Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya: Indian Civil Engineer, Statesman.
In India, every year, 15th September is celebrated as Engineer’s Day as a tribute to Indian engineering icon Bharat Ratna Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya. He was a civil engineer, statesman, and the 19th Diwan of Mysore.
Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya was born on 15th September 1861 in a Telugu Brahmin Family in Muddenahalli. He attended primary school in Chickballapur and high school in Bangalore. In 1881, he received a bachelor’s degree in Arts from Central College Bangalore, then enrolled at the College of Engineering Pune. He received a Licentiate in Civil Engineering (LCE) which is equivalent to a Diploma in Civil Engineering (DCE) from the University of Bombay/Mumbai.
After finishing the engineering, M. Visvesvaraya joined the reputed PWD office in Mumbai. He served as an assistant engineer. Later he joined the Indian irrigation commission, where he was advised to create a plan that would supply water from river Sindhu to Sukkur town.
His most significant project was the construction of the famous Krishna Raja Sagara Dam. He served as Chief Engineer for this project and was appointed same for the Mysore State.
He was the chief builder of the Hyderabad town flood control scheme. When Hyderabad city was under severe flood threat, Sir Visvesvaraya was appointed as the special consultant engineer to save the city from the flood. His exceptional engineering practice protected Visakhapatnam port from coastal erosion.
Sir M. Visvesvaraya developed the block method. He designed the floodgates first constructed at Pune’s Khadakwasla reservoir in 1903, which got patented in his name.
In 1955, the Government of India awarded Sir M. Visvesvaraya Bharat Ratna because of his excellent contribution to society.
Important positions held by Sir M. Visvesvaraya:
Asst. Engineer, Bombay Govt Service in 1884.
Chief Engineer – Hyderabad State.
Chief Engineer – Mysore State.
Secretary to the Railways.
President of Education and Industrial Development Committees, Mysore.
In 1912, he became Dewan of Mysore.
Chairman – Bhadravati Iron & Steel Works.
Member of the Governing Council of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
Member of Back Bay Enquiry Committee, London.
In 1923, he was President of the session held by the Indian Science Congress.
As an Engineer par distinction:
Sir M. Visvesvaraya was chief engineer during the construction project of Krishna Raja Sagara Dam built over the Kaveri River.
Many dams built in Bombay are still functional.
The Sri Jayachamaraja Polytechnic Institute of Bangalore has started on the recommendation of Sir Visvesvaraya.
He had also invented Block System. It was a system of automated doors that closed in the conditions of overflow.
Mysore University, which is a matter of great pride for the people of Mysore, was established because of the conviction and will of Sir M. Visvesvaraya.
