The Tamil Nadu Government on Wednesday demanded strongly to the Centre that Professor MS Swaminathan, noted agriculture scientist, be honoured with Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award.
“The Tamil Nadu Government strongly endorses that Prof Swaminathan has to be given the Bharat Ratna for his work for the farming
community in the country,” said K Pandiarajan, Minister for Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture.
He was delivering the keynote address in a function held at the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation to honour the 92-year-old agriculture scientist with the “National Basava Krishi Award 2018” for lifetime achievement and contribution to the farming community. The award, instituted by the Lingayat Panchamasali Mahapeetha, was presented to Prof Swaminathan by Basava Jayamruthyunjaya Swami.
Pandiarajan said Prof Swaminathan had already been felicitated by Tamil Nadu last month with the ‘Erairgnar’ award for his immense contributions in the field of agriculture and farming and now this award was from Karnataka.
Basava Jayamruthyunjaya Swami pointed out that different religions have their own sacred texts. “But for the farmers, the sacred text is the Swaminathan Commission Report. It is because of the sacredness of this report that the farmers persistently quote it and also depend on it,” said Swami.
In his acceptance speech, the agriculture scientist said that market and monsoon were the most important aspects in farming. “Assured market and remunerative pricing are crucial for the lives and livelihood of farmers,” said Prof Swaminathan.