Every year the country celebrated Engineer’s Day on 15 September to acknowledge the contribution of eminent engineer Mokshagundam Visvesvarya. Born on 15th September 1861 in a village called Muddenahalli in Karnataka, after completing his under graduation in Bachelors of Arts (BA) from University of Madras he changed track and went to pursue civil engineering from College of Science in Pune, both his parents were Sanskrit scholars. Visvesvarya’s career spanned over 34 years with his job as an assistant engineer at a Public Works Department of Government in Bombay. He later joined Mysore service as a chief engineer and had contributed to various projects in state of Maharashtra, Odisha, Mysore and Hyderabad.

Some of his contribution includes the block system of irrigation in Deccan cannels in year 1899, irrigation system with water floodgates at the Khadakvasla reservoir similar system was later installed at Gwalior’s Tigra Dam and Mysuru’s Krishnaraja Sagar Dam (KSD) the latter of which created one of the largest reservoir in Asia that time. Apart from his contribution in the field of Engineering he was also called the ‘’precursor of economic planning in India’’, as per the Institute of Engineers India (IEI). His books ‘’Reconstructing India and ‘Planned economy of India’ were published in 1920 and 1934 respectively. He was awarded Knight in 1915 while serving as Diwan of Mysore and was also awarded with Bharat Ratan in 1955. The eminent engineer breathed his last breath in the year of 1962.

Various leaders of country today paid homage to the Sir M Visvesvarya. Senior ministers from PM Modi’s cabinet paid heed to the eminent engineer. Union Minister Amit Shah described him as great engineer and statesman and greeted India’s ‘’talented and skilled engineers who have contributed significantly in the development of nation’’. Railway and Industry Minister Piyush Goyel wrote on his twitter handle ‘’Tribute to Bharat Ratna Sir M Visvesvarya on his birth anniversary an exemplar engineer and a great nation builder, he played a crucial role in expanding Railway lines in part of southern India’’. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also tweeted and paid heed ‘’Remembering Bharat Ratan M Visvesvarya on his birthday celebrated as Engineer’s Day extraordinary contribution to infrastructure building during pre and post-independence India in the Deccan, Mysore and Pune’’. Rajasthan Chief Minister from Congress Ashok Ghelot also paid tribute to prominent engineer.

Tributes to prolific engineer & statesman, Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya on his jayanti.

On #EngineersDay, I salute our talented & skilled engineers who have contributed significantly in the development of nation. India is proud of their pioneering works all across the world. pic.twitter.com/kW19M5nJpW

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 15, 2020

Remembering Bharat Ratna M. Visvesvaraya on his birthday celebrated as #EngineersDay. Extraordinary contribution to infrastructure building- during Pre & Post independence India in the Deccan, Mysore, Pune etc. Singular contribution to excellence in engineering. Inspirational.

— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) September 15, 2020

Tributes to legendary engineer,Bharat Ratna, Sh M. Visvesvaraya on his birth anniversary & best wishes to all engineers on #EngineersDay.
Our engineers contribute immensely in nation building wd their ingenuity & innovations & bring abt transformational changes,leading to growth.

— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) September 15, 2020

M Visvesvarya was the first in India to think about irrigation techniques and flood disaster management. He became famous for his pioneering role in flood control measures. He was a founder of Government Engineering College now known as University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering.