Engineers’ Day 2024: On 15th September, Bharat Ratna Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya’s birthday is observed as Engineers’ day in India. Sri M Visvesvaraya contributed significantly in the field of Engineering and education. He played a key role in constructing reservoirs, dams, and hydropower projects of modern India. Hence, he is considered as one of the greatest nation-builders. As a chief engineer, he oversaw numerous architectural marvels’ construction like the Hyderabad flood protection system and the Krishna Raja Sagar dam in Karnataka.
Engineers’ Day: History
In 1968, the Government of India declared Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya’s birth anniversary as Engineer’s day. From that time, to honor and acknowledge all engineers who have contributed to building a modern and developed India, Engineer’s day is celebrated.
Engineers’ Day: Significance
In the year 1903, Sir Visvesvaraya designed and parented automatic barrier water flood gates, which is also called a Block system. This was first installed at the Khadakvasla reservoir in Pune.
Sir M Visvesvaraya was born in a small village near Chikkaballapur, Karnataka, in 1861. He completed his Bachelor of Arts at Madras University and studied Civil Engineering from Pune’s College of Science. He established Government Engineering College in the year 1917. Now, it is known as Bengaluru’s University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering.
Sri M Visvesvaraya As Role Model
Following a flood in Hyderabad, in 1908, then Nizam requested Sir M Visvesvaraya’s services to design a drainage system for the protection of Hyderabad from flooding. The engineer proposed the construction of storage reservoirs and also constructed a sewage farm outside Hyderabad to prevent Musi river pollution.
Awards
M Visvesvaraya was honored with the Bharat Ratna in 1955. He has also conferred the British Knighthood. From 1912-18, he served as Diwan of Mysore.