The seed of the idea to set up an autonomous, non-profit and public good research institution was sown in my mind in 1970 by Prof C V Raman when he stayed with us for a couple of days at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, where I was then the Director. Before leaving, Prof Raman told me that when i retired I should set up an autonomous, non-governmental research institution, which would provide young researchers a home for creative and socially relevant work.

M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation