Anand, once a dusty, serene farming village, is today a symbol of modern nationalism. What started in 1946 in a village in Gujarat as a small co-operative effort to bring economic freedom to farmers by releasing them from the clutches of self-serving middlemen, has developed into a movement that involves millions of farmers all over the country, and into an incredible Rs 120 billion (US$2.4 billion) company!

The brand of India: The iconic statue at the Amul Dairy Complex in Anand. The company is a multi-billion dollar brand. File pic/AFP