Sir M. Visvesvaraya: The Visionary Engineer Behind the National Engineering Day

Every year, on September 15th, India celebrates Engineers’ Day to honor the birth anniversary of one of its greatest visionaries, Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya. This day not only commemorates Sir M. Visvesvaraya’s remarkable life but also celebrates the spirit of engineering in India. Engineers across the country are recognized for their innovation and contributions to science and technology, following in the footsteps of Sir M. Visvesvaraya, who was renowned as a nation-builder, a great administrator, and an exceptional engineer.

Born on September 15th, 1861, in Muddenahalli, a small village in Karnataka, M. Visvesvaraya came from a modest Brahmin family. Despite financial hardships after the passing of his father, he completed his early education in Chickballapur and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Central College, Bangalore. His passion for engineering, however, led him to the prestigious College of Engineering, Pune, where he earned a degree in civil engineering in 1883.

After he became an Engineer, he contributed significantly to this field. His work was first recognized when he designed an innovative system of floodgates, which were installed at the Khadakwasla Reservoir near Pune and replicated in various other projects, like the Tigra Dam in Gwalior and the Krishna Raja Sagar Dam in Mysore. After this success, he also worked on various other projects outside India. He installed a water supply and drainage system in the British Colony of Aden (present-day Yemen). Following voluntary retirement in 1908, he toured industrialised nations and briefly worked for Nizam Osman Ali Khan, focusing on flood protection systems. His expertise also extended to developing flood protection for Hyderabad and safeguarding Visakhapatnam port from sea erosion.

Beyond his technical achievements, Visvesvaraya was a pioneer in nation-building. He was the Dewan of Mysore from 1912 to 1919. Under his leadership, Mysore saw remarkable advancements in various fields, including education, industry, and public health. He is also accredited as the founder of the Mysore Soap Factory and Iron & Steel Works, establishing the University of Mysore and initiating schemes to provide clean drinking water and better sanitation, improving the health of thousands of people.

For his immense contributions to the field of engineering and the development of the nation, M. Visvesvaraya was conferred as the Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE) by the British government in 1915. In 1955, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, acknowledging his lifetime of service to the nation. In 1968, to honour his memory and contributions, the Government of India declared September 15th as Engineers' Day. 

His life and work illustrate the power of engineering to transform societies, build nations, and uplift the lives of millions. His contributions, spanning over decades, have left a profound impact on India’s infrastructure, economy, and technological advancements.