Milk Day (India)

Man from rural Rajasthan, India, milking a cow. Sabir Mallick / Canva Pro.

The 26th of November is National Milk Day in India.

Events and commemorations are held across India to celebrate the achievement of India’s having become the largest milk producer in the world.

Certificates and achievement awards are handed out, new initiatives are launched, and lectures are held to discuss issues facing the industry.

There is a National Milk Day bike rally. During the rally, motorcycle riders meet dairy professionals, dairy farmers and institutions. ^[1]Chatterjee, Krishnendu. National Milk Day: Amul Pays Tribute to Dr. Verghese Kurien With Bike Rally Campaign. Noida, Uttar Pradesh: News Nation TV, India. 26 November 2019. Accessed October 2021 at https://english.newsnationtv.com/india/news/national-milk-day-amul-pays-tribute-to-dr-verghese-kurien-245365.html The rally started in 2017. In different years, there have been different routes. ^[2]#TheMilkmansJourney: Amul uncovers the life and work of Dr. Verghese Kurien. Mumbai, India: Social Samosa. 25 November 2019. Accessed October 2021 at
https://www.socialsamosa.com/2019/11/themilkmansjourney-amul-national-milk-day-campaign/

It is interesting to note that the dairy industry in India encompasses not just cows, but also water buffalo!

#NationalMilkDayIndia #MilkmanofIndia

Website: https://www.drkurien.com/nationalmilkday/

See also: Milk, World Milk Day, World Plant Milk Day

History

The day has been celebrated since 2014. It is dedicated to Dr Verghese Kurien.

“Back in 2014, all the dairy majors of India, along with the Indian Dairy Association, decided to observe the birthday of Verghese Kurien, on November 26, as National Milk Day.” ^[3]National Milk Day: What is Operation Flood and who was its architect? Noida, Uttar Pradesh: India Today. 26 November 2018. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/national-milk-day-what-is-operation-flood-and-who-was-its-architect-1396505-2018-11-26

As the chairman of India’s National Dairy Development Board, Kurien was the driving force behind “Operation Flood”.

Verghese Kurien. William Yardley / wikimedia/ 2012 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Operation Flood was a project to increase milk production in India. The project changed India into the largest milk producer in the world. India stopped being a milk importer and started being a milk exporter. The project also helped to improve the food security of India.

“Kurien was the architect of Operation Flood which was launched in [July] 1970 by India’s National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)… Operation flood was the world’s biggest dairy development program which gave a major thrust to the milk production of the nation. It was aimed at helping the dairy industry sustain itself economically while providing employment to poor farmers.” ^[4]National Milk Day: What is Operation Flood and who was its architect? Noida, Uttar Pradesh: India Today. 26 November 2018. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/national-milk-day-what-is-operation-flood-and-who-was-its-architect-1396505-2018-11-26

The project created village milk producers’ co-operatives, which helped to reduce the number of middlemen to ensure that milk producers actually got a major share of the price milk was being sold for to the consumer. As a result of his efforts, “Roughly, 70–80 percent of the price by customers [goes] as cash to dairy farmers who [look] after the overall marketing, the procurement and the processing of milk.” ^[5]National Milk Day 2018: How Verghese Kurien helped India to become world’s largest milk producer. Noida, Uttar Pradesh: Financial Express. 26 November 2018. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/national-milk-day-2018-how-verghese-kurien-helped-india-to-become-worlds-largest-milk-producer/1394002/

This in turn helps to lift farmers out of poverty.

Interestingly, Kurien himself didn’t drink milk, saying that he just didn’t like it! ^[6]National Milk Day: Remembering India’s ‘doodhwala’ Verghese Kurien who spurred White Revolution. Mumbai, Maharashtra: First Post. 26 November 2018. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.firstpost.com/business/national-milk-day-remembering-indias-doodhwala-verghese-kurien-who-spurred-white-revolution-5619101.html

Further reading

Doctor, Vikram. National Milk Day and the man who made it possible. Mumbai, India: The Economic Times. 22 November 2019.

Sources

Anand to celebrate National Milk Day in Kurien’s memory. Mumbai, India: Times of India. 26 November 2016. Accessed October 2021 at https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/anand-to-celebrate-national-milk-day-in-kuriens-memory/articleshow/55628273.cms

Everything you need to know about National Milk Day 2020. Mumbai, India: Times of India. 26 November 2020. Accessed October 2021 at https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-national-milk-day-2020/photostory/79429498.cms

Menon, Priyanka. National Milk Day 2020: Understanding the Health Benefits of Milk and its Nutritional Facts. New Delhi, India: Krishi Jagran. 26 November 2020. Accessed October 2021 at https://krishijagran.com/news/national-milk-day-2020-understanding-the-health-benefits-of-milk-and-its-nutritional-facts/

National Milk Day 2018: Amul Girl honors Dr Verghese Kurien with ‘Amul Ratna’ Doodle Read In Hindi. New Delhi, India: India TV News. 26 November 2018. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.indiatvnews.com/buzz/news-national-milk-day-2018-amul-girl-honors-dr-verghese-kurien-with-amul-ratna-doodle-486601

National Milk Day 2018: How Verghese Kurien helped India to become world’s largest milk producer. Noida, Uttar Pradesh: Financial Express. 26 November 2018. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/national-milk-day-2018-how-verghese-kurien-helped-india-to-become-worlds-largest-milk-producer/1394002/

National Milk Day: Remembering India’s ‘doodhwala’ Verghese Kurien who spurred White Revolution. Mumbai, Maharashtra: First Post. 26 November 2018. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.firstpost.com/business/national-milk-day-remembering-indias-doodhwala-verghese-kurien-who-spurred-white-revolution-5619101.html

National Milk Day: What is Operation Flood and who was its architect? Noida, Uttar Pradesh: India Today. 26 November 2018. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/national-milk-day-what-is-operation-flood-and-who-was-its-architect-1396505-2018-11-26