Online petition seeks Bharat Ratna for Kurien

An online petition has sought the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian honour, for Verghese Kurien, the father of India's White Revolution who passed away on September 9.

Started by business journalist Sucheta Dalal on Sunday, the online petition has so far gathered around 400 supporters, and aims at getting a million signatures.

Addressed to President Pranab Mukherjee, the petition says: "Verghese Kurien gave up his home state of Kerala to build a unique milk cooperative movement, which transformed the lives of millions of poor rural Indians. He made them self-sufficient. He empowered women. He eradicated poverty in a pocket of India. But that's not all. In Amul, he built one of the biggest brands in India."

Founder chairman of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) - that markets brand Amul - and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Kurien transformed India from a milk-deficient country to the world's largest milk producer after he kicked off 'Operation Flood' in the 1970s.

Leader of opposition in the Bihar assembly Abdul Bari Siddiqui has also written to PM Manmohan Singh, calling for the Bharat Ratna for Kurien. Siddiqui's request is being supported by the state's ruling Janata Dal-United. Kurien was also the man behind the success of Bihar milk cooperative that was later renamed as Patna Dairy Project.