Context

• The vision of Viksit Bharat, a developed India, rests heavily on building robust scientific capabilities, especially in the rapidly expanding digital economy.
• Achieving this aspiration will require self-reliance (aatmanirbharta) in key sectors, just as India achieved food self-sufficiency during the Green Revolution of the 1960s.
• At the heart of that transformative moment stood M.S. Swaminathan, a scientist whose work changed India’s destiny.
• As Priyambada Jayakumar’s recent biography, M.S. Swaminathan: The Man Who Fed India, highlights, his career offers timeless lessons not only for agriculture but also for the future of scientific advancement in India.

The Central Theme of Swaminathan’s Journey: Science as a Collaborative Endeavour

• A central insight from Swaminathan’s journey is that science thrives on collaboration, not isolation.
• The breakthrough that launched the Green Revolution did not come solely from laboratory research but from openness to international exchange of ideas.
• Swaminathan’s engagement with Norman Borlaug in Mexico, and his willingness to adapt foreign innovations to Indian conditions, exemplify how progress emerges from global scientific networks.
• However, his struggles with bureaucratic delays in securing Borlaug’s visit to India also expose the pitfalls of excessive administrative control.
• If the Green Revolution had begun even two years earlier, India could have avoided deeper food crises.
• The lesson for Viksit Bharat is clear: Indian scientists must have greater freedom to interact internationally, attend conferences, and build personal collaborations without being hampered by red tape.

Factors Contributed to Green Revolution’s Success

• Political Leadership and Scientific Listening
  • Another crucial factor in the Green Revolution’s success was political leadership that valued scientific expertise.
  • Leaders like Lal Bahadur Shastri and C. Subramaniam created the enabling environment for Swaminathan’s work.
  • Subramaniam, with his own scientific training, recognised the importance of providing resources for field trials when bureaucrats were hesitant.
  • This highlights a broader principle: in complex technical domains, politicians must listen directly to scientists rather than relying solely on bureaucratic intermediaries.
  • Countries such as China, where many ministers are technically trained, illustrate the value of scientifically literate leadership.
  • For India to achieve Viksit Bharat, it must cultivate decision-makers who understand and prioritise science, both at the central and state levels.
• Balancing Innovation with Scepticism
  • The rollout of the Green Revolution required bold political decisions amidst scepticism.
  • The massive import of 18,000 tonnes of seeds was opposed by the Finance Ministry, the Planning Commission, and ideological critics wary of U.S. influence.
  • Shastri resolved these conflicts not by waiting for consensus but by personally examining the scientific evidence.
  • This underlines the importance of leadership willing to take risks on innovative ideas while ensuring accountability through independent monitoring.
  • The eventual success of the Green Revolution demonstrated how decisive backing of new technologies can yield transformative outcomes.

Sustainability and Future Challenges

• While the Green Revolution solved India’s food crisis, it also produced unintended consequences, overuse of water, fertilizers, and environmental degradation.
• Swaminathan himself warned of these risks and advocated for evergreen revolution approaches to make agriculture sustainable.
• Unfortunately, many of these corrective measures remain unimplemented. Today, the challenge of climate change threatens to reverse gains in agricultural productivity.
• Science, once again, will be central to solutions, but India lags in agricultural research. While China has eight institutions among the world’s top ten, India has none in the top 200.
• Inadequate funding, limited institutional autonomy, and weak governance structures undermine India’s research capacity.
• Bridging these gaps is essential if India is to confront the agricultural challenges of the future.

The Broader Relevance of Swaminathan’s Story: Extending the Lessons Beyond Agriculture

• Reduced bureaucratic barriers so that scientists can collaborate globally.
• Scientifically informed leadership that listens to experts and supports research with resources.
• Courageous decision-making that embraces innovation despite risks, coupled with mechanisms for accountability.
• Sustainable practices that balance short-term gains with long-term resilience.
• Strengthening research ecosystems through funding, autonomy, and recognition of merit.

Conclusion

• M. S. Swaminathan’s life reminds us that science, politics, and leadership must work hand in hand to achieve national transformation.
• Just as his vision of food self-sufficiency reshaped India’s destiny in the 1960s, today’s vision of Viksit Bharat will depend on harbouring a culture of scientific excellence, collaboration, and sustainability.
• Honouring Swaminathan’s legacy means more than celebrating his past achievements, it means applying his lessons to secure India’s future.