Millets are among the oldest cultivated crops in India, dating back thousands of years. Known as “poor man’s grain” in colonial times, they were sidelined by rice and wheat during the Green Revolution. Today, millets are returning to our plates as nutritional powerhouses, environmentally resilient crops, and weapons against lifestyle diseases.
India is the largest producer of millets, and 2023 was declared the International Year of Millets by the United Nations, largely thanks to India’s push.
Major & Positive Millets: Names in English, Hindi & Odia
1. Ragi (Finger Millet)
- Hindi: रागी / मड़ुआ (Ragi / Madua)
- Odia: ମଣ୍ଡିଆ (Mandia)
2. Bajra (Pearl Millet)
- Hindi: बाजरा (Bajra)
- Odia: ବାଜରା / କାଙ୍ଗୁ (Bajara / Kangu)
3. Jowar (Sorghum)
- Hindi: ज्वार (Jowar)
- Odia: ଝୁଡା (Jhuda)
Positive Millets (Siridhanya – Dr. Khadar Vali’s classification)
4. Foxtail Millet
- Hindi: कांगनी / कंगनी (Kangni)
- Odia: କାଙ୍ଗୁ / କାଙ୍ଗି (Kangu / Kangi)
5. Kodo Millet
- Hindi: कोदो (Kodo)
- Odia: କୋଡୋ (Kodo)
6. Barnyard Millet
- Hindi: सांवा / सांवा चावल (Sanwa / Sawa Chawal)
- Odia: ସାମା / ଝିଙ୍ଗୁ (Sama / Jhungu)
7. Browntop Millet
- Hindi: ब्राउनटॉप (Browntop) [rare, no deep-rooted Hindi name]
- Odia: ବ୍ରାଉନ୍ଟପ୍ (Browntop) [locally referred as Korale in Karnataka but not widely known in Odia]
8. Little Millet
- Hindi: कुटकी / सामी (Kutki / Samai)
- Odia: ସାମା / ଚୋଟ ପ୍ୟାଜ (Sama)
The Major Millet Varieties in India
- Ragi (Finger Millet)
- Rich in calcium, iron, and amino acids.
- Excellent for bone health, anemia prevention, and diabetes management.
- Common dishes: ragi mudde (Karnataka), ragi dosa, ragi porridge.
- Bajra (Pearl Millet)
- Grown in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana.
- Packed with protein, magnesium, iron, and fiber.
- Strengthens the heart, aids digestion, and boosts immunity.
- Bajra rotis are staple winter food in northern India.
- Jowar (Sorghum)
- Gluten-free millet high in antioxidants and dietary fiber.
- Helps lower cholesterol, manage blood sugar, and aid weight loss.
- Eaten as rotis, porridges, and even popped like popcorn.
The “Secret Millets” or Positive Millets (as classified by Dr. Khadar Vali)
Dr. Khadar Vali coined the term “Siridhanya” (Rich Grains) for 5 lesser-known millets, also called positive millets, due to their ability to restore metabolic health and fight chronic diseases. These are:
- Foxtail Millet (Navane/Kangni)
- High in slow-digesting carbs, ideal for diabetics.
- Rich in copper, iron, and antioxidants.
- Kodo Millet (Varagu/Kodra)
- Known as a natural detoxifier.
- Excellent for postmenopausal women and in reducing knee/joint pain.
- Barnyard Millet (Sanwa/Oodalu)
- Extremely high in iron and fiber.
- Helps regulate thyroid, prevents anemia.
- Browntop Millet (Korale)
- Rare and less cultivated — called a “lost millet.”
- Restores gut health, helps in reversing obesity and fatty liver.
- Little Millet (Kutki/Samai)
- A great alternative to rice.
- Controls cholesterol, supports heart and liver function.
Dr. Khadar Vali – The Millet Man of India
- Background: A food scientist with a PhD from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. He worked in the US at Monsanto and in the food industry before returning to India with a mission — to heal people through food, not medicine.
- His Research:
- Classified millets into Positive Millets (Siridhanya) and Neutral Millets, based on their impact on chronic diseases.
- Advocated that regular consumption of Siridhanya can reverse diabetes, hypertension, asthma, thyroid disorders, and even certain cancers.
- Promoted millet-based diets as a sustainable solution for both health and climate resilience.
- His Book:
- Title: “Save Our Grains, Save Our Lives” (also available in regional languages).
- Explains millet science, recipes, and the philosophy of food as medicine.
- Emphasizes how modern lifestyle diseases are food-borne and can be prevented or cured by returning to millet-based traditional diets.
Why Millets Are the Future
- Nutritional Superiority: Higher in fiber, protein, and micronutrients than polished rice/wheat.
- Low Glycemic Index: Ideal for diabetes management.
- Climate Resilient: Grow in arid soils with less water, resistant to pests.
- Cultural Revival: Once neglected, now being reintroduced into mainstream diets.
Millets are not just food; they are a health movement. Dr. Khadar Vali’s work has shown that these humble grains can reverse chronic diseases and restore harmony between food and health. India, as the millet capital of the world, has both a responsibility and an opportunity to lead this revival.
Eating millets is not only a personal health choice — it is an act of cultural pride, environmental sustainability, and preventive healthcare.