Chidambaram Subramaniam: Difference between revisions

Subramaniam was born in Senguttaipalayam a village near [[Pollachi]] in [[Coimbatore district]], [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref name="C.Subramaniam" /> Subramaniam completed his early education in Pollachi before moving to Chennai where he did his [[Bachelor of Science|B.Sc]] in Physics at the [[Presidency College, Chennai]] (affiliated to the [[University of Madras]]). Later he graduated with degree in law from [[Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College, Chennai|Madras Law college]], [[Chennai]] (then affiliated to the same university). During his college days, he started ''Vanamalar Sangam'' and published a magazine called ''Pithan'' from [[Gobichettipalayam]] along with [[Periyasaamy Thooran]], [[K. M. Ramasami Gounder]], [[O. V. Alagesan]] and Justice Palanisami.<ref name="A visionary and a statesman">{{cite news|title=A visionary and a statesman|url=http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl1505/15051130.htm|access-date=28 October 2011|newspaper=Frontline|date=20 March 1998|location=India}}</ref> His inspiration was his uncle [[Swami Chidbhavananda]].

Along with [[M. S. Swaminathan]] and [[B. Sivaraman]], Subramaniam was the architect of India's modern agricultural development policy, after the success of his programme which led to a record production of wheat in 1972 termed as the [[Indian Green Revolution]]. As Minister for Food and Agriculture, he introduced high-yielding varieties of seeds and more intensive application of fertilizers which paved the way for increased output of cereals and attainment of self-sufficiency in food-grains in the country. About his contribution, Dr. [[Norman E. Borlaug]], writes:<ref name="CS1"/>

 

{{Blockquote|text=The vision and influence of Mr. Subramaniam in bringing about agricultural change and in the very necessary political decisions needed to make the new approach effective, should never be under-emphasized. The groundwork for this advance (in the production of wheat) was solidly laid during that period (1964–67) when Mr. Subramaniam was the guiding political force instituting change.}}

He was appointed as the union [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]] by [[Charan Singh]] in 1979. He became the [[Governor of Maharashtra]] in 1990. He resigned after his criticism of the style of functioning of the then Indian Prime Minister [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fact-index.com/c/c_/c_subramaniam.html|title=C Subramaniam resigns}}</ref>

 

Subramaniam died on 7 November 2000 at the age of 90 in [[Chennai]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dugger|first=Celia W.|date=2000-11-10|title=Chidambaram Subramaniam, India's 'Green' Rebel, 90, Dies|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/10/world/chidambaram-subramaniam-india-s-green-rebel-90-dies.html|access-date=2021-12-03|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> At his death, he was the last surviving cabinet minister who had served under [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], as well as the last surviving cabinet minister from the Shastri and Nanda cabinets.

* [[Bharat Ratna]], India's highest civilian honor, 1998<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/feb/18cs.htm |title=C.Subramaniam awarded Bharat Ratna |date=18 February 1998 |publisher=Rediff |access-date=28 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203092215/http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/feb/18cs.htm |archive-date=3 February 2014  }}</ref>