Manthan captures the heart of India’s cooperative legacy, from grassroots empowerment to the White Revolution, embodying the very theme of #InternationalYearofCooperatives: “Cooperatives Build a Better World.”

#ShyamBenegal #Manthan #Cooperatives #SEWA #Amul #WhiteRevolution #SustainableDevelopment

“He said he was very happy with them, but I realised that I wasn't. I felt that they were preaching to the converted, people who already had co-operatives. We needed to reach out to the public at large, so they'd come to know about the largest, most successful co-operative movement in the world.”

“I knew Dr Kurien well, he was the boss of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. or GCMMF, and I had made two documentaries for him in the late 60’s, while I was still working for an advertising agency,” he explained.

This wasn’t just any film; it was India’s first crowdfunded movie, telling the inspiring tale of their own cooperative journey, blending social change with cinema. Dr. Kurien, Mr. Benegal related to me, wanted very much for the story of how the milk co-operatives began, to be documented.

But the story doesn’t end there. In 1976, half a million of these very farmers pooled together ₹2 each to crowdfund a film — 'Manthan' (meaning "The Churning") — directed by Shyam Benegal.

This grassroots effort culminated in the birth of Amul India, a cooperative owned by millions of farmers, and sparked the legendary White Revolution that made India the world’s largest milk-producer.

Back in 1946, a group of visionary farmers in Gujarat, led by Tribhovandas Patel and Dr. Verghese Kurien, kicked off a dairy cooperative movement that would soon transform India’s milk industry.

So here's to connecting those dots: this is still a WIP - but check the link for a glimpse into my work so far >>
noughtsandcrosses.in

And now, as a communications consultant for purpose-based organisations — with work created in Bombay, in Goa, I suspect it's time to start putting some of this work out here on the big bad 🕸️. As Imogen Heap put it, now's a bad a time as any!

I'm in the process of revamping my website (god help me) and going through more than a decade of writing and comms work has me trying to connect the dots. Exploring all this previous writing on music, culture, film, feminism, mental health and gender equity —