BENGALURU : In the heart of Bengaluru lies a 12.5-acre campus where thousands of students, who have gone on to become eminent names, were at one point seated in the century-old college. Once known as the best engineering college, University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE) is working hard at regaining the title. In the previous budget, an amount of `25 crores was allocated to the college, which was used to give a facelift to the engineering college – the new mechancial block, iconic block and other basic amenities – the only one under Bangalore University.
“We have been working on getting it an autonomous status,” says KR Venugopal, vice-chancellor of Bangalore University, former principal and an alumnus of the batch. Located in one straight line – Mayo Hall, High Court and UVCE – the three stalwart institutions will also bear resemblance to one another in colour with the facelift.
BACK IN TIME
To give relief to the public affected by the great famine of 1882, rural irrigation and other projects including the laying of railway line between Bengaluru and Mysuru were undertaken. Mysore state was well-known for irrigation works. In the early days, Public Works Department was manned by importing some engineers from outside the state. The posts of Chief Engineer and Deputy Chief Engineer were held by European officers, some of whom were from the Corpos of Royal Engineers of the British Army.
When Sir M Visvesvaraya took over as Chief Engineer, he submitted proposals for the rapid development of irrigation, power resources and to start industries. All these activities gave rise to a great demand for skilled workers and supervisors. To meet this demand, the government in 1913 started the Mechanical Engineering School in Bengaluru with late SV Shetty, as its superintendent.
It came into existence because the Engineering College in Madras (now Chennai) and Poona (now Pune) were not able to provide seats for the number of students for whom Mysuru wanted provision for. In a speech by Sir MV in 1955, he mentioned that they wanted “admission for ten students annually but the authorities in Chennai and Pune could provide only for two or three. Thereupon, it was decided to start a college of engineering in Bengaluru.”
According to a government order, the college was only a temporary measure to offer tuition and training only in two branches of engineering – civil and mechanical. But only few had expected that such far reaching proposals as to establishing a university and an engineering college would run a smooth course.The required buildings were put up between Cenotaph Road and the Post office Road. This was the beginning of the present main building of the college which faces KR Circle. Only a frontage and a short length of the wings on either side were constructed. The central portion which now houses the library was also constructed at the same time.
KR Sheshachar, an illustrious alumni of Madras University was appointed as the first principal. He modelled the courses on the Madras pattern with some modifications. It was the fifth engineering college to be established in the country. After the formation of Bangalore University in 1964, UVCE became one of the Constituent colleges of Bangalore University.
FUTURE TENSE
Today, the centenary institution led by Dr HN Ramesh as principal, has a strength of around 4,700 UG, PG, Ph.D students pursuing their degrees at UVCE. “We are requesting for another `100 crores to uplift the college. We’re also working on making it an autonomous and deemed university,” Venugopal says, adding, “If alumni, philanthropists and industrialists donate large sums, we can make the place even better.”
THE JOURNEY
1913: Mechanical engineering School established by
Sir M Visvesvaraya
1917: School of Engineering converted to Government College of Engineering with intake of 40 students in civil and mechanical engineering. Classes held in the PWD building affiliated to Mysore University.
1921: First batch of 29 students graduated as engineers. College became the first institution in India to offer a specialised course in electrical engineering
1925: College was named as University College of Engineering
1964: Affiliation of college changed from Mysore University to Bangalore University
1968: UVCE turned 50 and celebrated the golden jubliee
1971: College renamed Visvesvaraya College of Engineering
1972: Visvesvaraya College of Engineering changed to University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering
1974: Civil engineering department shifted from KR Circle to Jnana Bharthi campus
2004: New independent department for the exiting computer science engineering studies established
2010: World Bank Assistance TEQIP Phase II granted
2017: For UVCE’s centennial, release of special postal envelope. Civil works of college initiated
2018: New building for Mechanical Lecture complex, foundation stone by former CM Siddaramaiah