The "Father of the Green Revolution in India": Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan

Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan is famous for being an Indian geneticist and international administrator, known as the "Father of the Green Revolution in India." He is recognized for his contributions to agricultural development in India, particularly for his work in introducing and promoting high-yielding varieties of wheat in the country.

Swaminathan's collaborative scientific work with Norman Borlaug, leading a mass movement involving farmers and other scientists supported by public policies, averted famine-like conditions in India and Pakistan during the 1960s. His leadership as director general of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines played a crucial role in him receiving the inaugural World Food Prize in 1987, considered a prestigious recognition in the field of agriculture. Referred to as "the Father of Economic Ecology" by the United Nations Environment Programme, he was honored with the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of India, in 2024.