Dr Verghese Kurien, founder of Amul and father of the “white revolution” who transformed India from a milk-deficient nation into the world’s largest milk producer, died early on Sunday after a brief illness. He was 90 and is survived by wife Molly and daughter Nirmala.
He was cremated later Sunday according to his wishes, with the last rites performed by his grandson Siddharth in the presence of priests from different religions.
He died at around 1.15 am at Muljibhai Patel Urological Hospital at Nadiad, 25 km from here. His body was brought to his home and kept at the Amul dairy’s Sardar Hall at Anand for people to pay homage.
Known as “India’s Milkman”, Kurien was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1999 and was a recipient of the World Food Prize and the Magsaysay Award. Paying rich tributes to Kurien, President Pranab Mukherjee said he had made enormous contribution in the fields of agriculture, rural development and dairy.
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Jawan killed, 10 injured in Manipur blast
Imphal, Sept. 9: Security personnel were attacked in Manipur for the second time in 24 hours by insurgents, who exploded a powerful bomb on Sunday, killing a jawan of Assam Rifles and injuring 10 others.
Sources said the blast occurred at Kumbi area of Bishenpur district while 33rd Assam Rifles jawans were jogging in the morning, injuring 11 of them. They were rushed to Leimakhong Army Hospital where Naik Subedar Nivesh Rao succumbed to his injuries. — PTI