Honoring Swaminathan in Silver, Ignoring His Legacy in Policy

New Delhi: In a striking contradiction, the Union Government has announced the release of a commemorative Rs. 100 coin to mark the birth centenary of Professor M.S. Swaminathan — hailed as the Father of India’s Green Revolution — even as thousands of farmers across the country continue to demand implementation of his Minimum Support Price (MSP) formula, which the same government has failed to adopt.

The commemorative coin, shaped in silver, copper, nickel, and zinc, will bear the image of Prof. Swaminathan along with the inscription “Birth Centenary of Prof. M.S. Swaminathan.” Meanwhile, the same farmers who benefitted from Swaminathan’s scientific legacy and now champion his vision for fair agricultural pricing continue to be stonewalled by policymakers.

Professor Swaminathan, who passed away in 2023, repeatedly emphasized the need to ensure farmers get at least 1.5 times the cost of production as MSP — a formula he outlined in the National Commission on Farmers reports. Despite multiple promises, including a public assurance from the Prime Minister during the 2021 farmers’ protest, the government has yet to legally guarantee this. Instead, farmers have faced crackdowns, barricades, and silence — a reality that starkly contrasts with the respectful tributes minted into metal.

Alongside Swaminathan’s coin, the government also announced a Rs. 75 commemorative coin for the 10th anniversary of Make in India. With its roaring lion and symbols of industry and tech, it represents the government's focus on manufacturing and foreign investment. However, farmers and rural workers, who form the backbone of India’s economy, feel increasingly left behind.

Analysts argue that while symbolic tributes are important, they must be matched by concrete action. Merely issuing coins while refusing to fulfill promises made to the agricultural community — including those rooted in Swaminathan’s work — undermines the very legacy the government claims to celebrate.