Remembering PG Gore

In the golden era of India’s White Revolution, a quiet but remarkable man stood tall at the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). His name was PG Gore. He joined NDDB in 1966 as an Apprentice Engineer at a stipend of Rs 300 per month , fresh out of IIT Mumbai, at a time when the dream of making India self-sufficient in milk was just beginning to take shape under the visionary leadership of Dr. Verghese Kurien. Over the decades, PG Gore rose through the ranks to become Director (Purchase) — a position of immense responsibility during Dr. Kurien’s chairmanship.

This is not just a story of professional achievement. It is a deeply personal tribute from colleagues who walked alongside him in those formative years. The words below come from VS Behla, who joined NDDB in 1967, and are shared here by Shailendra, who stepped into the organization in 1968. Now, another stalwart of the cooperative dairy movement adds his voice — Shri BM Vyas, who joined Amul in 1970, later served with the Gujarat Milk Marketing Federation Limited, and became its third Managing Director after Dr. Kurien and Shri JJ Baxi.

The Early Days: Friendship Forged in the Field

“Sad! Indeed! Great human, friend, colleague and my mate in my initial days at NDDB.”

VS Behla first met PG Gore at the Surat Dairy Project in early February 1968. What followed were years of 24-hour companionship — learning the ropes of dairy engineering the hard way, watching movies together to unwind, and sharing every triumph and challenge. Their intense collaboration continued until March 1970, when they commissioned the Cattle Feed Plant at Chalthan.

Even in lighter moments, PG Gore left his mark. In January 1974, he was the one who introduced young “Bittoo” to his first drop of spirit — a memory that still brings a smile mixed with nostalgia.

Building a Dairy Legacy: From Southern Projects to Mother Dairy

PG Gore was the driving force behind numerous landmark initiatives that shaped India’s dairy landscape:

• He spearheaded all the major Southern Indian dairy projects between 1977 and 1980.
• The Slaughter House in Goa and the iconic Aarey Dairy were among the last dairy projects he directly executed before moving into leadership of the Purchase team.
• His vision and execution played a foundational role in establishing the Mother Dairy plant at Patparganj and the network of over 100 milk booths in Delhi. As VS Behla poignantly writes today: “Mother Dairy plant at Patpargunj and the 100 milk booths in Delhi lost their father.”

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In 1996, after three decades of dedicated service, PG Gore took voluntary retirement. Even then, his passion for the cooperative movement didn’t fade. He worked with the Anand Regional Cooperative Oilseeds Union and was seconded back to NDDB for the ambitious Dal Project, where high-protein dal was successfully extruded — yet another “first” in his illustrious career.

Tributes from Those Who Knew Him Best

Shri BM Vyas, a leader who carried forward Dr. Kurien’s legacy at the Gujarat Milk Marketing Federation, remembers PG Gore with deep respect:

“He was aptly suitable manager purchase for NDDB. How sad. But he was great man who contributed to Building NDDB. Most people will not even know millions who toiled for meagre salary in anonymity. Let not weakness overtake us. We have done wonders, let no one bother.”

Shri BM Vyas

Vyas’s words echo the unsung spirit of the entire NDDB family — thousands of dedicated professionals who worked long hours for modest pay, driven not by fame or fortune but by the quiet conviction that they were building something historic for the nation.

A Man of Uncompromising Integrity

Beyond projects and positions, what truly defined PG Gore was his character. He was a man of many firsts — but above all, he was an honest human being who refused to compromise on ethics or principles.

“He would get lost during Diwali so that nobody bothers him with gifts etc.,” recalls VS Behla with affection. NDDB owes a debt of gratitude to such individuals who stood firm on matters of integrity when it would have been easier to look the other way.

A Final Goodbye

As VS Behla signs off in true poetic fashion:

“Bichade sabhi, bari bari”
“Dekhi zamane ki yaari”

The era of these stalwarts may be passing, but the institutions they built — the milk cooperatives, the processing plants, the milk booths that feed millions every day — continue to stand as living monuments to their dedication.

PG Gore was more than a colleague or a director. He was a friend, a mentor, a principled leader, and a quiet architect of modern India’s dairy success story. Colleagues like VS Behla and Shri BM Vyas remind us that his contribution, and that of countless others who toiled in anonymity, will never be forgotten.

To his family, friends, and the entire NDDB fraternity — our heartfelt condolences. The man who once made sure no one was troubled with Diwali gifts has now left behind a legacy that will continue to nourish generations.

Rest in peace, PG Gore. You will be remembered not just for what you built, but for the values with which you built it — and for the wonders you and your generation achieved together.

— A tribute compiled and shared with respect by Shailendra (NDDB, 1968), honouring the words and memories of VS Behla (NDDB, 1967) and Shri BM Vyas (Amul & GCMMF). Going forward Shailendra will add tributes by others to this blog.