Who among the following was known as the ”Milkman of India”?

The correct option is Verghese Kurien.

Dr. Verghese Kurien is widely known and celebrated as the "Milkman of India". He was a legendary social entrepreneur whose brilliant leadership of Operation Flood—the world's largest agricultural dairy development program—transformed India from a milk-deficient nation into the world's largest milk producer.

Here is a step-by-step breakdown of why he holds this title and why the other options are incorrect:

1. Who was Verghese Kurien?
Dr. Kurien (1921–2012) was the architect behind the "White Revolution" in India. He established the dairy cooperative model, famously known as the Amul brand (Anand Milk Union Limited), based in Anand, Gujarat. This model empowered local milk farmers by giving them control over the processing, marketing, and distribution of their own produce, eliminating exploitative middlemen.

2. The Success of Operation Flood:
Launched in 1970 by India's National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), which was also founded and led by Dr. Kurien, Operation Flood replicated the cooperative model nationwide. It created a national milk grid, linked producers directly with consumers in over 700 towns and cities, reduced seasonal price variations, and ensured that the cooperative dairy farmer received a major share of the consumer's rupee.

3. Analyzing the other options:
• Arun Krishnan: Often associated with the "Blue Revolution" (aquaculture/fisheries development) in India, not dairy.
• Muljibhai Patel: While he was an important figure in Gujarat's development history, he is not known as the Milkman of India.
• M.S. Swaminathan: Known globally as the "Father of the Green Revolution in India" for his monumental work in introducing high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice to Indian farmers, which led to food grain self-sufficiency.

Therefore, the title "Milkman of India" uniquely belongs to Dr. Verghese Kurien due to his revolutionary contribution to the Indian dairy industry.