Biography of Verghese Kurien
Verghese Kurien was an Indian engineer and entrepreneur who revolutionized India's dairy industry. He founded the National Dairy Development Board and pion
TL;DR: Verghese Kurien was an Indian engineer and entrepreneur who revolutionized India's dairy industry. He founded the National Dairy Development Board and…
Written & reviewed by the Syllab.in Academic Team (CBSE/NCERT subject experts) · Updated
Verghese Kurien was an Indian engineer and entrepreneur who revolutionized India's dairy industry. He founded the National Dairy Development Board and pion
Biography of Verghese Kurien
- Full Name: Verghese Kurien
- Born: 26 September 1921 in Kozhikode, Kerala, India
- Field: Dairy Technology, Agricultural Development, Cooperative Management
- Education: Studied mechanical engineering at University of Michigan, United States, and returned to India to apply his knowledge to dairy production
- Career Path: Joined Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union in Gujarat, where he pioneered modern dairy techniques and cooperative models that became the foundation for nationwide dairy development
- Major Contributions: Verghese Kurien founded the National Dairy Development Board and led the White Revolution, transforming India's dairy sector from self-sufficiency to surplus through cooperative dairy farming, modern processing technology, and refrigeration systems. He established AMUL and other dairy cooperatives that became world-renowned brands, implemented scientific dairy farming practices, and created employment opportunities for millions of rural farmers, particularly women. His vision made India the world's largest milk producer.
- White Revolution: A government initiative led by Kurien to increase milk production, making India self-sufficient in dairy products and creating a billion-dollar industry
- Famous Quote: Milk connects the farmer to the world and brings prosperity to rural India
- Awards: Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and numerous awards for his contributions to agricultural development and rural economy
- Death: 9 September 2012 in Anand, Gujarat, India
- Why Famous: Verghese Kurien is celebrated as the architect of the White Revolution who transformed India into the world's largest milk producer through innovation, cooperation, and scientific dairy farming.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the White Revolution and how did it transform India?
The White Revolution was an initiative to increase milk production in India through cooperative farming and modern technology, transforming India from a milk-deficit nation to the world's largest producer.
How did Verghese Kurien benefit rural farmers?
He created cooperative dairy farming models where small farmers could pool resources, sell milk through AMUL and other cooperatives, and receive fair prices, significantly improving rural incomes.
More GK Topics
- Biography of A P J Abdul Kalam
- Biography of C V Raman
- Biography of Srinivasa Ramanujan
- Biography of Homi Bhabha
- Biography of Vikram Sarabhai
- Biography of Jagadish Chandra Bose
🤖 Stuck on any of these? Ask Syllab's free AI Tutor to explain step by step →