YOU DARE TO ASK DIRECTLY, HE WILL RESPOND : KURIEN HAD HIS MIND FIXED ON CO-OPERATIVES ONLY AND NOTHING ELSE .....

 

YOU DARE TO ASK DIRECTLY, HE WILL RESPOND : KURIEN HAD HIS MIND FIXED ON CO-OPERATIVES ONLY AND NOTHING ELSE .....

If you dare to ask Dr. V. Kurien directly, you will definitely get an answer. It may be positive, negative or a bouncer. Most of the times, people ware scared and afraid of him, and was not able to ask him.
Dr. Kurien's mind was totally fixed for the Co-operatives for doing any economic activity collectively by the Producers ( call them Farmers or by any name ) or People, nothing other than that. He stood by his belief for the Co-operatives very firm during his life time and did not budge an inch from that belief.
I will evidence it from a very small incident where I had been a party.
Around 2002-2003 there was a huge public spat between Dr. V. Kurien and Dr.(Miss) Amrita Patel, his successor as Chairman of NDDB ( National Dairy Development Board ). Because, after Departure of Dr. Kurien from NDDB by his relinquishing of office at NDDB, Dr. (Miss) Amrita Patel who succeeded as Chairman of NDDB wanted to let loose the "Co-operative Fort" Dr. Kurien was holding throughout his life, in favour of "Producers' Companies".
Some opinions in India at that time had emerged that the Co-operative laws were impediment to flourishing of the Producers' Organizations or Collective Economic Enterprises by the people (mostly Farmers or Rural Producers' however not exhaustive by this nomenclature, call by any name). Such opinions vouched in favour of the Companies Act to be used for forming Enterprises of Producers ( calling as Producer's Companies ) and Dr. (Miss) Amrita Patel, when she succeeded Dr. Kurien as Chairman of NDDB, subscribed to such opinion and believed in such postulations and she also vouched for the shift of NDDB's activity towards the producers ( farmers or any name you call them ) in the Organizational Form of -Producers' Companies.
That was where Dr. Kurien felt hurt; as the Co-operative Fort he was holding all through from his days of initial Amul to NDDB and Operation Flood and all that he pursued was getting let loose by Dr. (Miss) Amrita Patel, the incumbent Chairman of NDDB at that time, who succeeded him. At that time, Dr. Kurien was not having NDDB with him, what he had with him were GCMMF ( Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Limited -its entire Federal Structure included ), IRMA ( Institute of Rural Management Anand ) and NCDFI ( National Co-operative Dairy Federation of India ) those organizations he was Chairing as major entities then. However, NDDB having by that time gone into Government of India Fold (under NDDB Act ) it was not an independent entity ( which it was initially ), the NDDB was having a greater say relating to Government while Dr. Kurien was getting also substantial lift from the Government for his personal "Great Man Stature" and his contributions for the benefit of India.
The public spat in the media had taken a very large shape, going on parallel. There were divided opinions from various groups in India siding to both sides.
Exactly around that time, though I had gone away for about 5years to work for two Indian Companies after leaving GCMMF in 1997 (after working 11-years, then as Zonal Head of their Ahmedabad Zone ), after some discussion with Dr. Kurien and honouring his wish, I had come back to work for GCMMF for the Second Time, primarily on the basis that I will look after heading the proposed Operations of GCMMF then in Sri Lanka/Overseas Operations. I was commuting for some time from Ahmedabad to Anand, keeping my family and residence still at Ahmedabad.
At that time, I was very young ( in 2003 what would be my age can be guessed, in fact I was less than 43 by age to be clear ) but I was never afraid of Dr. Kurien, he knew it and I had dared to access him. Dr. Kurien as a person was very logical in mind, at his level, he would welcome anybody daring to dialogue with him, that was a charm and charisma of his stature.
I had thought at that time, why not having a mediatory dialogue between Dr. Kurien and Dr.(Miss) Amrita Patel, to reduce the stress in the sector and for the good of the Organizations painstakingly built over a long period of decades, though under Dr. Kurien's command but Dr.(Miss) Amrita Patel was also a party and a significant participant for all those years holding important positions in NDDB itself. It was my own, independent thought and not under anybody's influence, though I was also scandalized for it in some way.
Since, I had dared to access Dr. Kurien directly while he knew me very well by then ( and I had also dialogued with Dr. Kurien alone in 1997 for changing the Salaries in GCMMF which was very low then which was a successful attempt, had yielded results in substantial revision of Salaries in GCMMF after many years , that I have mentioned in my Blog : drnimain.blogspot.com in one article titled as: Dr. Kurien had some qualities never published ....... ). I had thought independently alone to mediate between Dr. Kurien and Dr. Amrita Patel if I could in the interest of the sector of the organizations that were also getting affected due to the said public spat.
I knew, Dr. Kurien and Dr.(Miss) Amrita Patel had excellent organizational relationship in NDDB for decades, Dr. Kurien had mentored her and made her as his successor in NDDB, without expecting ever that she would let loose the "Co-operative Fort " ever, but it was happening under whatever circumstances. I thought still there might be hearts from both sides, could not be ruled out in such circumstances.
Therefore, I made an attempt, if I could bring both Dr. Kurien and Dr. (Miss) Amrita Patel together on a table and I discuss with both of them.
Therefore, first I tried to understand the mind of Dr. Kurien. Therefore, I wrote a letter to him and invited him for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner at his Convenience, where I would be the host. I knew at that time, I could afford a Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner for both Dr. Kurien and Dr. (Miss) Amrita Patel along with me. Thus I sent an invitation letter first to Dr. Kurien on 19-March-2003. I had thought Dr. Kurien would answer me definitely.
Since the reply was delayed for some days which was not usual, and I expected Dr. Kurien would have been thinking about my purpose, I wrote again to him saying that I wanted to discuss with both he (Dr. Kurien ) and Dr. (Miss) Amrita Patel over a Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner, the venue could be at Anand, at ETDC of IRMA, or IRMA Mess. Dr. Kurien in fact, was fond of having Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner at ETDC of IRMA or IRMA Mess. I did also mention to him that I was first seeking his permission, till such time I had not spoken or never met Dr.(Miss) Amrita Patel, but would definitely do so and invite her for such a Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner if he would give permission and would agree.
Dr. Kurien replied to me with all sincerity on 24-March-2003 by a letter as Chairman of GCMMF from his Chairman Office at IRMA, saying : " Dear Dr. Biswal, Thank you for your letter dated 19/3/2003 inviting me for either breakfast or lunch/dinner as per my convenience. Much as I would have liked to accept your kind invitation, I greatly regret my inability to do so .. With kind regards, Yours sincerely, V. Kurien ( signed in Orginal by his sketch pen ) ". So I decided not to proceed to speak to, or invite Dr. (Miss) Amrita Patel for the proposed Breakfast or Lunch/Dinner as it would not happen.
So Dr. Kurien had spelled his mind to me very clearly in the above few words by which he had replied to my invitation. My proposed and invited Breakfast or Lunch/Dinner as said above with both Dr. Kurien and Dr. (Miss) Amrita Patel never happened thereafter.
It is a different matter that I was scandalized in the Organizational dynamics then, but I have never regretted for it, as it was another organizational dynamics expected and it was my calculated risk, but I had dared to ask Dr. Kurien and he had replied with his response very clearly.
In reality, Dr. Kurien's mind was fixed for the Co-operatives and nothing else.
In fact, in my considered views and opinion, the Companies Act, 2013 is more dangerous compared to the Cooperatives Act to run a Producers' Company (call it farmers' Organization or by People with any nomenclature) and prior to that the Companies Act, 1956 with all its amendments, was also not the right cup-of-tea for the so called "Producers' Companies" that were postulated then. NDDB could create a few Producers' Companies as they called it by themselves within its own structure when Dr.(Miss) Amrita Patel was chairman (or in Post-Kurien era), but Producer's companies have not cut much ice in India till now else where, although 2-decades have passed.
I am uploading my invitation dated 19-03-2003 addressed to Dr. Kurien and his reply dated March 24, 2003 along with its envelope in which his reply had come to my home address at Ahmedabad. The reply is in GCMMF Letter head that was maintained at IRMA Chairman Office and the Envelope is an IRMA Envelope by which the reply had come to me. The Postal Franking dated 25-III-03 (in red at the front of the envelope and the Postal Seal at its back (in black) dated 26-03-03 at Delivery Post Office at Ambabadi Vistar Post Office, Ahmedabad-380015 are the real proofs, what I am saying above are true and nobody would consider as if fake statements for any purpose.
( This is a tribute to Dr. Kurien, The Great Man, during his birth Centenary 1921-2021 ).
( Disclaimer - No disrespect is being shown to any Organization or Individual in this Article, it is for Academic Purpose with due respect shown to every Organization and every Individual mentioned in this article and not intended to defame or scandalize or to show disrespect to any Organization or Individual in any way ).
[ Dr. V. Kurien or Dr. Verghese Kurien, is popularly known as the "Milk Man of India " for his contributions to the Dairy Development ( steering the White Revolution of India with a world famous project named as "OPERATION FLOOD" in India benefiting millions of Farmers ( Dairy Farmers of India ), men and women. He started his career with "Amul" the World Famous Dairy Organization of India, was the Founder Chairman of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Limited (GCMMF, or Amul by popular brand name), he was the Founder Chairman of National Dairy Development Board ( NDDB )of India, and also the Founder Chairman of IRMA ( Institute of Rural Management, Anand ) of India, besides a host of other Organizations very popular in India those operated under his command and popular globally. This year 2021 is being celebrated as the Birth Centenary Year of Dr.V. Kurien 1921-2021 by various Organizations/ Institutions he had founded or was associated with. I am placing some articles in my Blog here in memory and honour of him].  

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 35+ 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 at Board level as well as Managing Director and CEO. He is a management expert covering extensive areas from management in agriculture, industrial management, development management to management of public systems. He is a prominent professional of India and known Internationally as well. He lives at Mumbai in India.







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