Engineer’s Day- History & Significance
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National Engineer’s Day is celebrated in India every year on the 15th of September. The day coincides with the birth anniversary of Sir Moksham Gundam Visvesvaraya, one of India’s greatest engineers. Along with India, Srilanka and Tanzania also celebrate Engineer’s day on the very same day to honour the achievements of the legendary engineer.
Apart from paying tribute to Sir Visvesvaraya and celebrating his legacy, the day encourages people to appreciate the efforts of engineers and acknowledge their role in the development of our country.
In 1968, the Indian government decided to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sir Visvesaraya as Engineers Day of the nation.
Born on September 15, 1860, Sir Moksham Gundam Visvesvaraya served as the 19th Diwan of Mysore (1912-1919). He belonged to a Telugu Brahmin family.
He played a crucial role in the development of Krishna Raja Sagara dam (Mysore). The civil engineer also contributed significantly in developing the flood protection system for Hyderabad and also in implementing irrigation systems in the Deccan Plateau.
The iconic personality, through his efforts, provided a source of livelihood for thousands of people. He is the founder of several industries including the Mysore Soap Factory and the Mysore Iron and Steel works. He also set up the State Bank of Mysore, Bangalore Agriculture University and the Government Engineering College.
Sir M Visvesvaraya is the recipient of prestigious awards including the Bharat Ratna and the ‘Knight Commander’ of the British Indian Empire.
Significance
In terms of the number of engineers, India stands second in the world. It is widely regarded as the ‘country of engineers’. We cannot deny the role of engineers in our country’s progress. They contribute significantly to our growing economy.
The day inspires all the engineers (especially civil engineers) to make great contributions to the nation like their role model, the legendary M Visvesvaraya.
Thanks to all our hard working engineers, India is performing exceptionally well in the IT sector. Our software, mechanical, aeronautical and computer engineers are working round the clock to make our country an economic superpower.
Celebrations
Every year during Engineer’s Day, a memorial is conducted for Sir Visvesaraya at his birthplace in Muddenahalli, Karnataka. The memorial is organized by the Visvesaraya National Memorial Trust. The programs include a public exhibition of his awards, titles and personal belongings including cups, books and spectacles.
On this day, senior ministers and politicians deliver speeches about the master engineer, motivating people to do great things in life.
Both public and private institutions across the country celebrate the day for recognizing the role of engineers in the progress of our nation.
A huge shout out to our engineers!
Read More: The 5G Technology
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September 15th
Sir Moksham Gundam Visvesvaraya
Muddenahalli