Google is paying a tribute to Sir M Visvesvaraya today with a doodle. Fondly remembered as ‘father of engineers’ by many, M Visvesvaraya’s birthday is celebrated as Engineers Day all over the country.
The Google doodle shows M Visvesvaraya wearing a ‘Mysore petu’ with the iconic Krishna Raja Sagar dam.
Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya was born on 15 September 1860 in a Kannada speaking Brahmin family. He lost his father when he was 12.
After receiving his education in Chickballpur and Bangalore — it is said he walked over 60 kilometres to attend school — Visvesvaraya joined PWD Bombay and later the Indian Irrigation Commission.
Known for implementing the intricate system of irrigation in Deccan, automatic water floodgates at Khadkvasla reservoir, flood protection system for Hyderabad, Visvesvaraya is remembered most for his contribution to the construction of Krishna Raja Sagara Dam. He had supervised the construction of the dam that created the biggest reservoir in Asia when it was built.
Sir Visvesvaraya was known for his dedication and sincerity. He was appointed as Chief Engineer of Mysore in 1909 and was elevated as Diwan in 1912.
He was serving as the Diwan of Mysore when the Mysore Soap factory, Mysore Iron and Steel Works, Bangalore Agricultural University, Bank of Mysore, the Bangalore Press were founded. He is also credited with planning the Jayanagar area in Bangalore.
He was instrumental in the founding of Government Engineering college in Bengaluru. One of the first engineering Institutes in India, the college is now renamed as University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering to honour its founder.
In 1915, while he was serving as the Diwan of Mysore, he was knighted by the British for his services to the public. When India became independent, he was awarded Bharat Ratna- nation’s highest honour in 1955. He also served as the president of 1923 session of Indian Science Congress.
M Visvesvaraya penned his autobiography, “Memoirs of my Working Life” in 1951. He breathed his last in 1962.
Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum was constructed in the same year to honour his memory. It was inaugurated by the first Prime Minister of the country Pt Jawaharlal Nehru. Housing various scientific experiments, this museum is among the most popular tourist destinations of Bengaluru.