Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya – A Revered Figure in Indian History

Throughout history, numerous individuals have made significant contributions to civil engineering, but few have had as profound an impact as Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya. A revered figure in Indian history, Visvesvaraya was not only a distinguished engineer but also a scholar and statesman. In his honor, September 15 is celebrated annually as Engineer’s Day in India. He is often referred to as “The Father of Indian Civil Engineering” due to his pivotal role in shaping the country’s infrastructure.

Born on September 15, 1860, near Bangalore, Visvesvaraya faced adversity early in life, losing his father at the age of 15. Despite these challenges, he excelled in his studies, attending high school in Bangalore and later earning a degree in civil engineering from the prestigious College of Engineering in Pune.

Visvesvaraya’s career began at the Public Works Department (PWD) of Mumbai, where he quickly made a name for himself. He developed an innovative system of automatic weir water floodgates, first installed at the Khadakvasla Reservoir in 1903. This system was so effective that it was later implemented at the Tigra Dam in Gwalior and the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) Dam, which he supervised from concept to completion. The KRS Dam created the largest reservoir in Asia at the time.

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Visvesvaraya’s expertise was sought internationally, leading him to Aden to design a successful water supply and drainage system. He also developed a flood protection system for Hyderabad and devised plans to safeguard Visakhapatnam port from sea erosion. His contributions extended to road construction between Tirumala and Tirupati and the establishment of the Government Engineering College in Bangalore in 1917, now known as the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering.

Visvesvaraya’s work has left a lasting legacy, earning him recognition in both educational and engineering communities. The College of Engineering in Pune, where he studied, has honored him with a statue, commemorating his extraordinary contributions to civil engineering.

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