Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya (15 September 1861 – 14 April 1962) was one of India's greatest civil engineers and statesmen. He served as the Diwan (Prime Minister) of Mysore (1912–1918). Engineers' Day in India is celebrated on 15 September every year on his birthday. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1955 and was knighted by the British as Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE).
Sir M. Visvesvaraya was born on 15 September 1861 in Muddenahalli, Karnataka.
Engineers' Day in India = 15 September (his birthday).
Bharat Ratna recipient in 1955 — India's highest civilian award.
He designed automatic flood gates (first used at Khadakwasla Dam, 1903).
Chief architect of Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) Dam on the Kaveri river.
Served as Diwan (Prime Minister) of Mysore from 1912 to 1918.
Personal Details: • Full name: Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya • Born: 15 September 1861, Muddenahalli, Karnataka • Died: 14 April 1962 (age 100), Bengaluru • Education: Civil Engineering, College of Science, Pune (1881) • Nationality: Indian
Career and Achievements: • Chief Engineer of Mysore State • Diwan (Prime Minister) of Mysore: 1912–1918 • Chief Architect of Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) Dam — one of the largest dams in Asia at the time
Major Engineering Contributions:
Automatic Flood Gates: • Designed the automatic sluice gate system for dams • First used at Khadakwasla Dam, Pune (1903) • Prevents floods by automatically closing when water level rises
Krishna Raja Sagara Dam (KRS): • Built across the Kaveri river near Mysuru • Irrigates millions of acres; supplies drinking water to Bengaluru • Largest reservoir in Asia when built (1924)
Hyderabad Flood Protection: • Designed flood protection system for Hyderabad city
Block System in Mines: • Devised a system to protect mines from flooding in Aden (Yemen)
Awards and Honours: • Bharat Ratna (1955) — India's highest civilian award • Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (1915) • Fellow of the Indian Institute of Engineers
Engineers' Day: • 15 September — celebrated every year as Engineers' Day in India • Honours Sir Visvesvaraya's birthday • Also engineers' day in Sri Lanka and Tanzania
Quote: 'Every minute of your life is priceless. Use it productively.' — M. Visvesvaraya
Legacy: • M. Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, Bengaluru • Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum, Bengaluru • Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur
Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya (1861–1962) was India's greatest civil engineer. Engineers' Day is celebrated on 15 September — his birthday. He designed automatic flood gates, built the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam on the Kaveri river, and served as Diwan of Mysore (1912–1918). He received the Bharat Ratna in 1955 and lived to be 100 years old.
Thought of the Day for Students
Best thoughts of the day for students — motivational quotes for school morning assembly. Short, meaningful quotes in English and Hindi for students of all classes.
Tihar Jail — Location, History and Key Facts
Tihar Jail is located in Tihar village, West Delhi. It is one of the largest prisons in South Asia. Learn about its location, history, and key facts.
TISCO Full Form — Tata Iron and Steel Company
TISCO stands for Tata Iron and Steel Company. Founded in 1907 by Jamsetji Tata in Jamshedpur. It was the first steel plant in Asia. Now known as Tata Steel.
Top 10 Universities in India
Top 10 universities in India by NIRF 2024: IIT Madras, IISc Bangalore, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur. Complete list with locations and specialties.
Total IITs in India — Complete List of All IITs
There are 23 IITs in India as of 2024. Complete list of all IITs with location, year of establishment. First IIT was IIT Kharagpur (1951).
Turn this guide into revision flashcards, a practice exam, or an AI-generated podcast — free, no signup required.