IBLA 2023 19th Edition: In Memoriam honour for MS Swaminathan and Ashwin Dani

At the India Business Leader Awards (IBLA) 19th edition, held in Mumbai on December 2, CNBC-TV18 paid homage to three luminaries who have left an indelible mark in their respective fields. MS Swaminathan and Ashwin Dani were posthumously honoured, acknowledging their monumental contributions to agriculture and industry, respectively.

MS Swaminathan, born on August 7, 1925, was a celebrated Indian geneticist and the architect of India's Green Revolution. Educated in India and the University of Cambridge, Swaminathan's illustrious career spanned several research and administrative positions. He played pivotal roles in the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the International Rice Research Institute. His efforts in agriculture were recognised globally, earning him the World Food Prize and India's highest honours: the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan.

Ashwin Dani, born in 1944 in Mumbai, revolutionised the Indian paint industry. As the Non-executive Chairman of Asian Paints, Dani transformed the company into a household name and a global leader. His educational background in Polymer Science fuelled his vision, propelling Asian Paints to new heights and diversifying into home decor services. At his passing in 2023, his net worth was estimated at $7.1 billion. Dani's legacy includes numerous accolades, such as the Colour Society Lifetime Achievement Award and the EY Entrepreneur of the Year in Manufacturing.