Every year thousands of engineering graduates pass out of various colleges across India. But not many would know that today is celebrated as Engineer’s Day in India. And fewer still would know that September 15 is the birthday of renowned engineer Bharat Ratna Sir M Visvesvaraya.
Mokshanagundam Visvesvaraya was born to Telugu-speaking parents who had migrated to Muddenhalli in present day Karnataka. After obtaining a BA from the University of Madras, he completed his engineering studies at the College of Science in Pune. He served as the chief engineer during the construction of the Krishna Sagar dam on the Cauvery river, near Mysore.
He was the chief designer of the flood protection system in Hyderabad and played a significant role in protecting Vishakapatnam from sea erosion. He also designed a system of automatic weir water floodgates which was first installed in 1903 at the Khadakvasla reservoir near Pune. The dams built by him are still functional and are testimony to his skill and brilliance.
With his vision and dedication, Sir Vivesvaraya has made some exceptional contributions to India. Karnataka owes most of its industrial development to this man who has played a key role in the establishment of the Mysore University, State Bank of Mysore, Bhadravathi Iron and Steel Works, the Mysore Chamber of Commerce, among other prominent institutes. He also served as the Diwan of Mysore between 1912 and 1919.
Sir Visvesvaraya was known for his punctuality, stamina, perfection, commitment, courage and fearlessness. Owing to his contributions he was honoured with the highest state award of India, the Bharat Ratna in the year 1955. He belongs to that small band of eminent Indians whose ideas and achievements have been among the truly creative and formative forces of modern India.
To mark Engineer’s day, national organisations like the Institution of Engineers conducts meets and events on this occasion. A theme of national importance is chosen by every year by the national council of the Institution and deliberated at its various state and local centres to educate the engineering fraternity in general and the society in particular.
The 44th Engineers’ Day being observed this year is dedicated to the theme “Engineering Preparedness for Disaster Management”.