Engineers day (15 September )- Birthday of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya

Today September 15,  birthday of  Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya the  eminent engineer  is celebrated as Engineers day in India.

Visvesvaraya was born on September 15 1860 in a village known as Muddinahalli in Chikballapur Taluk, Kolar District Karnataka. He  completed BA from Madras university in 1881 then  Civil engineering graduation from Pune Collage of Engineering in 1883 with Govt scholarship.  In 1883 he started his career in Public Work Department Mumbai as an Assistant engineer, later joined Indian irrigation commission.

His patented design “Automatic weir water flood gates” for Khadakwasla dam Pune (in 1903) to safeguard the dam by reducing suction load, was subsequently incorporated in many other places also.

He was the designer and chief engineer for the construction of Krishna Raja Sagar Dam across Kaveri River, the biggest one in Asia at that time. Sri Visvesvaraya was instrumental in laying the foundation and development of numerous industrial social and educational ventures like Mysore Soap Factory, Parasitoide laboratory, Mysore Iron & Steel Works (now known as Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Limited), Bangalore Agricultural University, State Bank of Mysore, The Century Club, Mysore Chambers of Commerce, Sri Jayachamarajendra Polytechnic Institute, University of Mysore etc.

In 1950 he was awarded with the title ” Knight Commander of Indian empire” by British Govt for his invaluable contributions to the public. In 1955 the nation paid tributes to him by conferring the biggest civil award “Bharat Ratna”.

In 12 April 1962 Visvesvaraya passed away from the world of technology. “Men die but his ideas never”.  His innovative ideas, creativity and dedicated efforts for the development of the country keep him alive in the heart of millions.

Visvesvaraya said “India Doesn’t Want Mass Production but Production by Masses “