Kurien's Dream

Date: 28/02/2010

I want to note down few impressions on Kurien’s autobiography “I TOO HAD A DREAM” which provided me a fascinating reading experience for the last couple of days. I never got bored during any part of the book. In fact, he has the wonderful knack of conveying ideas without using difficult words at all. I felt like I was listening to him face to face like I was during my IRMA days. Even then, I remember that he was candid and out rightly ruthless. In the book even, he agrees that he is rude at many points of time. Still, I defend him to the extent that he always spoke for the farmers of rural India. He is open enough to quote all such instances where he did not mince words either in front of multinationals or cabinet ministers.

One of the striking aspects of his personality is the wonderful rapport that he built with all the successive PMs of India. I think all of them backed him because he delivered what he promised. It suggests that politicians do not mind supporting outsiders even at the risk of bureaucrats and angering fellow ministers if they can foresee tangible benefits on the ground.

One more heartening thing that I like about Kurien is that he always defended villages vis-à-vis cities, cooperatives (as peoples’ institutions) vis-à-vis multinationals. In spite of the name and fame, possibility of earning more and living a luxuriant life, he preferred to lead a simple life in Anand. His simplicity and modesty of his lifestyle becomes more striking when I look at the luxurious ways of living adopted by present day corporate bigwigs.

I want to remember his core belief for my life. “If the instruments of development are placed in the hands of the people, true progress happens.” He did not look at Anand pattern cooperatives as simply milk cooperatives. He understood and reiterated the need for democratic way of functioning of the cooperatives. He saw cooperatives as means of building future leadership, as means of developing a sense of hygiene, health, technology, as vehicles of women empowerment and social equality etc.

But, before all this, he realized that need to organize the cooperatives as true market players giving value for money both to the customers and the producers. His vision of cooperatives as means of generating wealth in the villages by producing such goods demanded by the city dwellers is a noble one and remains more relevant even today and in future. He never emphasized on government grants and avoided them to the extent possible so that the true financial of cooperatives is never harmed. But, he beautifully utilized the available foreign grant to build the needed infrastructure that can generate sustainable future revenue streams.

He was rude to those bureaucrats and politicians ho were inimical to cooperatives and at the same time more than acknowledged the good help rendered by some of them I learnt one more important lessons here – “In spite of our noble intentions, things will not automatically fall in place. I need to stick to my heart and tackle the obstacles.” Kurien quoted numerous instances where he did wonderful troubleshooting. Of course, the most touching and inspiring lesson remains – “True satisfaction comes from worthwhile contribution to the cause of farmers, the underprivileged and making them stand on their feet.” This is what I take as my goal and motto of life after studying in IRMA and reading him.

I also did not like him whenever I found his statements to be arrogant to others. But, his nationalistic fervor and passion for cooperatives made him go to any such extent. It is rather unfortunate that he was unceremoniously removed from the chairmanship of IRMA and GCMMF. I will not treat it as his fate due for his over confidence and highhandedness. I still pray for more decent gestures and respect towards him.

Kurien’s experience has implications for the development models that are now needed for effective public service delivery. Any top down structures will not deliver goods. At the same time, marketable and business-worthy opportunities need to be crafted into appropriate people’ institutions. All the commodities (be them mangoes, sapotas, poultry birds) are unique by themselves and the cultural context of different places also varies. But, the underlying experiences of Anand pattern will still be relevant.

Kurien always took pride in working as a professional manager for the farmers. “What began as a bonded servitude turned out to be five decades of reward and satisfaction for him.” I do not know what dream I have now. But, shall I also not have such passion to pursue dreams like him? I realize that my heart must bleed for the poor. But, not out of emotion and sentiment. The bleeding must be out of logic and conviction that they deserve their right share of access and opportunities and I must do my bit as my duty not as a service or charity.