“Any sensible government must learn to unleash the energy of its people and get them to perform instead of trying to get a bureaucracy to perform.”

Being a city bread with no affiliation to rural India, Verghese Kurien like any other accomplished bachelor, had plans to work in a big company and lead a luxurious life. But who knew that his fate had already been registered with a village of Gujarat called Anand where he was to spend more than two decades of his life. 

While pulling through the dull days at Anad, Kurien got to know about a small group of farmers who were forming a milk cooperative, Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Limited, also known as Amul to sell milk. Impressed with the integrity and commitment of Tribhuvandas Kurien, the leader of the farmers, Kurien joined Amul. 

Since then there was no turning back for him. After his joining as general manager, The ‘Anand Pattern of Cooperatives’ became so successful that at the request of the Government of India, Kurien set up the National Dairy Development Board to replicate it across India.

In these memoirs, Dr. Verghese Kurien, popularly known as ‘father of white revolution’ recounts the story of his life and how he shaped the dairy industry making India the largest milk producer in the world.

My words

Today Amul has become a household name in India. But very few are aware of its story. When I began reading this book, I just couldn’t put it down. The reasons that inspired the birth of Amul and the struggles that Verghese Kurient went through to fight Indian bureaucracy are just inspiring. There is so much more about this memoir that I am not able to share due to word limit, but I would highly recommend this amazing read to everyone.