Introduction
‘National Engineers Day 15th September’23 is just around the corner in India and it is the perfect occasion to recognize and celebrate the incredible contribution of engineers to our society. In this article – we will discuss the significance of Engineers Day as well as some interesting examples or engineering achievements that changed the course of engineering history.
Engineers Day is a time of reflection and Inspiration for the upcoming generation of engineers| So lets look at the examples and significance of this day and understand why this day is so important for the engineering community.
The History of India National Engineering Day
India’s National Engineering Day is celebrated on 15 September to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, a prominent Indian engineer, scholar and politician. This day was first celebrated in 1968 to recognize the extraordinary contribution of Sir Visvesvaraya, who was not only an accomplished engineer but also served as the Dewan of Mysore State (now Karnataka). During his tenure as Diwan he played an important role in the industrial and economic development of the region.
Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya - A Life of Engineering Excellence
Biography - Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya
Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya (15 September 1860 – 14 April 1962), also known by his initials MV, was an Indian civil engineer, administrator and politician who served as the 19th Dewan of Mysore from 1912 to 1918. He is one of the leading civil engineers of India whose birthday, 15 September, is celebrated every year as Engineers Day in India, Sri Lanka and Tanzania.
Sir Visvesvaraya was born in Muddenahalli, a small village in the Kolar district of Karnataka, India. He was the son of Sanskrit scholar and Ayurvedic physician Mokshagundam Srinivasa Sastri and Venkachamma. He studied at the Central College of Bengaluru and the Engineering College of Pune, where he graduated as an engineer in 1881.
After graduating, sir Visvesvaraya worked as an assistant engineer in the Public Works Department of Bombay. Sir Visvesvaraya later became involved in the Indian irrigation system and worked on several major irrigation projects, including the Krishna Raja Sagar Dam in Mysore, one of them. He was also responsible for designing the |flood protection system| in “Hyderabad.
In 1912, Sir Visvesvaraya was appointed Dewan of Mysore. In this role – he oversaw a period of rapid development in the state, which included the construction of dams, canals, roads and railways. He also initiated many social welfare measures such as the establishment of schools and hospitals|
Sir Visvesvaraya was an outstanding engineer and politician who contributed significantly to the development of India | His work on the “Krishna Raja Sagar Dam” one of India’s largest dams made him most famous. He had also contributed – to the irrigation Projects and water conservation||
Sir Visvesvaraya received many accolades, including India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna in 1955 and Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE) in 1915. At the age of 101, he died in 1962.
Engineering Achievements Over the Years by Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya
- Krishna Raja Sagar Dam – This dam is located on the Kaveri River in Mysore, and is one of the largest dams in India that irrigates a large part of the country.
- Flood-protection system in Hyderabad: This system protects the city of Hyderabad from floods. Which is one of the most effective flood-protection systems in India.
- High Dams: Sir Visvesvaraya was the first engineer to build high dams in India. Krishna Raja Sagar Dam is one of them.
- Steel gates for dams: Sir Visvesvaraya invented steel gates for dams. These gates help control the flow of water in dams and prevent floods.
- Hydroelectric Power Plants – Sir Visvesvaraya built many hydroelectric power plants in India and These plants provide electricity to a large number of people.
- Irrigation Systems – Sir Visvesvaraya designed and built many irrigation systems in India. These systems provide irrigation with water – which boosts agricultural output |
- Roads and Railways Projects
- Schools and Hospitals and many more examples are there,
A genuine visionary who made a significant contribution to India’s development “Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya” He serves as a model for engineers everywhere.
Lates Engineering Achievements
Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan): – In 2013, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) achieved a historic milestone with the successful launch of “Mangalyaan” India’s first interplanetary mission to Mars. This made India the fourth space agency globally to reach Mars and demonstrated India’s technological prowess in space exploration|
Konkan Railway: –The “Konkan Railway” a feat of engineering, connects India’s west coast by traversing treacherous terrain through tunnels and bridges. Its construction required creative engineering approaches and is evidence of Indias capacity to get around geographical obstacles||
Tata Nano: – The Tata Nano is a car that was designed to be affordable for the masses. Tata Nano is the cheapest car in the world.
COVID-19 vaccines: – Researchers have developed several COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, including Covaxin and Covishield vaccines. With the help of these vaccines, lakhs of people were saved from the virus.
The “Chandrayaan-3 mission : – the third in a series of lunar exploration missions by the Indian Space Research Organisation, is the most recent example of India’s successes demonstrating the value of engineering. Part of a series. It was launched on July 14 – 2023, by the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Srihari Kota, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Latest Engineering Trends and Sustainability
Be it renewable energy, health care technology and infrastructure development, India is making progress in various engineering fields. Notable achievements include the construction of the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue, and the development of the Sardar Patel COVID Care Centre, one of the world’s largest temporary healthcare facilities, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Very important India is looking for future technology and not only starting to focus on it but also starting to contribute to the environment, to create a sustainable building, such as Net Zero Energy Building, Green Building ,Modular construction, 3D printing technology is increasing day by day. Day by day it is being overcome or I can say we are also finding solutions to deal with the effects of climate change and air pollution on the environment.
Notable Civil Engineers in India
- Vishwanath Karandikar : – He was a pioneer in the field of irrigation engineering. He designed and built several dams and canals, including the Mula-Mutha Irrigation Project.
- Burjorji Naoroji Engineer : – He was a railway engineer who played a major role in the development of Indian Railways. He designed and built many bridges and tunnels including Howrah Bridge in Kolkata.
- LT Muthuswami Iyengar : – He was a structural engineer who designed many iconic buildings in India, including the Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata and the Secretariat Building in Chennai.
Along with civil engineers – there are many others who have made significant contributions to the field – their work helping shape Indias development and making a lasting impact on the world.
Conclusion
India National Engineering Day is a day to celebrate not only the legacy of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya but also the incredible engineering achievements of India It is a reminder  of how engineering impacts our society and how it may impact the future. As we celebrate this day. we honor the spirit of innovation, problem solving and progress adopted by engineers. It is a day to inspire future – generations to continue the tradition of engineering excellence and contribute to the   advancement of our nation.
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