Renowned agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan was cremated with police honours specially accorded by the State government as a mark of respect for his contribution.
Swaminathan, known as the father of India’s Green Revolution, passed away at his residence in Chennai on Thursday at the age of 98. The body was kept on the campus of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), an institute he founded, where people from all walks of life paid tribute to the late scientist.
On Saturday, the body was taken in a special vehicle, accompanied by the staff of the MSSRF and others, to the Besant Nagar crematorium for the final rites.
A team from the Armed Reserve Unit of the Greater Chennai City Police observed silence for two minutes and gave a gun salute. Later, he was cremated in the presence of his daughters — Soumya Swaminathan, Madhura Swaminathan, and Nitya Rao — family members, friends, and staff members.
Earlier in the morning, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi laid a wreath and paid tribute to Swaminathan. He also offered condolences to the bereaved family members.
N. Ram, Director, The Hindu Group Publishing Private Ltd.; Leader of the Opposition and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami; State Health Minister Ma. Subramanian; Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary D. Raja; Kerala Agriculture Minister P. Prasad; Kerala Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty, MP Kodikunnil Suresh, Kerala State Planning Board Vice-Chairman V.K. Ramachandran; Telangana Agriculture Minister S. Niranjan Reddy, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader G.K. Mani, and CPI(M) Tamil Nadu secretary K. Balakrishnan also paid tribute to Swaminathan.
On the occasion, Mr. Kodikunnil Suresh made a demand that the Union government should confer the Bharat Ratna posthumously on Swaminathan and that his portrait should be displayed at the Central Hall of Parliament.
