Session revisits M.S. Swaminathan’s legacy at Kolkata Literary Festival

A session at the Kolkata Literary Festival 2026 focused on the life and work of agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan, known for his role in shaping India’s Green Revolution. Titled ‘M.S. Swaminathan: The Man Who Fed India’, the discussion at Alipore Museum featured his niece and biographer Priyambada Jayakumar in conversation with author and editor Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan.
Jayakumar drew from her biography to trace how Swaminathan’s farmer-focused scientific interventions transformed India’s food security in the decades after Independence. She shared personal anecdotes that revealed the human side of his work, including his efforts to gain farmers’ trust by personally engaging with them while promoting high-yielding seeds.
The session also highlighted Swaminathan’s later ideas on sustainable agriculture, including the concept of the “Evergreen Revolution,” and their global influence. Srinivasan steered the conversation towards questions of legacy, the challenges of writing biography, and the renewed relevance of Swaminathan’s ideas amid present-day concerns around climate change and food systems.
Audience interactions reflected on Swaminathan’s enduring impact and the lessons his life continues to offer future generations.