15 September – Celebrating Engineer’s day – remembering Bharat Ratna – Father of Modern Engineering- Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya

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Greetings for the day 🙂Life is Beautiful 🙂🙂

Knowledge-Junction wishes to you all – HAPPY ENGINEER’S DAY

“The way to build a nation is to build a good citizen” – Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya

Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya

1. Engineer’s Day is celebrated in India on September 15 every year to honor the contributions of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, a pioneering Indian engineer, scholar, and statesman.
2. This day marks his birthday and is a tribute to his immense contributions to engineering, infrastructure development, and nation-building.
3. He was a visionary who played a key role in modernizing Mysore State (now Karnataka), where he contributed to the creation of industries, institutions, and infrastructure that laid the foundation for future development.
4. Engineer’s Day serves as a reminder of the vital role that engineers play in shaping the future by finding practical solutions to real-world challenges.
5. Sir M. Visvesvaraya is often regarded as the “Father of Modern Engineering” in India.
6. His work laid the foundation for many of India’s major irrigation and infrastructure projects.
7. Sir Visvesvaraya was recognized internationally for his work in civil engineering, earning an honorary membership from the London Institution of Civil Engineers.
8. He was awarded several honorary doctorates from prestigious universities in India, such as the University of Mysore, University of Bombay, and several other institutions, in recognition of his achievements in engineering and contributions to education and public service.
9. He invented and patented an innovative system of automatic weir water floodgates, which was first installed at the Khadakwasla Dam in Pune.
10. He served as the Diwan (Chief Minister) of Mysore from 1912 to 1919, during which he focused on industrialization and the modernization of the state.
11. In 1917, he helped in founding the Government Engineering College at Bangalore and was later named the Visvesvaraya College of Engineering in his honor.
12.  In 1915, he was knighted as the Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE) by the British for his work and contribution to society.
13. His policies helped Mysore become one of the most progressive states in India at the time.
14.  In 1955, he was awarded by the Government of India with India’s highest honor ‘Bharat Ratna‘ for his persistent work in the fields of engineering and education.
15. He was also known as the “Father of Modern Mysore State”. He passed away in 1962 but his achievements and contributions are remembered and celebrated to date.
16. His birth anniversary is observed as Engineer’s Day in Sri Lanka and Tanzania.

“The scientist discovers a new type of material or energy and the engineer discovers a new use for it“. – Gordon Lindsay Glegg

“Engineers will often make their own issues if there are no challenges that are readily available“. – Scott Adams 

Books written By Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya

Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya was not only an engineer but also a visionary thinker and writer. He authored several books and reports that reflected his ideas on economic development, industrialization, and public policy. Here are some notable works written by him:

1. “Nation Building: A Five-Year Plan for the Provinces” (1937)
2. “Unemployment in India: Its Causes and Cure” (1932)
3. “Memoirs of My Working Life” (1951)
4. “Reconstructing India” (1920)

“Remember, your work may be only to sweep a railway crossing, but it is your duty to keep it so clean that no other crossing in the world is as clean as yours“. – Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya

Awards given to Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya

Indian honors

• Bharat Ratna (1955): India’s highest civilian honor, awarded for his invaluable contributions to the engineering and development of the country.
• Indian Science Congress President (1923): He was elected to preside over the Indian Science Congress for a year.
• Honorary Fellow: He was given an Honorary Fellowship by the Institute of Town Planners, India, in 1953. 

British honors

• Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE) (1911): This title was conferred by King Edward VII.
• Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE) (1915): King George V knighted him for his services, earning him the title “Sir”. 

Academic and Professional Recognition

• Honorary Degrees: He received several honorary degrees from different Indian universities, including a Doctorate in Law (LLD) from Mysore University in 1948 and a D.Litt from Andhra University in 1953.
• Honorary Memberships and Fellowships:
  • Institution of Civil Engineers, London.
  • Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

Other tributes

• Commemorative stamp: In 1960, on his 100th birthday, India Post released a postage stamp in his honor.
• Engineer’s Day: His birthday, September 15, is celebrated as Engineer’s Day in India to recognize his legacy.
• University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering: The engineering college he founded in Bangalore was renamed in his honor.

“Efficient managers, well-equipped industries, trained technologists and skilled workmen constituted the true wealth of the nation”. – Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya

Thank You 🙂Have a Great Time Ahead 🙂