Colonel Lal Singh Thind (Turna) - Progressive Farmer

Progressive Farmer

After retirement from Military service after partition in 1947, Col Thind took several of his co-villagers from Turna and purchased a big tracts of land in Rudurpur city, District Rampur now Udham Singh Nagar in Uttar Pradesh. The land was fertile and virgin but all jungle and was infested with wild and dangerous animals like tigers and wolves, boars and fierce cobras etc. at the time of its purchase. With dedication and discipline of a true soldier, Col Thind managed to turn his tract, running into thousands of acres, into a flourishing tillable land over the years and started the progressive farming using the ultra modern scientific techniques. He named his farm as Barandari farm.

Col Thind soon caught the eyes of the Government of India for producing highest yield/acre for rice, wheat, sugarcane and several other crops in his farm. He was widely recognized for this achievement and was conferred upon the Padma Shri award by Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the third President of India in 1965. It was the first award ever given to any farmer throughout India. In 1966, an All India Seed Improvement Seminar was held in New Delhi which was presided over by Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India. Col Thind was the special guest in the Seminar and was chosen to speak on the topic. In 1968-70, Dr Zakir Hussain, the fourth President of India also invited and honored Col Thind and awarded him certificates in recognition of his outstanding achievements as the most progressive farmer of India. A progressive farmers’ meeting was held in USA (United States of America) in July 1973 which from Indian side was attended and represented by Col Thind alone.