Born at Muddenahalli at Chikkaballapur, Sir M. Vishweshwariah completed engineering from Poona Science College and completed L.C.E. and E.C.E.L engineering exams at the age of 23 and stood first to the entire Mumbai region. He started his career in the year 1884 as Assistant Engineer to Mumbai Govt. He served the Mumbai Govt. for 23 years. He joined as chief Engineer of Mysore Government on November 15, 1909.Due to his efforts the administration of rail routes from Birur to Shimoga, Mysore to Nanjangud, Bangalore to Mysore was transferred to Mysore Govt. as per his plans. In 1912, he became the Dewan of Mysore.
The Krishnaraj Sagara dam is the direct outcome of the efforts of the great engineer statesman “ maker of Mysore”, Dr.M.Vishveshwaraiah who had the foresight and initiative at a time when economic planning and industrialisation were still in their infancy in India. The dam was designed by the Late. Dr.M.Vishveshwaraiah when he was Chief Engineer of the state. The dam was completed in 1931 when he was the Dewan of Mysore.
In 1913, Mysore-Hassan-Arsikere rail-route work was started. In 1914, mechanical engineering school at Bangalore was started. On the 22nd of July, 1916, the Mysore University was started. The Mysore soap factory and the Sandalwood factory was also started during this period. On 9-12-1918 he gave resignation from Dewanship. In 1943, he was responsible for opening of the Jaya Chamarajendra Technical Institute at Bangalore. In the year 1911, he was awarded C.I.E. and in 1915, he was awarded K.C.I.E. from the British Government. He was awarded Bharata Ratna in 1955. He died at Bangalore on 14-4-1962.
ETERNAL SIR M.VISVESVARYA CHRONOLOGY
| YEAR | EVENT |
| 1860 | Born as the second son of Shri Srinivasa Shastry on the 15th September at Muddenahalli, Chikkaballapur Taluk, Kolar Dist., Karnataka State. |
| 1871-1874 | Early education in Chikkaballapur |
| 1875-1881 | Demise of Shri Srinivasa Sastry (1875)
Joined Wesley Mission High School, Bangalore Joined Central College, Bangalore and completed B.A., (Madras University) securing First Class (1881). |
| 1881-1883 | Joined Science College in Poona (presently Govt. College of Engineering) to study engineering.
Ranked First in L.C.E., awarded by the College in November 1883 (equivalent to Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering) Awarded “James Berkeley Gold Medal” for outstanding performance. Married Ms. Saraswathi daughter of Rama Chandra Sastry of Chikkaballapur (1882) |
| 1884 | Appointed Assistant Engineer, Bombay Public Works Department, joined duty in March, posted to Nasik and Khandesh. |
| 1885 | Acting Executive Engineer, passed Departmental examination, First Grade Assistant Engineer (October) |
| 1887 | Associate Member of Institute of Civil Engineers (London) (November) |
| 1888 | Demise of Mrs. Saraswathi (Wife) along with new born baby |
| 1889 | Second Marriage with Ms. Savithri |
| 1890 | Demise of Mrs. Savithri (Wife), along with new born baby |
| 1891 | Third marriage with Ms. …………. But seperated from her soon after, for unknown reasons, ensured to send her money for her livelihood till death, lived alone thereafter.
Founded Deccan Club, Poona. |
| 1894-1895 | Sukkur Drainage and Water Works |
| 1896 | Posted to Surat Dist. |
| 1897 | Back to Poona as Assistant to Chief Engineer |
| 1898 | Visits Japan, while in Bombay Govt., Service |
| 1899 | Executive Engineer, Poona Irrigation Dist., (water works for Poona)
Memorandum for the Irrigation Commission Block System of Irrigation. |
| 1901 | Acting Sanitary Engineer to Govt., Sewerage disposal for Poona |
| 1901-1903 | Automatic Sluice gates patented |
| 1904 | Attends Irrigation Conference,
Nominated Fellow of Bombay University Permanent appointment as Sanitary Engineer to Bombay Govt. Hon. Membership of Institution of Civil Engineers, London |
| 1905 | Special Officer for Water Supply in addition to normal duties. |
| 1906 | Sewerage disposal and provision of drinking water to Aden, similar works at Kolhapur.
Kaiser – e – Hind in recongnition of his services by British Govt., |
| 1907 | Additional charge covering Divisions of Three Superintending Engineers
Drinking Water scheme to Dharwar and Bijapur. Appointment as Member, Bombay Health Committee. Member College of Science Review Committee. Gets invitation from two States as Chief Engineer Requests for retirement from service before due time – Retires from Bombay Govt., Service. |
| 1908-1909 | Visits Italy, U.K., U.S.A., Canada, Sweden, Russia on leave preparatory to retirement from Bombay Govt., service. |
| 1909 | Special Consulting Engineer, Hyderabad (April)
Chief Engineer, Mysore (November 15th) Recommendation for extension of Railways. Plan for Kannambadi Dam (later Krishnaraja Sagar) |
| 1911 | President, Economic Conference (June),
C.I.E. (Companion of Indian Empire) by British Govt., |
| 1912 | Appointment as Dewan of Mysore (November, 12)
Suggestions for claiming of Assigned Tract Revenue, Bangalore |
| 1913 | Started Bank of Mysore (October),
Visit of Lord Hardinge – The Mysore Treaty, Reforms of the Representative Assembly to have Council, Mahila Seva Samaj, Bangalore |
| 1914 | Malnad Improvement Scheme
(Beginning of First world war) Mechanical Engineering School |
| 1915 | Public Libraries – Bangalore & Mysore
Kannada Sahitya Parishad, Bangalore Knight Commander of Indian Empire (K.C.I.E.) by British Govt., (Carried the ‘Sir’ title) |
| 1916 | Engineering College, Bangalore
Scheme for non-Brahmin and backward students Mysore Chamber of Commerce Modern Hotels at Bangalore and Mysore Mysore University Large Printing presses Civil and Social Progress Association Starting several industries – Soap, Sandal Oil, Metal, Tanning of leather |
| 1917 – 1918 | Member of Committee of Indian Princes and Ministers, Bikaner |
| 1918 | Scheme for Iron Works, Bhadravathy
Developing Harbour at Bhatkal Harvesting Hydroelectric Power at Jog, near Bhadravathi |
| 1919 | Retires as Dewan of Mysore (10th June) |
| 1919 – 1920 | Tours Japan, Canada, U.S.A. & U.K.,
Offered seat in the Council of the Secretary of State for India. Publishes the book “Reconstructing India”, (by P.S. King & Son Ltd. London) |
| 1921 | D.Sc., Engineering, Calcutta University,
Chairman, Bombay Technical and Industrial Education Committee. |
| 1922 | President, Political Conference of All – Parties’ Representatives in Bombay,
Member, Committee for Construction of Capital, New Delhi Invitation from Hyderabad for Technical Services. |
| 1923 | President, Indian Science Congress (Lucknow)
Chairman, Bhadravathy Iron Works (March 23, 1923 to Sept. 29, 1929) Proposal to start Occupational Institute, Bangalore. |
| 1924 | President, Indian Economic Conference (Bombay)
Member, Retrenchment and Reforms, Bombay and Karachi Corporations. |
| 1925 | Chairman, Indian Economic Enquiry Committee,
New scheme for supply of drinking water to Bangalore |
| 1926 | Member, Back Bay Enquiry Committee, Bombay
Member, Karachi Municipal Finance Administration Committee |
| 1926-1927 | Tour of Europe and America (to study manufacture of Iron and Steel)
Director, Tata Iron and Steel Board, (1927-1955) |
| 1929 | Chairman, Committee of Enquiry into Bangalore Disturbances.
President, South Indian States People’s Conference (Trivandrum), Member, Sukkur Barrage Works Committee Established Jayachamarajendra Occupational Institute, Bangalore. Member Fact Finding Report on “Lloyd Barrage” across Sind River. |
| 1930 | Improvement of Hyderabad City.
Member, Bombay University “Committee for promoting Chemical Industries”. |
| 1931 | Doctor of Laws, Bombay University.
Krishnarajasagar (K.R.S) Dam works Completed. |
| 1932 | Publication of “Unemployment in India…. Its Causes and Cure”, Bangalore Press, Bangalore. |
| 1934 | Publication of “Planned Economy for India”, by Bangalore Press, Bangalore. |
| 1935 | Journey to Europe, U.S.A., to collect information on Automobile Industry. |
| 1937 | D. Litt, Benaras Hindu University,
Chairman, Bombay Irrigation Enquiry Committee Visit to Orissa (Mahanadi Delta) to advise on effective flood control measures Publication of “Nation Building – A Five Year Plan for the Provinces”, Bangalore Press, Bangalore. |
| 1938 | President, Court of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (1938 – 1947) |
| 1939 | Scheme for an aircraft factory,
Orissa Flood Relief Report, Water supply scheme to Goa, Publication of “District Employment Scheme Economic Progress by Forced Marches” – Bangalore Press, Bangalore. |
| 1941 | Founder – President, All India Manufacturers’ Organisation, Bombay (1941-54) |
| 1942 | Automobile Industry (‘Premier Automobile Company’) established in Bombay. |
| 1943 | “Prosperity Through Industry” published by A.I.M.O., Bombay |
| 1944 | Hon. Life Member, The Institution of Engineers (India), Calcutta
D.Sc., University of Allahabad, D.Sc., Patna University. |
| 1946-1947 | Visit to U.S.A as leader of delegation of the All India Manufacturers’ Organisation.
Chairman of the Board of Enquiries into disputes between Madras and Hyderabad on Tungabhadra River Works. Hindustan Aircrafts established in Bangalore |
| 1948 | Doctorate, Mysore University |
| 1949 | Scheme for organisation of Village Industries,
Location of sites for reservoirs in Sourashtra |
| 1951 | Publication of “Memoirs of My Working Life”, Publication Division, Govt. of India, Delhi |
| 1952 | Finalising Location of Railway Bridge on the Ganges at Mokamesh, Bihar. |
| Hon. Roll of Council of Institution of Civil Engineers, London | |
| 1953 | D. Litt, Andhra University
Hon. Fellowship, Indian Institute of Town Planners (Sept), |
| 1955 | Bharat Ratna (September 07), Nation’s Highest Honour at New Delhi |
| 1958 | D.Sc., Jadhavpur University (December) |
| 1959 | Durgaprasad Khaitan Memorial Gold Medal by the Royal Asiatic Society Council of Bengal
Hon. Member, Institute for Council of Engineers, Calcutta. Fellowship, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore |
| 1960 | Centenary celebrations (Sept 15) |
| 1962 | Passes away (April 14) at Bangalore |
Follow the links under “About Sir M.V.” menu on top for detailed information on his life.
an extra ordinary life. truly deserving the coveted bharat ratna. He has set standards for the bharat ratna awardees of the future’
A good attempt to inform the new generation about the great achievements of the person whom engineering world consider as idol for them. His work in the fields other than engineering , viz. education,industry, infracture and power,administation ect. and handeling so many things at one time make him the visionary and ever inspiring person. May this 150th birth anniversary encourage you to digitise all the papers and documents collected and preserved by him and make them open to the world.
Very much inspired by the information.
Truly a brilliant and hard working person.
Thanks for the information.:)
Sir M. Visvesvaraya ( MV ) is the only GOD whom every engineer must worship from his heart and soul by practicing all good principles of work and life in general that were practiced by him throughout his legendary life.
he is a fascinating man,who had achieved great achievements in his life
One of the great lezend to the civil engineers…an his life inspire me a lot…thanks fr gvng information
Really suuperb and ultimate personality, there should somethings to be in honour of him and my suggesstion is to keep his name for the bangalore airport.
Biography of Sir Mokshagundam visvesvaraya really inspired me a lot. He is the man who really deserves “Bharat Ratna”.
it is really superb
Feeling happy to be from place he was born, chikballapur, and happy for that…..Superb human Being Sir MV