Engineer's Day: Know About Visvesvaraya, One Of The Greatest Engineers

M Visvesvaraya Birth Anniversary: Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, popularly called 'Sir MV' was one of India's finest engineers. The birth anniversary of M Visvesvaraya, on September 15, is celebrated as Engineer's Day in India every year. He was born in 1861 to a Telugu family at Chikkaballapur, a little over 55 km from Bengaluru. Both his parents were well-known Sanskrit scholars. M Visvesvaraya lost his father early in life. He did his primary education in his hometown but later moved to Bengaluru for higher education. After completing his undergraduate degree in Arts, M Visvesvaraya changed track and went for a degree in civil engineering from the College of Engineering in Pune.

Engineer's Day 2020: Know About M Visvesvaraya

• M Visvesvaraya was an expert in irrigation techniques and flood disaster management 
• He became famous for his pioneering work in irrigation techniques and flood control
• One of M Visvesvaraya's key contributions was designing the 'automatic barrier water floodgates' - installed for the first time at the Khadakvasla Reservoir near Pune in 1903
• M Visvesvaraya served as the Diwan of Mysore, where he founded the Mysore Soap Factory, Bangalore Agricultural University, State Bank of Mysore and Mysore Iron and Steel Works
• In 1917, Sir MV founded the Government Engineering College, now known as University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering
• M Visvesvaraya was a member of the Governing Council of the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore
• Sir MV was also a member of the Governing Council of Tata Iron and Steel Company 
• As a fine engineer and statesman, M Visvesvaraya was made part of a committee constituted in 1917 to advise on the future of Indian States
• M Visvesvaraya was the architect of the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam, one of the biggest dams in India
• In 1955, M Visvesvaraya was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna for his immense contribution to the development of the country