National Milk Day 2020: Dr. Varghese Kurien, who is known as ‘Milkman of India’ and the father of the 1970s White Revolution in India, was born on 26 November and this day is celebrated every year as National Milk Day across the country. Milk is very important for our body. Milk contains many nutrients along with vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12, iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, iodine, potassium, folates, protein etc. Along with this, milk also destroys all the diseases of our body. It also helps in providing energy to our body.
History of National Milk Day
The day was first observed by the Indian Dairy Association (IDA) in 2014. The first National Milk Day was celebrated on 26 November 2014, which was attended by various milk producers from 22 states. Today, milk is traded on a large scale across the country. India has achieved its own unique place in it.
Who was Dr. Varghese Kurien
Dr. Kurien was born on 26 November 1921 in Kozhikode, Kerala, into a Syrian Christian family. He studied in mechanical engineering. After this, he was awarded scholarship by the Government of India for his studies in dairy. It was from here that he entered the dairy world. It was in the year 1949, when the government sent him to work in a dairy in Anand, but due to lack of mind, he was about to leave his government job, when Tribhuvandas Patel stopped him. Subsequently, Tribhuvandas Patel and Kurian together started the Milk Cooperative Movement under the Cara District Cooperative Milk Producers Union. Which is today known as Amul. Today the world remembers Varghese Kurien as ‘Milkman’. He was also honored with the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India. In addition, he was also awarded the Order of Agriculture Merit by the French Ministry of Agriculture. He also received the Ramon Magsaysay Award.
Objective of celebrating National Milk Day
National Milk Day is celebrated to promote activities related to milk and milk industry and to create awareness among people about the importance of lifelong milk and milk products.
When is World Milk Day Celebrated?
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) selected June 1 in 2001 as World Milk Day, which celebrates the contributions of the dairy sector to sustainability, economic development, livelihoods and nutrition.
