Why this matters now
Kurien is tested for the White Revolution, Operation Flood, the Anand model (three-tier dairy cooperatives), the NDDB charter, and his honours (Padma Vibhushan 1999, World Food Prize 1989, Magsaysay 1963). His birthday 26 November is observed as National Milk Day.
Amul and the Anand model
Trained as an engineer at Michigan State (USA) on a government scholarship, Kurien was bonded to serve at the Government Creamery, Anand (Gujarat) from 1949 — a posting he resented but stayed on. The local Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union (founded 1946 by Tribhuvandas Patel and Sardar Patel) was struggling against Polson Dairy’s monopoly. Kurien threw himself in, designed buffalo-milk powdering technology (a world first), and built Amul (“priceless”) into India’s defining cooperative brand.
The Anand model — three-tier structure of village cooperative → district union → state federation — became the template for India’s entire dairy sector.
Operation Flood (1970-96)
The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) was established at Anand in 1965 with Kurien as Chairman. From 1970, Operation Flood was launched in three phases (1970-80, 1981-85, 1985-96), funded initially by EEC dairy-aid surplus skim-milk powder and butter oil, sold in India to bootstrap the cooperative network. Outcomes:
- 17 million farmer members in cooperative dairy unions by 1996.
- India became the world’s largest milk producer in 1998 (passed the USA) and remains so.
- Per capita milk availability rose from 107 g/day (1970) to 442 g/day (2022).
Honours and legacy
Padma Shri (1965), Padma Bhushan (1966), Padma Vibhushan (1999), Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership (1963), World Food Prize (1989), Wateler Peace Prize (1986). Kurien also founded the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA, 1979). His autobiography I Too Had a Dream (2005) and the Shyam Benegal film Manthan (1976) dramatise his story. He died at Nadiad (Gujarat) on 9 September 2012 aged 90. His birthday 26 November is National Milk Day.
UPSC angle
Know Verghese Kurien — Michigan State USA on govt scholarship, bonded to Govt Creamery Anand (Gujarat) from 1949; built KAIRA District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union (Amul, “priceless”) against Polson Dairy; designed Anand model 3-tier (village coop → district union → state federation); Chairman NDDB Anand (1965); OPERATION FLOOD 3 phases 1970-96 (EEC skim-milk powder & butter oil aid), 17 million farmer members; India world’s largest milk producer from 1998; founded IRMA (Institute of Rural Management Anand, 1979); Ramon Magsaysay 1963, Padma Vibhushan 1999, World Food Prize 1989; died Nadiad 9 Sept 2012; National Milk Day 26 November.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Verghese Kurien called the Milkman of India?
He founded Amul, designed Operation Flood (1970-96), built the cooperative dairy infrastructure that made India the world’s largest milk producer.
What is the Anand model?
A three-tier cooperative structure — village cooperative → district union → state federation — designed by Kurien for Amul and replicated across India.
When is National Milk Day?
26 November — the birthday of Verghese Kurien, observed since 2014.
What was Operation Flood?
A three-phase dairy development programme (1970-96) under NDDB and Kurien that built India’s cooperative dairy infrastructure using EEC surplus dairy aid as the bootstrap.