Engineer's Day

In India, Engineers' Day is celebrated on 15 September every year.

The day is the birthday of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya, an eminent Indian engineer (from College Of Engg., Pune (COEP)) and statesman born in Muddenahalli-Kanivenarayanapura in present-day Karnataka. He served as the chief engineer during construction of Krishna Raja Sagara on the Kaveri River near Mysore. He also built many dams in the Bombay presidency (present-day Maharashtra). The dams built by him are still functional today, a testimony to his brilliance, skill, honesty and dedication. So 15 September, Engineer's Day 2010, 150 years since a legend was born, is quite a remarkable tribute to the greatest Indian Engineer Bharat Ratna M. Visvesvarayya.

Bharat Ratna Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya (1860-1965) was called a wizard in engineering. He was also called the precursor of economic planning in India. He took an interest not in engineering but was capable of applying his talent to many allied matters connected with the development of the nation.

His learned discourse on economic planning in India, Planned Economy for India and Reconstructing India, was the first available document on the planning effort of the country and it is still held as the parent source matter for economic planners.

To commemorate the birthday of Bharat Ratna Sir M Visvesvaraya, many annual events take place in India. National level organizations like The Instituitions of Engineers (India) conduct meets and events on this occasion. Considering global awareness on climate change and realizing engineers' role in economic development and environmental responsibility, IEI is dedicating the 42nd Engineer's Day to ‘Engineering Solutions to Combat Climate Change’.

Internationally recognised for his genius in harnessing water resources, he was responsible for successful design and construction of several river dams, bridges and implementing irrigation and drinking water schemes all over India. He is still alive in people's hearts.

He served as the dewan of Mysore State and was considered to be the architect of the all-round development of Karnataka.

Among his most successful projects are the design and construction of the K.R. Sagar Dam and its adjoining Brindavan Gardens, turn-around of the Bhadravati Iron and Steel Works, setting up of the Mysore Sandalwood Oil Factory and the founding of the Bank of Mysore.

Young initiatives like "Nesting Ideas" through Why?Newton conducts nationwide events to capture engineering stories ('My Engineering Story') on this occasion. This effort is made to identify upcoming technologies, business ideas, promote social entrepreneurship and touch the emotional part of engineers' college life which everyone misses during their lifetime.

Regards,

BMS