Chennai: MS Swaminathan, agricultural scientist and a key architect of the country’s Green Revolution, breathed his last at his Chennai residence at 11.20 am on Thursday. He was 98.
Swaminathan, who is known as the “Father of Economic Ecology” by the United Nations Environment Programme, revolutionised Indian agriculture in 1960s and 1970s through his groundbreaking work which helped the country achieve self-sufficiency in food production.
He was awarded the first World Food Prize in 1987 for developing and spearheading the introduction of high-yielding wheat and rice varieties into India, following which he set up MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in Taramani, Chennai.
Swaminathan has been conferred with Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan. He is also the recipient of Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1971 and the Albert Einstein World Science Award in 1986, besides Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award and the Indira Gandhi Prize.
He is survived by three daughters – Soumya Swaminathan, Madhura Swaminathan and Nitya Rao. His wife Mina Swaminathan predeceased him.
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