Sir Mokshagundam Visweswaraiah ೂೕ ಗುಂಡಂ ೆ ೕಶ ರಯ

Born

September 15, 1860

Muddenahalli, Chikballapur Taluk, Chikballapur District,

Karnataka

Died April 14, 1962 (aged 101)

Bangalore

Occupation Engineer, Diwan of Mysore

Sir Mokshagundam Visweswaraiah, KCIE (other spellings include Visvesvaraya,

Visweswaraiah, Vishweshwariah; Kannada: ೕ ೂೕ ಗುಂಡಂ

ೆ ೕಶ ರಯ ; 15 September 1860 - 14 April 1962) was an eminent

Indian engineer and statesman. He is a recipient of the Indian republic's highest

honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1955. He was also knighted by the British for his

myriad contributions to the public good. Every year, 15th September is celebrated

as the Engineer's Day in India in his memory and is a public holiday in some

places, especially his birth state Karnataka.

Biography Early years Sir M. V. was born to Srinivasa Sastry and Venkachamma at Muddenahalli

village, Chikkaballapur Taluk, Chikballapur District of present-day Karnataka, in

what was then the princely state of Mysore. His father Srinivasa Sastry was a

Sanskrit scholar and an authority on the Hindu scriptures, besides being an

Ayurvedic practitioner. Sir M. V.'s ancestors actually hailed from the vilzxvxclage

of Mokshagundam near Giddalur in the Prakasam District of present-day Andhra

Pradesh; they had migrated to Mysore state perhaps three centuries ago. The

family name "Mokshagundam", preserves the memory of this distant association.

The young Visweswaraiah lost his father at the age of 15. The family was

resident at Kurnool of Andhra Pradesh when this calamity befell them; they

moved back to Muddenahalli immediately thereafter. Sir M. V. attended primary

school at Chikballapur and high school at Bangalore. He earned his B.A. from

Madras University in 1881 and later studied civil engineering at the College of

Science, Pune, now known as the College of Engineering, Pune (COEP).

Career as engineer Upon graduating as an engineer, Visweswaraiah took up a job with the Public

Works Department (PWD) of Bombay now known as Mumbai, and was later

invited to join the Indian Irrigation Commission. He implemented an extremely

intricate system of irrigation in the Deccan area. He also designed and patented a

system of automatic weir water floodgates, which were first installed in 1903, at

the Khadakvasla reservoir near Pune. These gates were employed to raise the

flood supply level of storage in the reservoir to the highest level likely to be

attained by its flood, without causing any damage to the dam. Based on the

success of these gates, the same system was installed at the Tigra dam in

Gwalior and the Krishnaraja Sagara (KRS) dam in Mysore.

Visweswaraiah achieved celebrity status when he designed a flood protection

system to protect the city of Hyderabad from floods. He was also instrumental in

developing a system to protect Visakhapatnam port from sea erosion.

Sir M. V. supervised the construction of the KRS dam across the Kaveri River

from concept to inauguration. This dam created the biggest reservoir in Asia at

the time it was built. Sir MV was rightly called the "Father of modern Mysore

state" (now Karnataka): he was responsible for building the very first electricity

generation plant in Asia at Shivanasamudram near Mysore in 1894. During his

period of service with the Government of Mysore state, he was responsible for

founding, under the aegis of that government, of the Mysore Soap factory, the

Parasitoide laboratory, the Bhadravati Steel factory, the SJP Polytechnic Institute,

the Bangalore Agricultural University, the State Bank of Mysore, the Mysore

sugar mills and numerous other industrial ventures. He also encouraged private

investment in industry during his tenure as Diwan of Mysore. He was known for

sincerity, time management and dedication to the cause. He was also

instrumental in charting out the plan for road construction between Thirumala and

Tirupati.

As the Diwan of Mysore

After taking voluntary retirement in 1908, Visweswaraiah was appointed Diwan,

or First Minister, of the princely state of Mysore, one of the largest and most

important in India. With the support of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, Maharaja of

Mysore, Visweswaraiah made an arguably unprecedented contribution as Diwan

to the all-round development of the State. Not only the Krishnaraja Sagara dam

and reservoir, but also the hydroelectric projects at Shivanasamudram, the steel

mills at Bhadravathi, the Sri Jayachamarajendra Polytechnic Institute (SJP) at

Bangalore, the University of Mysore and many other industries and public works

owe their inception or active nurture to him. He was instrumental in the founding

of the "Government Engineering College" at Bangalore in 1917, one of the first

engineering institutes in India. This institution was later named the "University

Viswesvarayya College of Engineering" (UVCE) after its founder; it remains one

of the most reputed institutes of engineering in Karnataka.

Honours

The Bharat Ratna medal While he was Diwan of Mysore, Visvesvarayya was made Knight Commander of

the Order of the Indian Empire by the British for his myriad contributions to the

public good. After India attained independence, Sir M. Visvesvarayya was given

the nation's highest honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1955.

The Knight Commander Of The Indian Empire medal Sir M.V. was honoured with honorary membership of the international Institution

of Civil Engineers (based in London) and a fellowship of the Indian Institute of

Science (based in Bangalore). He also was awarded several honorary doctoral

degrees like D.Sc., LL.D., D.Litt. from various Universities in India. He was

president of the 1923 session of the Indian Science Congress.

The family temple at Muddenahalli

The Hanuman deity discovered by Sir M. V.'s mother. It is

now at the Hanuman Temple at Muddenahalli There is an interesting true story about how Sir M.V.'s mother discovered a stone

that had an image carved into it. One day, when she was returning home by

bullock cart, she noticed a stone lying in a field at the edge of the road. A few

days later, she found the stone still there. After several trips past the stone, she

stopped the bullock cart one day and asked the villagers who the stone belonged

to. The villagers did not know who the stone belonged to nor how it had got there.

The stone was taken to her house and she had a temple constructed which exists

to this day.

Memorial at Muddenahalli

The Samadhi of Sir M.V. at Muddenahalli

There is a beautiful and very picturesque memorial of Sir M. V. located on the

family-owned land at Muddenahalli, with the Nandi Hills as a backdrop.

Institutions in his honour

Sir M Visvesvaraya Institute Of Technology (popularly known as Sir

M.V.I.T),Bangalore is named after Sir M.V.

The University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, Bangalore popularly

known as UVCE, is an engineering college affiliated to the Bangalore

University, established in the year 1917, by Bharat Ratna Sir M.

Visvesvaraya. The collge was renamed University Visvesvaraya College of

Engineering from its earlier name University College of Engineering,

Bangalore in honour of its illustrious founder Sir. M Visvesvaraya.

Visweswaraiah National Institute of Technology (V.N.I.T.), Nagpur

(Formerly Visvesvaraya Regional College of Engineering) was established

in the early 1960s in his honour. The college is among the elite 17 National

Institutes of Technology (Formerly Regional Engineering Colleges) in India

The Visweswaraiah Technological University, Belgaum, to which nearly all

engineering colleges in Karnataka are now affiliated

The Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum, Bangalore, set

up as part of his birth centenary celebrations

Vishweshwaraya Iron and Steel Limited, a public sector undertaking, in the

founding of which he was instrumental

His alma mater, the College of Engineering, Pune (COEP) has erected a statue

in his memory and honour on their campus in central Pune, immediately outside

the historic COEP administration building. Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mokshagundam_Visvesvarayya

BIO-DATA OF SIR.M.VISVESVARAYA

Important Milestones

15th Sept. 1861 : Born at Muddena Halli , Karntaka .

1871-1874 : Initial Education at Chikaballapur

1875 : Joined Weslian Mission School at Bangalore.

1881 : Passed B.A. in First Class at Central College of Bangalore

1881 : Joined Engineering College at Pune

1883 : Obtained his Engineering Degree with distinction in the whole

of Bombay Presidency.

1884 : Appointed as Asst.Engineer in P.W.D.Bombay Government

1884-1908 : Served Bombay Government till he became the

Superintending Engineer and took Voluntary retirement.

1909 : Special Chief Engineer in Hyderabad Government

1909-1912 : Chief Engineer and Secretary P.W.D. Government of Mysore

1912-1918 : Dewan of Mysore

1919-1959 : Served India in various advisory capacities

1962 14th April : Breathed his last at Bangalore

Achievements :

1886 : Designed water supply and sanitary system for Sakkur(Sindh

province) Nasik,Bombay province

1891 : Established Deccan Club at Pune in Association with

Sri.Mahadeva Govinda Ranade and Sri. Gopala Krishna

Gokhale

1899 : Designed a New System of Automatic Waste Weir Flood Gate

1901 : Introduced the Block System of Irrigation

1906 : Designed Drinking Water and Sanitary System for British

1908 : Usman Sagar and Himayat Sagar Reservoir project across

the river Moosi , Hyderabad

1909 : Prepared a Scheme for Flood Protection work and

underground drainage for Hyderabad City.

1912 : Preparation of Project report for Kannambadi Anicut across

river Cauvery

1913 : Started the State Bank of Mysore

1914 : Started Mechanical Engineering School at Bangalore.

1916 : Established Mysore University and the State Engineering

College in Bangalore

1918 : Approved the plan to establish Bhadravathi Iron & Steel

Works and a Number of Other Industries

1927 : Designed and Constructed Krishnarajasagar Reservoir.

Public Libraries were established in Bangalore & Mysore

1936 : Automobile Industry Plan was prepared.

1937 : Mahanadi flood control work in Orissa

1941 : Designed automatic Gate for Khadakwasla Reservoir Project

Establishment of All India Manufacturers' Organisation and

became President.

1942 : Established Sri.Jayachamarajendra Polytechnic at Bangalore

1952 : Selected proper site for a new Railway Bridge to river Ganga

in Bihar(Mokame). Promoting Construction of Sharavathi

Hydro-Electric Project. Establishment of Mysore Sandle Wood

Oil Factory Establishment of Mysore Central Industrial

workshop, Chrome leather factory etc. are also the

contribution of Sir.M.V.

Honours conferred on Sir.M.V.

1904 : Honorary Membership of London Institution of civil Engineers

1911 : C.I.E.,(Companion of the Indian empire) at Delhi Darbar

1915 : K.C.I.E(Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire)

1921 : D.Sc. - Calcutta University

1931 : LL.D.Bombay University.

1937 : D.LITT . Benares Hindu University

1943 : Elected as an Honorary Life Member of the Institution of

Engineers(India)

1944 : D.Sc.Allahabad University

1947 : D.Sc.Andhra University

1948 : Doctorate - LL.D.Mysore University

1953 : D.LITT - Andhra University

1953 : Awarded the Honorary Fellowship of the Institute of Town

planners, India

1955 : " Bharata Ratna" Award- Government of India

1958 : D.Sc. - Jadhavpur University Calcutta

1958 : Durga Prasad Khaitan Memorial Gold Medal by the Royal

Asiatic Society Council of Bengal

1959 : Fellowship of the Indian Institute of Science , Bangalore

Works of Sir.M.Visvesvaraya

KARNATAKA

Chief Engineer 1909 to 1912

Dewan 1912 to 1918

1. K.R.S. Dam at Krishnarajasagar

2. Visvesvaraya Iron & Steel Works at Bhadravathi

3. State Bank of Mysore

4. Karnataka Chamber of Commerce

5. Mysore Economic Conference

6. Government Soap Factory & Sandal Oil Factory

7. Century Club & Ladies Club, Bangalore

8. Modern Hindu Hotel

9. Established University of Mysore also Visvesvaraya College of Engineering

10. Mechanical Engineering School

11. Agriculture School at Hebbal

12. Sri.Chamarajendra Technical School , Mysore

13. The Bangalore Press

14. Efficiency audit was started

15. Village improvement schemes

16. Malnad Improvement Committee

17. Civic & School Progress Association. BOMBAY

Engineer 1884- 1908

1. Introduced the block system of Irrigation

2. Designed a new system of systematic water weir flood gate

3. Established Deccan Club in Poona

HYDERABAD

1. Schemes for flood protection and drainage for Hyderabad

2. Remodeling of Hyderabad city

BIHAR & ORISSA Engineer 1884- 1908

1. Selected site for a railway bridge to the river Ganga in Bihar

2. Hirakud enquiries

Water supply schemes - for all India ( 21 places )

Ahmednagar Bhavnagar Gwalior Nagpur

Akalkot Bhopal Hyderabad Nasik

Baroda Bombay Indore Poona

Bangalore Dharwar Kolhapur Rajkot

Belgaum Goa Morvi Sangli & Surat

Top OUTSIDE INDIA

1. Aden-water supply and drainage

2. Sukur Barage Project Survey

Sri. M.V.'s Guiding Principles

Never to use One's Official position to bestow favour on his relatives

An ounce of neatness is equal to a ton of efficiency A well dressed person does

things in a much better way than a slovenly one

That a person who is neat in his dress can be clean and straight in his life.

Industrialise or perish

Always work hard.

Always support a worthy cause at any cost.

Nature never excuses Lapses.

He never tolerated slipshod work! He wanted things to be precise and not vague

He was very punctual and expected everybody to be so.

He never lost an opportunity to stimulate drive, action, alertness and hustle in

everybody who happened to meet him.

Five hours for nature, seven for a very busy man and nine means lazy was his

rational budget for sleep.

Hard work performed in a disciplined manner will in most cases keep the worker

fit and also prolong his life.

Every man who has become great owes his achievements to incessant toil.

The way to build a nation is to build a good citizen. The majority of the Citizens

should be efficient of good character and posses a reasonably high sense of

duty.

Leaders should be truly patriotic and should believe in rectitude of conduct, Men

of Merit and capacity should be the criteria for all special jobs and government

appointments.

Genius is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.

Standard of efficiency is not determined by what we wish but by what we cannot

tolerate

In essentials unity, In non essentials liberty, In all things charity.

Duty before comfort was his ideal

He believed in the famous maxim "Everything worth doing is worth doing well".

Seek opportunities for service without waiting for a call.

If we are to progress we have to implicitly enforce the American methods of "

Hustle" and German methods of hard work.

Remember God helps those who help themselves.

He did not like to be under any one's obligation

He was punctual not only in keeping his engagement but also in all other

respects.

The note books and pencils were his inseparable companions.

He was in a hurry, in a very great hurry to catch up with the progressive

countries of the west on at least with Japan the rising sun of the east.

Live within your income, have a purpose to give you any pleasure.

He has said that it is worth while in life to make a pleasure of duty than a duty of

pleasure.