Interview with Dr. S. S. Johl- Oral History Project

As part of the project titled “Oral History Project on Agricultural Scientists in India,” which the Foundation for Agrarian Studies has undertaken in collaboration with the Archives at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Sandipan Baksi, Director, FAS, interviewed Dr. Sardara Singh Johl, a distinguished Indian agricultural economist, in Ludhiana, Punjab, on December 06, 2025.

Dr. Johl’s career spans some of the most significant institutions in Indian agriculture. He has served as Vice Chancellor of both Punjabi University and Punjab Agricultural University, and the Chancellor of the Central University of Punjab. A Padma Bhushan awardee, he has contributed in a number of national roles, including as a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (1987–1992), ICAR National Professor of Eminence in Economics, and Chairperson of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices. He also worked as a consultant to international organisations such as the United Nations and the World Bank.

The interview offered an insightful look into his early memories as a farmer and his later experiences as an agricultural economist and administrator spanning over many decades.

The conversation was an invaluable opportunity to learn from his remarkable journey and contributions to Indian agriculture.