MS Swaminathan Papers

Content Description

The accession contains materials that of M.S. Swaminathan and the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF). It includes research material, correspondence, media clippings, photographs, and recognitions of both M.S. Swaminathan and the Foundation. Research material consisting of the contributions of the Foundation and M.S. Swaminathan include reports, annotated drafts and unpublished manuscripts. It also includes correspondences during M.S. Swaminathan’s tenure at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, International Rice Research Institute, Global Hunger Project, and with the Planning Commission, Government of India. Bulk of the published material is located at the office of the MSSRF Chairperson in the main building and the Bhoothalingam Library. Awards, recognitions and honorary doctorates are placed in the gallery outside of the office of the Chairperson at the Foundation and few at the library. The rest of the material -- select popular magazines, newspaper clippings, reports and correspondences -- have been filtered in piles that will not be accessioned in the collections. This has been done so because the aforementioned material consists of photocopies. Originals of the same are being accessioned. A catalogue of published references not authored by M.S. Swaminathan has been created but will not be entering the archive since copies of these references are available through library resources.

Condition Description

The collection is in good condition except for a few photographic albums and newspaper clipping selections that need restoration work.

Accession Date

2020-11-02

Dispostion

The collection contains papers of M.S. Swaminathan. The material was initially located at three spaces within the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai: Dr. Parasuraman’s cabin (Principal Scientist associated with Coastal Systems Research at the Foundation and formerly, the personal secretary of M.S. Swaminathan until 2013), the Bhoothalingam library, and office of the Chairperson at the Foundation. These records were first arranged at MSSRF. The Trustees of MSSRF then decided to donate the material to the Archives at NCBS, and so it was moved in two large accessions to the Archives at NCBS in 2020 (the first semi-arranged accession) and 2021 (arrived as an unprocessed collection). The material pertaining to the M.S. Swaminathan Collection has been organized into eight series. Series 1: Research Notes, Data and Photographs (1960-2019) Series 2: Correspondence (with multiple sub-series aligned with place of work, ca 1949 - 2020) Series 3: Administration (22 sub-series) Series 4: Unpublished Writings Series 5: Personal Series 6: Media coverage and photographs Series 7: Published works Series 8: Research reference material (rare) Series 9: Institutional historical material (IARI and ICAR) The first series contains research notes that have been arranged in chronological order. The second series includes correspondence arranged in chronological order. This also roughly corresponds to the institutional positions he held during that time. The third series captures administrative documents from various places of work and committees that Swaminathan was involved in. It includes deputation reports during his tenure at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, and International Rice Research Institute. The fourth series features unpublished writings that include annotated drafts, lectures and talks delivered by M.S. Swaminathan. The fifth series has been titled ‘Personal’, and it includes awards and recognitions of M.S. Swaminathan, and photographs of his family and close friends. The sixth series includes hard bound volumes of media clippings related to M.S. Swaminathan. The eighth series contains photographs and recordings (in the form of CDs and other media) from various events M.S. Swaminathan has attended to date. The seventh series include published writings that feature books, journal articles, reprints and committee reports authored by M.S. Swaminathan.

Acquisition Type

Gift

Provenance

The collection contains papers of M.S. Swaminathan. The material was initially located at three spaces within the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai: Dr. Parasuraman’s cabin (Principal Scientist associated with Coastal Systems Research at the Foundation and formerly, the personal secretary of M.S. Swaminathan until 2013), the Bhoothalingam library, and office of the Chairperson at the Foundation. These records were first arranged at MSSRF. The Trustees of MSSRF then decided to donate the material to the Archives at NCBS, and so it was moved in two large accessions to the Archives at NCBS in 2020 (the first semi-arranged accession) and 2021 (arrived as an unprocessed collection).

Restrictions Apply

No

Access Restrictions

Collection is mostly open to the public unless mentioned (for instance, restricted material like administrative and correspondence-related notes created after January 1992, aligning with the Public Records Act). People interested in accessing the collections are requested to refer to the researcher guide for requesting material (https://archives.ncbs.res.in/access), or apply in writing to archives@ncbs.res.in