Dr. N.E. Borlaug

On the occasion of his receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970, Dr. Borlaug wrote, "The green revolution has been a team effort and much of the credit for its spectacular development must go to Indian officials, Organisations, Scientists and farmers. However, to you, Dr. Swaminathan, a great deal of the credit must go for first recognising the potential value of the Mexican dwarfs. Had this not occurred, it is quite possible that there would not have been a green revolution in Asia".

Mr Javier Perez de Cuellar, Secretary General of the United Nations

On the occasion of the presentation of the First World Food Prize to Dr. Swaminathan in October 1987, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar wrote, "Dr. Swaminathan is a living legend. His contributions to Agricultural Science have made an indelible mark on food production in India and elsewhere in the developing world. By any standards, he will go into the annals of history as a world scientist of rare distinction".

Dr Bruce Alberts, President, National Academy of Sciences, Washington

“Swaminathan reminds me a great deal of a second remarkable scientist whose endeavors I have followed for 45 years, the Jim Watson of DNA double-helix fame. Both Watson and Swaminathan have always pushed the envelope of what is possible with relentless energy, and they have first set and then achieved goals that seemed unachievable to most others. Both have built unique institutions for science; Watson the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in Long Island, New York; Swaminathan the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai, India. And both remains inspiring leaders today.”