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Context

The establishment of Tribhuvan Sahkari University recognizes Tribhuvandas Patel contributions to Indian cooperative movement & dairy revolution shaping success of Amul & institutions like NDDB as well as IRMA.

Key Highlights

Establishment of Tribhuvan Sahkari University

Lok Sabha passed a Bill to set up Tribhuvan Sahkari University in Anand, Gujarat.

The university is named after Tribhuvandas Patel known as Father of Indian Cooperative Movement.

The initiative aims to strengthen cooperative education, research & management promoting cooperative principles at a national level.

Tribhuvandas Patel

Born in 1903 he was an alumnus of Gujarat Vidyapith & a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi.

Played major role in Civil Disobedience Movement, Salt Satyagraha & campaigns against untouchability & alcoholism.

Jailed in Nashik (1930) for participation in Salt Satyagraha.

Founding of Amul & Dairy Cooperatives

In 1946 Patel encouraged by Morarji Desai formed Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited (KDCMPUL) to fight exploitation of farmers by Polson Dairy.

He mobilized farmers in Gujarat inspiring them to form a cooperative structure to control their own dairy production & eliminate middlemen.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel supported movement providing political backing.

In 1955 KDCMPUL was renamed Amul marking birth of Indian White Revolution.

Partnership with Verghese Kurien

Dr. Verghese Kurien mechanical engineer was initially assigned by British government to work at a creamery in Anand.

Patel & Kurien collaborated to modernize milk production introducing spray-dry buffalo milk powder with H.M. Dalaya.

Patel entrusted Kurien with leadership responsibilities paving way for Operation Flood & large scale dairy development in India.

Establishment of Key Institutions

Under Patel vision following institutions were established

Amul (1955) India most successful dairy cooperative brand.

Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) (1973) Overseeing Amul marketing & growth.

National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) (1965) Established at Lal Bahadur Shastri insistence with Kurien as its first chairman.

Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) (1979) Training professionals for rural management.

Recognition & Later Years

In 1963 Patel received Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership.

In 1964 he was honored with Padma Bhushan.

Served as a Rajya Sabha MP (1967-1975).

Used farmer contributions to establish Tribhuvandas Foundation working for rural healthcare & development.

Passed away in 1994 leaving behind a lasting legacy in Indian cooperative & dairy sectors.

Debate Over Naming University

Some opposition leaders suggested naming university after Verghese Kurien instead.

However Patel contributions as visionary behind Amul & cooperative movement remain undeniable.

Kurien daughter affirmed that her father & Patel shared a deep bond of trust with Patel serving as Kurien mentor & guide.

Legacy of Cooperative Movement

Patel cooperative model was replicated across India leading to Indian self-sufficiency in milk production.

Today Amul & NDDB stand as global benchmarks for cooperative success.

The establishment of Tribhuvan Sahkari University ensures that his vision & principles continue to shape Indian cooperative future.

Tribhuvandas Patel

Aspect	Details
Full Name	Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel
Birth	1903, Gujarat, India
Family Background	Born into a farming family
Philosophical Influence	Follower of Mahatma Gandhi deeply influenced by his principles of non violence, rural development & social justice
Role in Independence Movement	Participated in Civil Disobedience Movement, Salt Satyagraha & drives against untouchability & alcoholism
Imprisonment	Nasik (1930) Jailed for Salt Satyagraha Visapur (1930) Took an oath to dedicate his life to welfare of masses
Harijan Sevak Samiti	Served as President from 1948 to 1983 working for upliftment of Dalits
Kaira District Cooperative (KDCMPUL)	Founded in 1946 to combat exploitation of milk farmers by Polson Dairy, under guidance of Morarji Desai & Sardar Patel
Principles of Cooperative Movement	Established milk cooperatives at village level Ensured no discrimination based on caste or creed Promoted farmer owned & farmer run cooperatives
Collaboration with Verghese Kurien	Invited Dr. Kurien to Anand leading to foundation of Amul & White Revolution
Institutions Founded	Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA)
Awards & Recognitions	Ramon Magsaysay Award (1963) for community leadership Padma Bhushan (1964) for social service
Later Contributions	Founded Tribhuvandas Foundation for rural healthcare & welfare
Death	1994

White Revolution in India

Aspect	Details
What is White Revolution?	A movement that transformed India into world largest producer of milk ensuring self sufficiency in dairy production.
Key Architect	Dr. Verghese Kurien inspired by Tribhuvandas Patel
Initial Cooperative Setup	Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Ltd. (KDCMPUL) – 1946 later renamed Amul
Core Strategy	Establishing village-level dairy cooperatives ensuring farmer ownership & profit-sharing
Significance of Amul	Introduced spray-dry buffalo milk powder (a global first) Developed modern dairy technology Set up milk processing plants & cold storage networks
Launch of Operation Flood	1965 Formation of NDDB at insistence of Lal Bahadur Shastri 1970 Operation Flood initiated led by NDDB & GCMMF
Impact on Milk Production	1950 17 million tonnes of milk 1998 70+ million tonnes (India became largest producer globally)
Rural Development Impact	Increased income for farmers Reduced exploitation by middlemen Created employment opportunities
Institutions Established	Amul (1955) National Dairy Development Board (1965) Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (1973) Institute of Rural Management Anand (1979)
Global Recognition	Model adopted by several developing nations India became a dairy exporting nation
Long-Term Impact	Doubled per capita milk availability in India Led to Dairy Revolution across country Inspired cooperative-based rural development in other sectors

Operation Flood

Aspect	Details
Launch Year	1970
Implementing Agency	National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)
Objective	Transform India from a milk-deficient country to world's largest producer. Establish a self-sustaining dairy industry by empowering rural farmers. Ensure fair milk prices for both producers & consumers. Reduce reliance on imports & make India self-sufficient in dairy.
Phases & Key Developments	Phase I (1970-1980): Laid foundation using surplus dairy aid from European Economic Community (EEC). Established Anand Pattern dairy cooperatives. Phase II (1981-1985): Expanded network, improved milk processing & increased milk production. Strengthened infrastructure for transportation & storage. Phase III (1985-1996): Focused on sustainability, quality control & rural employment generation. Reduced dependence on foreign aid.
Key Strategies	Creation of a National Milk Grid to balance supply-demand & prevent regional price fluctuations. Promotion of dairy cooperatives to eliminate middlemen & ensure farmers received fair prices. Strengthening processing infrastructure by modernizing milk plants & setting up bulk milk cooling facilities. Introduction of crossbreeding programs to enhance milk yield & cattle productivity. Technology & R&D investment to improve efficiency in production, storage & distribution.
Impact on Dairy Industry	India's milk production increased from 22 million tonnes (1970) to over 100 million tonnes (1996). India overtook U.S. to become world's largest milk producer. Establishment of modern dairy infrastructure with efficient cold storage & transport. Expansion of dairy product varieties including cheese, yogurt & packaged milk.
Impact on Rural Economy	Provided steady income to millions of small-scale dairy farmers. Created employment opportunities especially for women in rural areas. Strengthened cooperative societies empowering farmers with financial & social security. Enabled rural electrification & infrastructure growth through cooperative profits.
White Revolution	Led to India's White Revolution, making it self-sufficient in dairy production. Amul & Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) became key players.
Challenges & Criticism	Initial over-reliance on foreign dairy aid. Uneven access to benefits, with some small farmers struggling to compete. Quality control issues due to rapid expansion. Need for improved cattle feed & breeding programs to sustain long-term productivity.
Legacy & Long-Term Impact	Transformed India into a global dairy leader. Inspired dairy cooperative models worldwide. Established institutions like NDDB, GCMMF (Amul) & IRMA for dairy & rural management. Contributed significantly to India's food security & economic growth.

For more information, please visit IAS GYAN

Sources:

INDIAN EXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Discuss role of Tribhuvandas Patel in shaping Indian cooperative movement & its impact on White Revolution. How did his vision influence rural development & dairy self-sufficiency in India?.