Sir Frederic Nicholson is called the father of cooperative movement in India.In March 1892, Mr. Frederick Nicholson was deputed by the Governor of Madras Presidency to study the working of cooperatives in Europe and suggest the  possibility of introducing in his Presidency, a system of agricultural or other land banks. He submitted his report in two volumes in 1895 and 1897. He summed up his report in two words.” Find Raiffesisen”. His recommendations were inspired by the credit societies in Germany. So it won't be wrong to say that India drew its inspiration for the cooperative movement from Germany.