English - Lesson 24: "Co-operate and Prosper" - Deputy PM Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel & Dr. Verghese Kurien developing Amul Diary (PUBLIC EXAMINATION)

 (With Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s strong support, the cattle farmers of Gujarat were brought together in a co-operative group. 

This not only improved their lives a lot, but also led to the setting up of one of India’s most successful industries. 

It also made Gujarat one of the richest and most developed states of India. What is a cooperative? How does it work? Read the story to find out …)

The people of Gujarat were mostly farmers. 

They reared cattle but remained poor. Despite their hard work, they always remained in want. 

The poor plight of these farmers moved the heart of the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. 

He was determined to bring prosperity into their lives. 

So, he decided to organise them into a co-operative force and provide them with a steady source of income. 

This task was assigned to Mr. Tribhuvandas Patel. 

He united the disorganised farmers and started a co-operative dairy unit. 

This system of co-operative effort eliminated the middlemen who harassed and exploited the ignorant farmers. 

But Tribhuvandas Patel found it difficult to compete with a British dairy in Mumbai.

At this point of time it was kind providence that brought a young energetic, intelligent and ambitious Indian engineer, trained in America, to work at the dairy research institute, Anand.

Tribhuvandas sought this clever young man’s assistance. 

This young man was none other than Verghese Kurien. 

He helped Tribhuvandas to set up a processing plant. 

This marked the birth of Amul and the rest is history. 

Shall we trace the history and the man who made this history?

It tells how he strove incessantly in order to expand Amul milk unit. 

It also tells us about how through his relentless efforts, the dream of Vallabhbhai Patel was fulfilled.

Dr. Verghese Kurien was born in Calicut on 26th November 1921. 

He got his first degree in physics, and he studied B.E. Mechanical Engineering at the University of Madras. 

He went on a scholarship to the USA and passed M.S degree with distinction. 

He was also very good at cricket, tennis and boxing.

When he returned to India, he joined the Government Dairy at Anand in Gujarat as a Dairy Engineer. 

But he felt it was not a challenging job for him. So he agreed to help Mr. Tribhuvandas Patel in setting up a milk processing plant. 

This was how the Amul Dairy came into existence in Gujarat.

Dr. Verghese Kurien developed the Amul Dairy Unit into the largest co-operative dairy in India. 

As a result of Dr. Kurien’s relentless efforts, the poor milk producers were protected from being exploited. 

The farmers came to appreciate the spirit of co-operation in addition to acquiring marketing skills. 

He introduced various reforms in the administration of Amul Dairy. 

He proposed to distribute half of its profits to the milk producers as dividend. Dr.

Kurien’s reforms improved the rural economy considerably. 

This proves the saying, “The woman who owns a buffalo celebrates Diwali every day.”

Dr. Kurien made India the largest milk producer of the world. 

Dr. Kurien established the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and designed the “Operation Flood Programme.” Dr. Kurien may rightly be called the “Architect of Modern Dairy Industry” and the “Father of the White Revolution”. 

He has been honoured with very high civilian awards such as Padmashri and Padmabhushan. 

His achievements were recognised internationally, and he was awarded the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for community leadership.

Dr. Kurien has succeeded in keeping the wolf from the doors of our farmers. 

His efforts have made the Indian farmer healthy, wealthy, cheerful and wise.

Thanks to Dr. Kurien that our children today are blessed with quality milk, butter and cheese, not to forget the chocolates and ice cream.