Engineers’ Day 2023: Exploring the Legacy of M Visvesvaraya and the Engineering World
Engineers’ Day 2023 is dedicated to acknowledging the significant contributions of M Visvesvaraya in the realm of science and technology.
In India, Engineers’ Day is an annual celebration held on the 15th of September to pay homage to Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, often referred to as Sir MV. He stands as one of India’s pioneering civil engineers and was honored with the Bharat Ratna in 1955. National Engineers Day serves as a platform to commemorate the achievements of Sir MV and recognize the valuable contributions made by other engineers.
Also Read:- Engineering Excellence: Ten Quotes to Motivate and Encourage
This special day also serves as an opportunity to raise awareness regarding the significance of civil engineering and to commemorate the collective efforts of numerous civil engineers in the process of nation-building. Below, we provide additional information about the history, importance, and theme of Engineers’ Day.
In 1861, M Visvesvaraya was born into a Telugu family in Chikkaballapur, situated approximately 60 kilometers from Bengaluru, Karnataka. He commenced his early education in his hometown and subsequently enrolled in the University of Madras to pursue a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. However, he later changed his academic path and opted for a diploma program in civil engineering at the College of Science in Pune. Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya took up several complex engineering projects and became one of the most well-regarded engineers in India.Since his projects were immensely successful, he was sent to Yemen to study drainage and water supply systems by the Government of India.
Engineers Day: History
Engineers’ Day is observed on various dates in different parts of the world. In India, this significant day is celebrated annually on the 15th of September. The origins of National Engineers Day can be traced back to 1968 when it was first established in honor of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya’s birth anniversary. Since then, this day has been commemorated each year.
Although Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya passed away in 1962, he left behind a remarkable legacy of pioneering advancements in engineering technology. On National Engineers Day, we reflect on and celebrate some of Sir MV’s historic contributions that continue to inspire and shape the field of engineering.
Engineers Day: Contributions of Sir MV:
- Sir MV’s engineering and irrigation techniques were used to manage floods.
- In 1903, Sir MV designed and developed automatic floodgates, which were installed at the Khadakwasla reservoir, Pune.
- Sometime later, these automatic floodgates were also installed at the Krishnaraja Sagara in Mysuru and the Tigra Dam in Gwalior. Sir MV was the chief engineer in both of these projects.
- In 1908, he contributed to controlling the Musi river floods in Hyderabad by developing modern sewage systems.
- He contributed to the design of the road that links Tirumala and Tirupati.
- In 1917, Sir MV formed the Government Engineering College in Bengaluru, which was later renamed the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering.
- He received an Honorary Membership from the London Institution of Civil Engineers.
