SIR MOKSHAGUNDAM VISVESVARAYA

Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya

Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya

"Progress in every country depends mainly on the education of its people. Without education, we are a nation of children. The difference between one man and another, apart from birth and social position, consists in the extent of knowledge, general and practical, acquired by him. We may safely assume that man in all countries within certain limits start with the same degree of intelligence. A civilized nation is distinguished from an uncivilized one by the extent of its acquired intelligence and skill."– Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya.

'Remember, your work may be only to sweep a railway crossing, but it is your duty to keep it so clean that no other crossing in the world is as clean as yours'              -Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya

Born to Venkatalakshmamma and SrinivasaSastry was a well known astrologer and physician on August 28, 1860 at Muddenahalli, a village in Kolar District of the then Mysore State. Sir Visvesvaraya has left behind a sublime spirit of great vision, dedicated and disciplined service and infallible integrity that can serve as a constant guide to the present and future generation. Living a centenarian is fulfillment of the Vedic Blessings and Sir Visvesvaraya has rendered 80 years of yeoman services and has significantly contributed to the countries all round development with a view to transform our country into a new and modern India. In recognition of his distinguished public service, the Government of India conferred on Visvesvaraya the award Bharat Ratna (the highest honor that the Republic of India can confer on the most illustrious among its citizens) in 1955.

Visvesvaraya's ancestors had migrated from Mokshagundam/ Siddanur village in Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh to Mysore. His father SrinivasaSastry died when Visvesvaraya was only 15 years of age. After his father's death Visvesvaraya moved with his mother Venkatalakshamma to Bangalore where his maternal uncle H. Ramaiah lived. Visvesvaraya studied at the Chickballapur Middle and High School, where he completed his lower secondary courses, later at Bangalore his maternal uncle had him admitted to the Wesleyan Mission High School in 1875. After finishing his high school education Visvesvaraya joined the Central College from where he graduated with distinction. He then moved to Pune to join the College of Science, in those days the College of Engineering was so named, to study engineering. He passed his engineering examination with sheer determination and hard work earning every penny as a tutor and met his expenses as a student himself and in 1883, he stood first in the L.C.E and the E.C.E examinations. He specialized in Civil Engineering.

Sir M.Visvesvaraya applied his mind to solve very intricate problem’s, his vision and forethought were astonishing. His inventive genius, has manifested itself in many ways and we find the imprint of this greatness in his multifaceted personality in all that he has done.

He has contributed significantly to – the Irrigation Project, Water Supply Scheme& Drainage, Heavy Industry Establishment, Consumer Industries, Development of education, Upliftment of the Poor & the Weaker Sections of the Society, Promoting Organizations, Democratization of Administration making him popular both in India and abroad. His name is mentioned with great reverence for his contributions to the National life which has been of enduring value.

Sir Visvesvaraya’s efforts in establishing the Mysore University, the Iron and Steel Factory, the Krishna Sagar Project and even trying to manage the Iron and Steel factory when it went into financial crisis are instances to learn from and eye openers for all engaged in National Building.

Sir Visveswaraya’s inspiring guidance is extraordinary and immortal.

Points to remember

Date of Birth: 15 September 1860 Place of Birth: Muddenahalli village (Kolar District, Karnataka)

·         1881: Completed B.A. from Central College Bangalore.

·         1883: Completed Civil Engineering from Science College in Poona.

·         Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya was an eminent engineer and statesman and played a key role in building of modern India.

·         When Sir M. Visvesvaraya cleared his engineering, Government of Bombay offered him a job and appointed him Assistant Engineer at Nasik. As an engineer, he achieved some marvelous feats.

·         He planned a way of supplying water from the river Sindhu to a town called Sukkur. He devised a new irrigation system called the Block System. He devised steel doors to stop the wasteful flow of water in dams. He was the architect of the Krishnaraja Sagara dam in Mysore.

·         Sir M. Visvesvaraya led a very simple life. He was a strict vegetarian and a teetotaler. He was known for his honesty and integrity.

·         In 1912, Maharaja of Mysore appointed Visvesvaraya as his Dewan. Before accepting the position of Dewan of Mysore, he invited all his relatives for dinner. He told them very clearly that he would accept the prestigious office on the condition that none of them would approach him for favors.

·         As Dewan of Mysore, he worked tirelessly for educational and industrial development of the state. When he was the Dewan many new industries came up. The Sandal Oil Factory, the Soap Factory, the Metals Factory, the Chrome Tanning Factory, was some of them. Of the many factories he started the most important is the Bhadravati Iron and Steel Works.

·         In 1913 Bank of Mysore renamed as State Bank of Mysore.

·         Sir M. Visvesvaraya voluntarily retired as Dewan of Mysore in 1918. He worked actively even after his retirement.          

·         In 1920 Bhadravati Iron and Steel Works – as its Chairman he rescued it from becoming extinct & Published a Book named Reconstructing India

·         1934 – Planned Economy for India

Awards Received:

1906 – “Kaisar-i-Hind” in recognition of his services

1911 – C.I.E. (Companion of the Indian Empire) at the Delhi Durbar

1915 – K.C.I.E (Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire)

1921 – D.Sc. – Calcutta University

1943 – Elected as an Honorary Life Member of the Institution of Engineers (1)

1944 – D.Sc. - Allahabad

1948 – Doctorate – LLD. Mysore University.

1953 – D.Litt – Andhra University.

1953 – Awarded the Honorary Fellowship of the Institute of Town Planners, India.

1955 – Conferred BHARATHARATNA -

1958 – ‘Durga Prasad Khaitan Memorial Gold Medal’ by the Royal Asiatic Society Council of Bengal.


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Previous Bit Questions

1. Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya was born on ____________. [ b] 

a) 15th September b) 15th September 1861 c) 15th October d) 15th October 1869

2. Visvesvaraya’s father Srinivasa Sastry was a great_________. [d ] 

a) Lawyer b) Engineer c) Priest d) Sanskrit Scholar

3. Visvesvaraya exemplified that the price of success is ___________. [a ] 

a) hard work b) money c) truthfulness d) honesty

4. Visvesvaraya was a good and diligent student. Diligent means…. [c ] 

a) Beautiful b) Studies c) Industrious d) Dignified

5. Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya was born on ______ [ a]

a. 15th of September b. 16th of October c. 15th of August d. 5th of September

6. Esi is a tributary of ________ river. [c ]

a. Sindhu b. Krishna c. Musi d. Hussain Sagar

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