeting, I mentioned that Dr. Awasthi’s farewell is only symbolic, because someone like him can never truly part from IFFCO. We will always look forward to his continued blessings and guidance for the IFFCO family.”
Reeta Singh, Women Delegate from Amethi, expressed her admiration with emotion, “Dr. Awasthi brought together visionary ideas and executed them with unmatched dedication. His deep emotional connection to IFFCO elevated the organisation to unprecedented heights. He worked tirelessly, not just for the poor, but especially for the farmers, always from the heart. I sincerely hope he continues to guide us with his wisdom even after retirement.”
Sunil Khatri, Delegate from Delhi, reflected on his personal association with Awasthi ji, “Dr. Awasthi devoted his entire life to improving the lives of India’s farmers and transforming IFFCO into a global cooperative powerhouse. The affection and respect I received from him reminded me of the love I once received from my own father. None of us ever wanted to see this day come, but time moves on.”
Ankit Parihar from Unnao spoke with deep reverence about Dr. Awasthi’s legacy, “He gave 32 years, 5 months, and 30 days of his life, working day and night, to uplift farmers, strengthen the cooperative movement, and support the underprivileged. For me, he will always remain a role model. People often feel proud of the positions they hold, but today I can say with certainty that it is the post of IFFCO’s Managing Director that has been honoured by the name of Dr. U. S. Awasthi. His greatest achievement is that farmers across India now see IFFCO as their own strength.”
