India celebrates National Engineers’ Day on September 15 every year to honour Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, one of India’s greatest engineers and a visionary. Born in a small village in Karnataka named Muddenahalli, Visvesvaraya’s early life was full of struggle, having lost his father at a young age. An exceptional student, he cleared engineering with flying colours and received a scholarship in Pune.
Visvesvaraya was renowned for his solution-oriented approach and played a pivotal role in shaping India’s infrastructure through his innovative and reformative work. He donned many hats, and apart from being a civil engineer, he was also an economist, statesman, and writer.
Mastermind behind India’s lifesaving reservoirs and urban planning revolution
After the catastrophic floods of 1908, which wreaked havoc in the city and claimed nearly 15,000 lives, the Nizam of Hyderabad sought Visvesvaraya’s expertise to prevent such a tragedy from recurring. His decision to construct two massive reservoirs, Osman Sagar (1920) and Himayat Sagar (1927), on the Musi and Esi rivers goes a long way in not only safeguarding the city from future floods but also providing drinking water for generations.
Another engineering marvel was the design of the Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir in Mysore, which played a crucial role in protecting the Visakhapatnam port from coastal erosion. He is also accredited with planning the city’s drainage and sanitation systems.
Honoured with Bharat Ratna and the title of ‘Sir’
Visvesvaraya’s invaluable contributions were recognized by King George V of Britain, who conferred the title of ‘Sir’ on M Visvesvaraya in 1915. He was also awarded the highest civilian honor of the country – Bharat Ratna in 1955.
Many prestigious institutions across India have been named in honor of Sir M. Visvesvaraya from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology in Nagpur to Visvesvaraya Technological University in Belagavi.
Significance of the Day
Engineers are the driving force behind India’s transformation, and shape the nation’s infrastructure and leading knowledge-driven innovation. From constructing vital dams, roads, and buildings to advancing digital transformation, they play a crucial role in building a modern nation, notes PIB.
PM Narendra Modi’s message on Engineer’s Day
“Today, on Engineers’ Day, I pay homage to Sir M. Visvesvaraya, whose brilliance left an indelible mark on India’s engineering landscape. I extend warm greetings to all engineers who, through their creativity and determination, continue to drive innovation and tackle tough challenges across sectors. Our engineers will continue playing a crucial role in the collective efforts to build a Viksit Bharat,” wrote the PM on his X account.