Amul and Union Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah paid tribute to Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel, the pioneer of India’s cooperative dairy movement, on his 123rd birth anniversary on October 22.

Amul marked the occasion through a special edition of its popular Amul Topical campaign, celebrating the legacy of its founder chairman and his contribution to farmer empowerment.

In a social media post, Shah recalled how Tribhuvandas Patel, under the guidance of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, laid the foundation of the Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union in 1946. What began as a collective initiative of milk producers in Gujarat has since grown into Amul, a major force in India’s dairy sector.

Shah said the cooperative institution had become a foundation of prosperity for more than 36 lakh farmers and lakhs of women. He also highlighted the establishment of Tribhuvandas Cooperative University in Anand, Gujarat, as the country’s first national cooperative university, aimed at developing trained leadership for the cooperative sector.

Tribhuvandas Patel played a pivotal role in building the farmer-owned cooperative model and bringing Dr Verghese Kurien into the organisation, helping lay the groundwork for India’s dairy transformation. His contributions earned him the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1963 and the Padma Bhushan in 1964.

Shah said Patel’s life and dedication to cooperation would continue to inspire the national resolve to realise Sahkar Se Samriddhi (Prosperity through Cooperation). Amul’s tribute likewise celebrated the enduring legacy of a leader whose vision transformed collective action into a powerful instrument of rural development.