Majithia visits Khem Singh Gill’s family, offers condolences

Ludhiana, September 21, 2019: Former Punjab minister and senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia today visited the grieved family of nonagenarian farm scientist Khem Singh Gill, who left for his heavenly abode early this week on September 17 after a protracted ailment. Majithia remained with the family members for some time and offered his heart- felt condolences to the family praying that the departed soul may remain in peace and the bereaved family be vested with strength to bear the immense loss. Recalling the contribution of former vice chancellor of Punjab Agriculture University Ludhiana, Majithia said that Gill as a plant genetics and breeder had made immense contribution to the Green Revolution in India especially in breeding new strains of wheat, linseed and sesame. Majithia said that Gill had been awarded the Padma Bhushan and was an imminent philanthropist and he was vice president of The Kalgidhar Trust and Kaligdhar Society, Baru Sahib, which is a largest Sikh charity. He was professor of Sikhism and occupied prestigious Sant Teja Singh Chair at Eternal Global University. His contribution to the Agriculture and his pioneer role in making Punjab the “food basket” of India will always be remembered by the SAD as the party always has stood for the agrarian society in the state. Parkash Singh Badal had immense respect for Gill and feels that a huge vacuum has been created by his sad demise, said Majithia. The senior SAD leader also observed that it was his work along with Sctultz from Mexican Institute of Technology in developing the “ dwarf variety of wheat in early sixties “in Punjab that ushered in green revolution and transformed the economic status of the farmers in the country and made India food sufficient. Observed Majithia. The Gill family’s contribution towards its roots will never be forgotten and the children of Gill a son and daughter were following the path of humility and hard work as their father, said the former minister. Gill was founding fellow of The World Academy of Sciences and rewarded coveted Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Memorial Prize, which is team award of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research(ICAR), FICCI award, ICAR Golden Jubilee Award and Silver Jubilee Award the Indian Society of Oilseeds Research. He had written number of books and scores of scientific papers in the field of agriculture.