Genetic modification is a very powerful tool. But like any

Hear the solemn and wise words of M. S. Swaminathan, father of India’s Green Revolution: “Genetic modification is a very powerful tool. But like any powerful tool, when using it, you have to take into account the environmental impact, the food safety aspects and so on. There must be a strong regulatory mechanism.” In this utterance shines the eternal tension between power and responsibility, between the marvels of human ingenuity and the caution demanded by wisdom. For the ancients taught: the greater the gift, the greater the danger if it is misused.

To call genetic modification a “powerful tool” is to recognize it as fire in the hands of humanity. Fire, too, was once feared and revered: it could warm the hearth, or burn entire villages. So too with this science—it may feed the hungry, heal the sick, and preserve the crops of nations, but if wielded carelessly, it may bring harm to the earth, imbalance to the ecosystems, and danger to those who eat of its harvest. Thus, Swaminathan reminds us that knowledge is never enough—wisdom must walk beside it.

History provides us with many warnings. Recall the tragedy of DDT, once hailed as a miracle pesticide that promised to end crop failure and disease. It was powerful indeed, but its use without foresight poisoned the soil, the rivers, and even the breast milk of mothers. What was first thought to be salvation became a hidden curse. This story stands as a monument to Swaminathan’s counsel: that environmental impact and safety must be considered whenever man wields tools of great might.

Yet let us not think his words are a call to fear. Swaminathan was not an enemy of progress; he was its servant and steward. His Green Revolution saved millions from famine, proving that science, when guided by compassion and caution, can be a force for life. His wisdom lies not in rejecting power, but in insisting on regulation, the careful guardianship that prevents power from turning into destruction. Just as a kingdom must have just laws, so too must science be bound by principles that protect both people and planet.

The phrase “strong regulatory mechanism” is not the voice of bureaucracy, but of guardianship. It calls to mind the ancient image of the city gates, where watchmen stood to protect the people from harm. Without such gates, enemies could enter freely; without regulation, the hidden dangers of science could spill unchecked into the lives of the innocent. To regulate is to honor both the potential of the tool and the fragility of life.

The lesson is thus: embrace the tools of knowledge, but do not wield them recklessly. Let humility temper ambition, and let every discovery be measured not only by what it can achieve, but by what it might endanger. In every act of creation, ask: Does this sustain life, or threaten it? Does it preserve the earth, or scar it? For wisdom is not the speed of progress, but the care with which it is guided.

Practical action flows from this truth. Support the pursuit of science, but also demand transparency. Celebrate innovation, but also ask questions of safety, justice, and long-term impact. Plant trees as you plant ideas, ensuring that what you leave behind sustains rather than destroys. And above all, remember that every tool—whether of iron, fire, or gene—is but an extension of the human heart. If the heart is wise, the tool will serve life. If the heart is careless, the tool will hasten ruin.

Thus, Swaminathan’s words are a legacy for all generations: that powerful tools must be guided by strong hands, steady laws, and a vision not only for today, but for centuries yet unborn. Let his counsel be carried like a torch—that in seeking to shape life, we first honor and protect it. For the future of humanity lies not only in what we can do, but in how wisely we choose to do it.