What is The Significance of The Engineers Day in India?
Why 15th September is Called an Engineers Day in India?
Every year 15 September is celebrated as Engineers Day to commemorate the birthday of Sir Mokshagundam Vishweshvaraya(Sir MV) for his contributions towards the public good.
Meet Sir MV
Born on 15 September 1861 into a Telugu speaking Brahmin family in Muddenahalli village in the Kingdom of Mysore in British India, Sir MV received his first honor at the hands of King George V who Knighted Sir MV with Knight Commander of the British Indian Empire (KCIE) for his contributions. An alma mater of College of Engineering Pune, he was instrumental in the making of Krishna Raja Sagra (KRS) dam in Karnataka.
Personal life
His father, Mokshagundam Srinivasa Sastry, was a noted Sanskrit scholar and teacher and his mother, Venkatalakshamma, was a homemaker. But he lost his father at the tender age of 12. Sir MV received his primary education in Chickballapur. Also, he was one of the few students to attend Central College, Bangalore. After graduation, he went to the College of Engineering, Pune where he received LCE (Licenciate in Civil Engineering).
Career
Sir MV started his career in 1885 as a Service Engineer in Bombay and soon he rose to the position of Executive Engineer in 1896 and then Assistant Superintending Engineer from 1897-99. He visited China and Japan during this time. He worked in municipalities, sanitary departments and irrigation departments of the British government. He also visited various countries on different assignments before retiring from British service in 1909.
Important Appointment
The most notable appointment of Sir MV was appointed to the top position of the Kingdom of Mysore by Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV. Sir Mokshagundam Vishweshvaraya became the 19thDiwan of Mysore in 1912 to 1918.
Bharat Ratna
In 1955, Sir Mokshagundam Vishweshvaraya was honored with the highest civilian honor of India, the Bharat Ratna for his statesmanship as the Diwan of Mysore and his notable work done in British time.