T t was sixty years back that scientists working at Indian Dairy Research Institute (IDRI), Bangalore, under the leadership of Dr. K.C. Sen, Director of the Institute, decided to set up an association called “Indian Dairy Science Association” and appointed a provisional Executive Committee. The meeting of this committee was held at New Delhi on December 16, 1947 under the chairmanship of Sardar Bahadur Sir Datar Singh, Vice Chairman, Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), who later became the first President of the Association.

The committee decided to open the membership of the Association to all persons engaged in teaching, research and advisory work in dairying and to persons holding technical position in the field of dairying. The Indian Dairy Science Association was registered under the Mysore Societies Registration Act of 1904, on April 9, 1948.

The first General Body Meeting of the Association was held on May 15, 1948 at IDRI, Bangalore. Sir Datar Singh in Chair, a distinguished gathering of local scientists, members of the Association and students of IDRI participated in the proceedings. It was also decided to undertake the publication of a quarterly journal devoted to the advancement of dairy science, entitled “Indian Journal of Dairy Science”.

It was in June 1949, that the IDSA decided to replace the Monthly Bulletin of the Bangalore Dairy Cattle Society, in existence since January 1942, with the “Indian Dairyman”.
The headquarters of the Indian Dairy Research Institute were shifted to Karnal in 1955, when major activities and a large number of senior scientists were also shifted to Karnal. The headquarters of the IDSA, however, continued to remain at Bangalore for some time and were shifted to Delhi in 1968. At Delhi, the Association had no place of its own, and functioned from the rented premises moving from Sachdev Bhawan to Jhandewalan Extension, to South Extension and so on. At times, the garages were used as offices. There was also disruption in the publication of the journals; the IDSA was homeless leading a life of refugee.

At that point of time, an angel appeared! He was Dr. P. Bhattacharya, Animal Husbandry Commissioner to Govt. of India, who was ably assisted by Shri G. Gopinath, Joint Commissioner Dairy Development. Due to their unstinted efforts, a suitable piece of land was allotted by the Government to the Association, in R.K. Puram, New Delhi.

April 24, 1975 will long remain in the cherished memories of Indian Dairy Association! It was on this day that the dream of many founding members of the Association saw its fulfillment of finding a permanent home of it own, after over 25 years of existence.

The foundation stone of the IDSA building was laid on this day by Dr. P. Bhattacharya. The Association was also given exemption U/s 80G of Income Tax on donations made to the IDSA. An amount of Rs. 5 lakhs was collected for the building fund, accepting with gratitude contribution of even a rupee. Because of limited resources, it was ventured to construct, in the first phase, a library and office accommodation on the ground floor and three guest rooms on the first floor. The Mehsana Milk Producers’ Cooperative Union donated an amount of Rs. one lakh for library, which was named in the memory of late Shri Mansinbhai Patel, former Chairman of Mehsana Union.

The IDSA House was inaugurated by Dr. K.C. Sen on December 7, 1975 in the presence of Shri Annasaheb P. Shinde, Hon'ble Minister for Agriculture. Commenting on the role of Dr. Bhattacharya, he said, “I have but unstinted praise for Dr. P. Bhattacharya for his determination to bring about this dynamism by the exercise of that radiant charm, and power of persuasion, which he alone possesses. The members of the Association, who are here today, those who are not and those who are going to enroll themselves in the days to come will remember with gratitude the relentless efforts Dr. Bhattacharya made in securing this valuable piece of land on which we have gathered today and build in the face of all kinds of odds and yet within the shortest time of six months, this magnificent building, which is going to be the home of our Association. May I, on behalf of all of you offer sincerest congratulations to Dr. Bhattacharya for making this dream come true.”

With the growth of Indian Dairy Industry, it became necessary to involve persons engaged in different sections of dairy sector, including milk producers and not restrict the membership only to those engaged in dairy research & industry. The Association was accordingly renamed, after suitable amendments to its original constitution, as the “Indian Dairy Association” (IDA). The IDA was registered on September 23, 1976 under Registration of Societies Act of 1860, with Headquarters at Delhi.

The IDA, as an institution, has been providing a common forum to knit the dairy fraternity together and thus, over the years, it has emerged as the depository of information for the dairy sector. Other than students & individual members, there are institutional, cooperative and public sector units, as its member. IDA functions very closely with the dairy producers, professionals & planners, scientists & educationists, institutions & organisations associated with the development of dairying in India.

The IDA has been organising National Conference every year; starting with the Dairy Industry Conference in Bangalore held in February 1964, thirty-six conferences have been organised so far at Calcutta in 1965, 1984, 2000 and 2006; Bombay in 1966 and 2002; Lucknow in 1967, Hyderabad in 1968, 1979 and 1989; Chandigarh in 1969 and 2003; Baroda 1970; Trivandrum 1971 and 1988; Guwahati 1972; Madras 1973 and 1983; Jaipur 1974; Ludhiana 1976; Hisar 1977; Bangalore 1978, 1997 and 2005; Puna 1980; Ahmedabad 1981; Indore 1982; Anand 1986 and 1996; New Delhi 1991, 1994, 1995 and 2004; Karnal 1998; and Varanasi in 2008.
The IDA has been conferring Patronship to those who have made outstanding contribution to dairying. Dr. Z.R. Kothawalla (1978), Shri Tribhuvandas Patel (1978), Dr. Maganbhai D. Patel (1979), Dr. L.C. Sikka (1979), Dr. P. Bhattacharya (1979), Dr. D.N. Khurody (1979), Dr. V. Kurien (1981), Shri B. Shivaraman (1986), Dr. K.K. Iya (2005) and Dr. (Miss) Amrita Patel (2006) have been recipient of the award. In addition, 25 members have been awarded Fellowship for their outstanding contribution to the Association.

The IDA has also instituted “Dr. Kurien Award” to honour individuals who have contributed significantly to the development and growth of the Indian dairy industry. The award consists of a memento, a citation and a cash prize of Rs. One Lakh. So far, seven luminaries have been conferred with the award; they are: Shri H.M. Dalaya (1991), Dr. N.N. Dastur (1992), Shri Motibhai R. Chaudhari and Shri Babubhai Chunilal Bhatt 1993-94), Dr. (Miss) Amrita Patel (1995-96), Shri Arun D. Narke (1997-98), Shri J.S. Shah (1999-2000), and Shri Sylvester Da Cunha (2001-02).

Having completed 60 glorious years in changing socio-economic environment, the Association’s profile can not be concluded without a salutations to its Presidents, who have indeed been men of national & international repute! Sir Datar Singh (1948-54), Shri K.R. Damle (1955), Dr. K.C. Sen (1956-57), Dr. L.C. Sikka (1958-59), Dr. Z.R. Kothawalla (1960-61), Shri D.N. Khurody (1962-63), Dr. V. Kurien (1964-65); Dr. S.C. Ray (1966 and 1976-78), Dr. K.K. Iya (1967), Dr. P. Bhattacharya (1968-72 and 1985), Shri G. Gopinath (1973-75), Shri P.H. Bhat (1979-82), Shri A.K. Raychaudhari (1983-84), Shri B.P.S. Puri (1985-86), Dr. R. Nagarshankar (1987-88), Dr. R. P. Aneja (1990-91 and 1993-94), Dr. R.K. Patel (1991-93) and Shri Animesh Banerjee (1994-2007).

All these great men have lent the association a sound foundation and have through their long and hard years encountered difficult situations with happiness and success! Shri Animesh Banerjee had the privilege of a long stint and was therefore able to make significant contribution to the development of the Association, including uninterrupted publication of the Indian Dairyman and IJDS, which have now become world class journals and a mouthpiece of the dairy industry & scientific community.

The IDA stands today on a very sound foundation over which the future generation has to build on. There will continue to be several hours of trial and several hours of trims, but over and above these trifling, the Association has to march ahead to cover grounds not attempted so far! We have many more mountains to climb and have miles to go before we sleep...!