Agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan, who passed away recently, worked non-stop – even during the weekends. “The place was Pusa Institute, Delhi, and our house was open to everyone – faculty and students. People used to come with personal problems even, and our mother (Mina Swaminathan) used to listen to them,” recalled Soumya Swaminathan, his daughter and Chairperson of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF).
Speaking at ‘Life and Work of M.S. Swaminathan’, a panel discussion organised by the Chennai International Centre at the Madras School of Economics on Friday, she said: “At one point, my younger sister got very fed up and would fib to send people away since he didn’t have time for us even on Sundays. One time, she told someone he had gone to the wheat fields though it was not the season for wheat.”
Responding to a question, Dr. Swaminathan, said the Foundation would continue with its pro-nature, pro-poor, and pro-women approach. It would, however, incorporate advances in technology and continue with its work.
