Sir M.V. and The Institution of Engineers (India)

Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, KCIE, was a notable Indian engineer, scholar, and statesman born at Muddenahalli, near Kanivenarayanapura, in present day Chikballapur District of Karnataka State. He is a recipient of the Indian Republic’s highest honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1955. He is held in high regard as the first and pre-eminent Engineer of India.

The inception of The Institution of Engineers (India) was in the year 1920 for the benefit of engineering community. Since then it has grown tremendously, and today it is one of the largest professional Institution in Asia with membership of over 6 lakhs compromising of 105 State and Local Centers spread all over the country and overseas. It is recognized with Royal Charter of Incorporation in 1935 with over 600 Chapters for technicians and students in the country. It is a multi-disciplinary nationwide organization with International status and bilateral relations with many organizations round the world.

The Karnataka State Centre which was established at Bangalore in the year, 1934 is one of the most active Centres in the country in the context of technical activities and plays a very significant role in dissemination and proliferation of engineering knowledge amongst its members through Seminars, Symposia, Workshops, Conventions, etc both at national and international levels.

With a meager membership strength to start with, the Centre has brought into its fold a large section of fraternity with a membership strength of nearly 10000 Corporate Members and more than 26000 Non-corporate Members. Widening its horizon of technical activities, the Centre has established Seven Local Centres at Mysore (1965), Dharwad (1966), Munirabad (1969), Gulbarga (1973), Mangalore (1973), Belgaum (1989) and Davangere (1989) to serve more and more professional groups.

The Centre completed 75 years of its dedicated service to the engineering community and celebrated Platinum Jubilee starting September 2009 till October 2010. The Inaugural Function of the Platinum Jubilee Celebration was held in the august presence of His Excellency Sri Hans Raj Bhardwaj, the Governor of Karnataka on 9 September 2009.

Year-long activities comprising of National Conventions, All India Seminars, Regional Seminars and Lecture Meetings were organized by the Centre during the above period. As part of the Platinum Jubilee, a life size bronze statue of Sir M.V. was installed at its premises which was unveiled by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, Sri B.S. Yeddyurappa on 15 September 2009.

To commemorate the birthday of Bharat Ratna Sir M Visvesvaraya, the Council of the Institution of Engineers (India) observes “15 September” as “Engineers’ Day” every year. This is celebrated throughout the country through all the Centres of the Institution, other Professional Bodies and engineering professionals with learned discourses on a theme specified by the Council every year.

It is an honour that Sir M.V. was the Elected Honorary Life Member of the Institution of Engineers (India) as early as 1943.

15 September 2010 happened to be the – Sesquicentennial – 150th Birthday – Celebrations of Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya – the great visionary and a towering personality in the history of Indian engineering in whose presence, the foundation of Karnataka State Centre building was laid. The Centre celebrated this event in a big way by conducting month-long activities comprising of half-day Seminars, Workshops, Panel Discussions, Technical Visits, Interactive Sessions, etc from 15 September to 15 October 2010.

It is a matter of pride that the Centre conducted nearly 200 activities from September 2009 till October 2010 to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee and the 150th birthday celebrations of Sir M.V.

As a tribute to this great personality, the Centre launched a dedicated website in the name of Sir M.V. during the above celebrations. This is an exclusive website and only one of its kind. Apart from installation of life size bronze statue of Sir M. V. at its own premises, the Karnataka State Centre donated the Busts of Sir M. Visvesvaraya to be installed at all the Local Centres in Karnataka, namely, Belgaum, Davangere, Dharwad, Gulbarga, Mangalore, Munirabad and Mysore as well as at Kerala State Centre, Trivandrum and IEI, HQ, Kolkata.

Dr. L.V. Muralikrishna Reddy

Chairman

The Institution of Engineers (India)

Karnataka State Centre

“hardwork, disciplined habits, modesty in luxury, contentment and cheerfulness”.

His habits outside and with the public were of Western style, but inside he was conservative, wore the dhoti and sacred thread and lived the life expected of a person of his class and community in the orthodox Mysore Brahmin family.

He was recommended for Kaiser – i – Hind, silver medal when he was working in Bombay Govt., When his friends suggested that he should try to have the medal converted to gold, he worte,

“… it would be most satisfactory if, without causing displeasure, the Medal could be concelled.”

As for the suggestion to try for a Gold Medal, he said, “I feel that, that would be making the occasion a pretext for asking for a higher honour.”

When the actual presentation was to take place, he wrote, to the authorities, “I have begged you if, possible, to dispense with a public presentation more particularly, you have no other presentation to make on the same date.

He was not given to feminine company in his own personal life. But, he encouraged starting Mahila Seva Samaj, Bangalore in the year 1913 when he said, “How valuable an institute like this is for training young ladies to become the real light in the houses of men?”

Sir MV

During his visit to the Samaj in 1942 he said,

“One must begin this counsel to girls from about the 13^th year. It would be a dis – service to them if important information is not given to them in matters connected with what would protect or destroy them in life.”

“Keep your clothes clean, and in the common situations in life, keep smiling and happy’,

“Go to schools and be educated till you are 14. If you have the facility, receive education till 18 or even 21”,

“Your room and its surroundings must be neat and tidy and everything in them should find its proper place therein”,

“Take the advice of an elderly lady, a father or mother or some well – wisher in connection with prniciples of rectitude and conduct and in marriage relations… your mind must be firm and stable”.

“Don’t get married before 16, put it off till 18 or even later if possible. You could live longer that way and have healthier children”. “Do not throw the entire responsibility of looking after the family when you are married, on your husband, He will need your sympathy and assistance in his work. If at any time you feel that his income is not enough for the maintenance and comfort of the family, get his permission to find out a method by which you could earn a little to organise the comfort of the home. Thus to add to its provision, and/ or at other times as a hobby, devote yourself to some work inside or outside the house. It would usefully engage your minds and talents”.

“Learn to protect yourselves, if an emergency occurs, you must be capable of defending your home,”

“Practice to work with regularity and line in conformity with principles. 8 hours for work, 8 hours for sleep and other 8 hours for exercise, entertainment, cleanliness of the body and for other domestic, external or social tasks”.

“Do not agree to do any work unless you are sure you have courage to do it. But, when you expect a task, either for secular considerations or in affection, do not ever fail to carry it out. Everything should be done on time.”

“Show regard to elders, extend affection and sympathy to the children. Work with courtesy with neighbours and work men. Bestow some mind to the service of the land, if possible”.

“Give up too much shyness and the feeling that you are a worm. The Western women and our own leading ladies, advanced and cultured, live their lives with courage and self – confidence. That deserves to be emulated.”

“Your suceess and your joy depend on you. No other can shape your life. Seek the advice of the elders and the experienced people. Consider their advice, but decide on your own. Life requires orderliness and a study of principles of conduct. Try to fix them up for your self, when situations alter, suitable reforms and amendments need to be made to suit the changed condition.”

“Sir M. Visvesvaraya is a DREAMER, THINKER AND A MAN OF ACTION’ not lost in the past but always thinking of the future, living an integrated life, bringing into existence and giving shape to dreams not for himself but for India and the people of India.”

- Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, KCIE, was a notable Indian engineer, scholar, and statesman born at Muddenahalli, near Kanivenarayanapura, in present day Chikballapur District of Karnataka State. He is a recipient of the Indian Republic’s highest honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1955. He was also knighted as a Commander of the Indian Empire by King George V for his myriad contributions to the public good. Every year, 15 September is celebrated as the Engineer’s Day in India in his memory. He is held in high regard as the first and pre-eminent Engineer of India.

Smt. Venkatalakshmamma, Sir MV"s Mother

The letters “M.V.”

stand for Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya. Mokshagundam is a village in Kurnool Dist., Andhra Pradesh.

Centuries ago, a family called ‘Panths’ migrated from Mokshagundam village to one of the townships, Chikkaballapur, Kolar Dist, then Mysore State. The ‘Panths’ were known for their note worthy services rendered to the Society. A minister Lakshmipathi Bhatta, belonging to MV’s ancestral family got a gift of five villages for such services. Among the villages was one village, Muddupalli, now known as Muddenahalli, (Muddenahalli is 5 km from Chikkaballapur which is 56 km from Bangalore).

Muddenahalli village was the place where Srinivasa Sastry, one of the Panths’ descendants, known for his profficiency in shastras, astrology, medicine, got established.

From the second wife of Srinivasa Sastry, Venkatalakshmamma, Visveswaraya was born on the 15^th September 1860, as the second of six children – four sons and two daughters. Visvesvaraya’s elder brother Venkatesha Sastry completed traditional learning and settled down in the village, and the youngest Ramachandra Rao later became judge of Mysore High Court.

Visvesvaraya had his early schooling in Chikkaballapur Middle and High Schools. The Head Master of the school B. Venkatapathi Iyengar was very much impressed by the acumen of Visvesvaraya. The First Assistant of the School, Nathamuni Naidu was equally impressed and took personal insterest and gave extra instructions at home to Visvesvaraya.

After completing high school, and after the demise of his father, he came to Bangalore with his mother to pursue studies under the foster care of his maternal uncle  H. Ramaiah, who was holding a high placed position in the Govt. of Mysore Secretariat. He joined Central College, Bangalore in the year 1875. Here too, he impressed the Principal Mr. Waters, a Professor of Mathematics, who extended the required aid and patronage that helped him graduate with distinction. A pair of golden cuff-links, presented by Mr. Waters, was worn by Visvesvaraya all through.

Education in Bangalore was equally costly even in those days for a lad of the poor status of Visveswaraya who had a humble beginning. This compelled him to save money by extending private tuition to needy students. One of the needly students was C.A. Nanjappa who became a famous surgeon in Mysore Medical Service.

He obtained his B.A., degree in the year 1880 (then Madras University) after completing his studies in Central College, Bangalore.

He joined College of Science in Poona (now Pune) (the engineering college was then called by that name) with a scholarship from Mysore State. He was immaculate in his dress, habits, manners, daily routine and gained lot of experience by extensive interaction with persons of calibre and by visits to renowned Institutions.

In November 1883, he got his Licentiate Civil Engineer (L.C.E.), Bombay University, Poona (equivalent to B.E. Civil Degree), by standing first.

Sir M.V., visited Washington, USA in the year 1908. He is enjoying a ‘Tourist Bus Ride’ above

In 1898 while serving Bombay Govt. as Assistant to Chief Engineer for Irrigation, Central Divison, Poona, in his first foreign travel, he visited Japan. On Japan’s progress he noted as under:

“I noticed there that a committee of political ministers of great foresight and ability had visited England and America and brought with them new ideas, proposals and nume

rous schemes for developing high – class administration and business life in their own country. Every minister and leader had been imbued with some idea and practice which they had converted into a smaller number of terse and simple maxims which they had devised for spreading modern administrative habits in their country.”

The second journey he made was (after he had left service and before joining service in Hyderabad) in later 1908 and early 1909 on long leave properatory to retirement from Bombay Service, stayed 5 months in Europe and America, visited Sweden, Denmark, Holland, St. Petersburg (now Leningrad), New York, Ottawa and Toronto in Canada and then Detroit. On return journey visited London and France, mostly to study “Water Supply, Drainage, Dams & Irrigation”.

The third trip be made was in 1919, three months after he had left Mysore State service, when he visited Japan, America and Canada and studied activities in respect of education, industry and commerce. He quotes an example in Chicago (USA), where a certain businessman took trouble to seek him out in his hotel to return an extra dollar that he had left in the businessman’s shop as a taken of

appreciation of the promptness with which a tas

k had been completed for him – the businessman did not quietly pocket the money, he felt he had not earned it. He returned to London in 1920 and stayed for 10 months and wrote a book on “Reconstructing India”.

In Harvard University (USA), when he asked the President of the University if there are any subjects the University specialised, he, was told “we ride all horses abreast’, meaning that the University always runs side by side and never lags behind.

In the Central American University he enquired of the President as to how much it costs a student there. The President replied “students with scanty means were encouraged to work and earn their keep in the University and I am one such student.”

Sir M.V. visited Bristol, England as a member of A.I.M.O., Bombay in the year 1946

He met the Governor of Federal Reser

ve Board in Washington (USA), and sought his opinion about the best way of improving the financial position of India, and was told,

“Tell this man to go back to his country, change its constitution into that of a national Government and come to me. I shall then be able to give him proper advice.”

This evidenced the dependence of a country upon a foreign power as the root cause of backwardness.

Sir M.V., foreign travel in Egypt

Mr. Herbert Hoover, then Secretary of Commerce, USA, told Visvesvaraya, the cause of backwardness of Indians with a cryptic statement.

“You people have no hustle in you”. During his visit to Germany, he found their utmost organisational efficiency. He wanted “hustle” of the Americans and organisational

efficiency of Germans to bring desired developmental work in India.

His fourth travel was in 1926 to London as an “Engineer Member” on the “Backbay Reclamation Committee”. After this work, he toured America and Europe to study steel manfuacture and wood distillation problems.”

In 1935, at the age of 75, he under took his fifth tour abroad to pursue his desire to set up an automobile factory in India, He toured England (Coventry, Oxford, Birmingham) and Europe (Italy, Germany and France) and was impressed by the Fiat Model at Turin, Italy.

He visited Ford factory, General Motors Corporation, Chrysler Corporation in USA and got technical and economical feasibility reports of setting up an automobile plant in India and also negotiated an agreement with them. It is under this agreement that the Premier Automobile Company has been established in India under the stewardship of Mr. Walchand Hirachand.

In the year 1946 at the age of 86, he led, as leader, a delegation of the All India Manufacturers’ Organisation, Bombay on his sixth foreign tour to UK, USA, Europe and Canada. They studied in separate batches, textile, engineering, chemical and aircraft industries and produced an exhaustive report containing many suggestions and material of practical value for the rapid development of Indian industries.

In his foreign visits, one sees that he was guided by one purpose, to see and to know, so as to assist in the promotion of economic prosperity of his own country.