DR. V. KURIEN HAD SOME QUALITIES LESS PUBLISHED (TRIBUTE ON HIS DEATH ANNIVERSARY ON 09 SEPTEMBER)

 

DR. V. KURIEN HAD SOME QUALITIES LESS PUBLISHED

        (TRIBUTE ON HIS DEATH ANNIVERSARY ON 09 SEPTEMBER)

Based on my direct experience and interaction in person with Dr. Verghese Kurien ( in short well known as Dr. V. Kurien ), popularly celebrated as the Milk Man of India or the Father of White Revolution of India, the former Chairman of GCMMF Ltd. ( Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Limited-Amul ) and the former Chairman of National Dairy Development Board ( of India) as well as recipient of World Food Prize, I honourably place few lines as some qualities Dr. Kurien had but normally less published, as tribute to Dr. V. Kurien on his death Anniversary falling on 09 September.

     1.    Dr. Kurien was a highly responsive communicator:

I justify by an instance. In 1989, I used to work as a Branch Manager in charge of Patna (Undivided Bihar then) Office of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Limited (GCMMF,Amul), the position was of course fairly junior in the hierarchy of the Organization at that time. I was getting married and I sent an invitation to him. Dr. Kurien at that time was really a well celebrated celebrity of India, he possibly knew or did not know me as I had only studied at IRMA (Institute of Rural Management Anand) for two years having passed out in 1986 with limited interaction then, however he did not know my father at all who lived in Odisha . Dr. Kurien wrote a very nice letter to my father acknowledging the invitation and sending congratulatory messages overwhelmingly. I have many times, sent birthday greeting cards to him in those days. In fact, sending birthday cards in those days to Dr. Kurien could create lot of flutter in GCMMF circle of management within the organization (very normal) while it is just a personal and respectful gesture, I did send birth day cards and every time Dr.Kurien will send a nice response without fail. In fact, Dr. Kurien would ensure that all communications addressed to him reach him (not blocked on the way ) and all replied for sure. Even any consumer posting a Post Card to Dr.Kurien will get a response from Amul, he would ensure that. Now a days, it is rare to expect a response from the same chairs Dr.Kurien sometimes held or others who are celebrated authorities, in response to genuine and legitimate communication.

2.    Dr. Kurien had an extremely logical mind, if facts presented properly, he would yield at once, otherwise he would conduct as a Hard Nut :

In 1997, after working for 11years for GCMMF ( Amul ) while I used to work for GCMMF at Ahmemdabad as Zonal Head, I wanted to leave of my own reasons. A former Managing Director of GCMMF over a discussion requested me then, whether I can meet Dr.Kurien and apprise him that the salaries of the GCMMF employees at that time was very low and did not make economic sense for working and leading a normal life. He also motivated me saying that Dr.Kurien by that time knew me well and may be I will be able to convince him. I agreed and a meeting date was fixed. I came from Ahmedabad to meet Dr. Kurien at the Chairman’s Chamber at NDDB(National Dairy Development Board ) Head Office at Anand, in Gujarat. When I entered the Chamber, I saw Dr. Kurien was sitting only with a small desk, size of not even 2’x2’ and such a small desk I had only seen at the Residential Office of Honourable Gujarat Governor when I had visited in the past for some official meeting. Over a long discussion, I explained to Dr. Kurien that the GCMMF (Amul) employees used to get a very low salary at that time (in around 1997) and it was not even economically viable for somebody to live normally in locations where GCMMF used to have its offices. Dr. Kurien was convinced (sometimes Dr. Kurien will not say that he agrees on face, but he would really be convinced), and after a while he allowed the salaries of GCMMF employees to be revised substantially.

3.    Dr. Kurien had a Good Heart, that he would show at right time:

Dr. Kurien had the ability to go down and reach out to a very Junior Person even while he had reached and peaked much greater height in the hierarchy in society and in stature.

In 2002, while I had come back to work for GCMMF (Amul) for the second time at his instance, though I had left in 1997, one day, there was a Group Meeting at the ETDC ( Executive Training and Development Centre ) of IRMA ( Institute of Rural Management Anand ) as normally bigger group meetings are held there to be done undisturbed and for better facilities available there. At that time for some reason, though I was posted at Anand, I was commuting temporarily from Ahmedabad to Anand. After the meeting, everyone of GCMMF went off by their own cars/own conveyance while I was waiting at the entrance of the ETDC to look for an Auto Rickshaw that could take me to the GCMMF Head Office at Amul Dairy Road, Anand, about 4-5kms distance. At that time, suddenly Dr. Kurien came down, from upstairs ( he used to sit at IRMA Chairman Office, upstairs ) and was going to his house ( Kurien House ) for lunch. He noticed me standing alone and I honourably said “Good Afternoon Sir“. Immediately Dr.Kurien asked me “ what are you waiting for “. I said “ Sir, just a GCMMF meeting has been over here and I am waiting for an auto rickshaw to go to GCMMF Head Office”. Dr.Kurien extended and had shown his real heart then, he said “ Come with me, I am going home, I will drop you there “ ( in fact a lane just opposite GCMMF head office goes to Kurien House). So, I accompanied Dr. Kurien in his car and occupied the left side of the twin back seats of the new Honda Accord of Dr.Kurien. It was a dream those days and to be extremely lucky to occupy a seat in Dr.Kurien’s car along with him, in fact I consider, I was extremely lucky that day. The 4-5kms distance have to be covered with Dr.Kurien, was a big challenge to remain silent, and I was wondering what to talk to a great man in whose car I am travelling. Then I thought the best thing is to ask, the most courteous question normally asked and Dr. Kurien was also older in age by then, so I asked “How is  your health Sir“. He was very humorous otherwise, he said “At least someone asked about my health, I am happy”. Then Dr.Kurien said to my great pain and emotion “I am suffering from Prostrate Cancer. But don’t worry, it is a slow process and I have taken proper medical care “. I had to keep this information totally sealed in my belly for years in confidence, and later it came in the public domain when Dr. Kurien had finally left GCMMF and it came in press that GCMMF would bear all his medical expenses till he was alive.

 4.    Dr. Kurien was a very helpful person in his absolute Person:

In 2010, while I was living at Mumbai and had nothing to do with GCMMF or the Organizations under Dr. Kurien ( in fact since 2003 ), I went to Anand to surrender an LPG Gas Connection which I had taken to live at Anand for some time ( during my second stint in GCMMF ) but it was left not-surrendered and the Oil Company selling LPG there sent me a reminder to surrender it and take back the deposit if I am not using it any more. After surrendering the Gas connection I decided to go and visit Dr.Kurien at Kurien House. I went to Kurien House, and requested the Security Guards there that I wanted to meet Dr.Kurien. Then after some screening by the Security Guards and checking my identity particulars, they asked my name which was also conveyed to Dr.Kurien in person by the Guards, I was allowed entry to meet Dr. Kurien at his residence. At that time he was not holding any position at GCMMF or NDDB or IRMA or anywhere. I was asked to wait at the outer living room and Dr.Kurien comes entering. In his usual style and humour Dr.Kurien asks me “ What can I do for you Mr. Biswal “. I said, “ Sir, I have come only to see you as a matter of courtesy and not seeking any help or favour”. He was of course witty, he again said “ Look I am all retired, I have nothing in hand, I only wondered why have you come to see me. Nobody now a days wants to see me, I am old “. With due honours I said, “ Sir, my intention was really to see you only for courtesy and check how is your health “. Once you meet Dr.Kurien, he would definitely chat with you on various issues to know your mind and expressing his views. We did that in this meeting in 2010. This was the last meeting with him. I knew Dr. Kurien very well as a very helpful person if he understands you well and had his ways how to understand a person well.

As I said, this was my last meeting with Dr. Kurien in 2010 at Anand and on 09 September 2012  Dr.Kurien had left the world for his heavenly abode.

(This note is a tribute to Dr. Kurien on his death anniversary falling on 09 September. It is my individual experience and interaction and views, it is not representing any Organization, I have named only organizations I worked for or was associated with or studied in and to that extent within my rights as my individual experience only) 

About the Author: Dr. Nimain Charan  Biswal is a B.Sc.(Agri. Science and Technology). M.B.A. and Ph.D.( Management Area ) by qualifications and he has 34+years of work experience in both  industrial and development sectors in diversified fields of social importance. He has been educated at Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT)-Bhubaneswar, Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) and Gujarat University ( with Resource Support of IIM-Ahmedabad ). Dr.Biswal is further educated at IIM-Calcutta, XLRI-Jamshedpur, Apple Computer Industries and Spar Inc., USA. He has worked for reputed National and International Organisations in Senior/Top Management Capacities. He is a management  expert, a prominent professional of India and known Internationally as well. He lives at Mumbai in India.