2. INTRODUCTION
Architect of dairy development.
"Father of the white revolution” in India, never drank milk himself! .
He is known as “Milkman Of India”.
Fonder of Amul milk Pvt. Ltd.
Ex chairman of the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (GCMMF).
Ex chairman of the NDDB.
Ex chairman of the IRMA.
Dr. Norman Borlaug has called him “one of the world’s great agricultural leaders of
this century”.
3. EARLY LIFE
Born on Nov 26, 1921 to an affluent syrian Christian family in calicut , kerala.
His father puthen parakkal Kurien was civil surgeon in British cochin & his mother
was a highly educated women as well as exceptional piano player.
He was named as his uncle Rao Sahib P. K. Verghese.
4. EDUCATION
He did his schooling at Diamond Jubilee Higher Secondary school in
Gobichettipalayam.
He graduated in physics from Loyola college, Madras in 1940 and obtained his
bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from the college of engineering Gundy affiliated
to Madras university.
He Completed special studies in engineering at the Tata Iron and Steel Company
Institute at Jamshedpur, in 1946.
During this period he underwent 9 months of specialized training in dairy engineering
at the National Dairy Research Institute of Banglore.
Then he went to USA on government scholarship to do his Masters in Mechanical
Engineering from Michigan State University.
5. WHITE REVOLUTION
Kurien's professional life has been dedicated to empowering millions of humble
Indian milk producers.
He saw an economic resource and potential at the bottom of the pyramid.
''Without their involvement, we cannot succeed. With their involvement, we
cannot fail...‘’
6. ACHIVEMENTS & AWARDS
1963 - Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership.
1965 - Padma Shri (gov. of India).
1966 - Padma Bhushan (gov. of India).
1986 - Krishi Ratna Award (by gov. of India).
1986 - Wateler Peace Prize Award (of Carnegie Foundation ).
1989 - World Food Prize Laureate (World Food Prize USA).
1993 - International Person of the Year (World Dairy Expo USA).
1999 - Padma Vibhushan (gov. of India).
2007 - Karmaveer Puraskaar by iCONGO- Confederation of NGOs.
The committee of Agricultural Leadership Awards 2008 has honored VergheseKurien with the
lifetime achievement award
