PAU seeks postal stamp on 50 yrs of Green Revolution

Sarbjit Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 18

Preparing to celebrate the golden jubilee of the Green Revolution with the fanfare it deserves, the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has decided to approach the Centre to release a stamp to commemorate the occasion.

Speaking to TNS, Director Extension Rajinder Singh Sidhu said that the varsity would submit the requisite documents within a week.

“Punjab played a pivotal role in the Green Revolution. The contribution by the PAU in this achievement is exemplary,” said Sidhu adding that the Vice Chancellor Dr B.S. Dhillon had chalked out an extensive programme to recall the role played by scientists, experts, agriculture officials and above farmers to make the country self sufficient in food grains.

“Lectures have been planned. A workshop will be held. The celebrations would continue till the middle of next year”, said Sidhu.

Officially, 1967 is considered the base year of the Green Revolution when PV-18, a high yielding wheat variety, was released to farmers and trial of Kalyan-227, another high yielding variety was successfully held by the PAU. The Green Revolution was in the sphere of wheat while the rice revolution began a few years later.

Former Union Minister and IAS officer MS Gill, remained closely associated with the Green Revolution, said the Centre had denied credit for the green revolution to Punjab.

“While the late Dr Dilbagh Singh Athwal and his associates deserved all the credit for the Green Revolution, it was given to some else because of certain reasons”, said Gill adding that all concerned should make efforts to glorify the contribution of people like Dr Athwal and others like Dr Gurdev Singh Khush, who worked at the international level to improve the varieties of rice.

“A lot of injustice has been done with Punjab’s agriculture scientists by denying them due credit but during the golden jubilee celebrations this aspect should be highlighted,” he added.