Biography of Sir.M.Visveshariyah.pdf

SIR M VISVESVARAYA

-A LEGENDARY FIGURE-

A GREAT ENGINEER,

AN EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATOR,

AN EMINENT STATESMAN,

EDUCATIONIST, ECONOMIST,

SOCIAL WORKER AND ABOVE ALL

A PATRIOT OF THE HIGHEST ORDER

.. THAT IS SIR. M. VISVESVARAYA

BIRTH PLACE PLACE OF ETERNAL REST

BORN : SEPTEMBER 15, 1861

AT MUDDENAHALLI

NEAR BANGALORE

DEMISE : APRIL 14, 1962

AT THE AGE OF

102 YRS

SIR M.V – A MULTI-FACETED

PERSONALITY-----

THREE DISTINCT DISTINGUISHED FACETS ARE ---

---- AN EMINENT ENGINEER

----AN EMINENT STATESMAN

----AN EMINENT ECONOMIST

1884 – 1919

----- THE DISTINGUISHED ENGINEERING

CAREER

1912 – 1960

----- THE DISTINGUISHED STATESMAN AND

ECONOMIST (Contd/…)

A MULTI FACETED PERSONALITY (Contd…)

Dr. BRAHMANANDA, Dr. ATHRE AND OTHER ELITE

ECONOMISTS HAVE EXPRESSED THAT ----

“SIR MV IS ONE OF THE GREATEST ECONOMIST,

INDIA HAS SEEN”

PANDIT NEHRU, C. RAJAGAPALCHARI AND

OTHER ELITE STATESMEN HAVE EXPRESSED

THAT----

“SIR MV IS ONE OF THE MOST EMINENT

STATESMAN, INDIA HAS SEEN”

(Contd/…)

THE INDIAN ENGINEERING COMMUNITY FEELS

THAT –---

“SIR MV IS ONE OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED

ENGINEER, INDIA HAS SEEN”

THE PUBLIC, IN GENERAL, ARE CONVINCED

THAT ----

“SIR MV IS A NATIONAL ICON AND A

PATRIOT OF HIGHEST INTEGRITY”

IN ESSENCE, HIS IS A MULTI-FACETED

PERSONALITY

A MULTI-FACETED PERSONALITY (Contd…)

(Contd/…)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. SPEECHES BY SIR M. VISVESVARAYA

(DEWAN OF MYSORE), THE GOVERNMENT

PRESS, BANGALORE, 1917

2. M. VISVESVARAYA, “MEMOIRS OF MY

WORKING LIFE”, CAXTON PRESS,

BOMBAY, 1951

3. DILDAR HUSSAIN, “M.V., AN ENGG

WIZARD OF INDIA (1861-1962)”

INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS,

HYDERABAD, 1966

(Contd/…)

4. SITARAMIAH, “M. VISVESVARAYA”

PUBLICATIONS DIVISION, GOVT. OF

INDIA, 1971

5. ATHRE, “DR. M VISVESVARAYA - A

BIOGRAPHY” MYSORE ECONOMIC

REVIEW, BANGALORE, 1983

6. PANDRINATH,“MOKSHAGUNDAM

VISVESVARAYA”,NATIONAL BOOK

TRUST, 1988

7. JAYAPPA GOWDA, “DEWAN SIR

M.VISVESVARAYA – HIS ACHIEVEMENTS”

(IN KANNADA), SHUBHODHAYA

PUBLISHERS, 1994

BIBLIOGRAPHY (Contd…..)

(Contd/…)

8. M V IYENGAR,“SIR M.VISVESVARAYA – A

CENTENARY CONPENDIUM”, (IN KANNADA)

MVIJK TRUST, BANGALORE, 1960/2002

9. DILIP SALWI, “M. VISVESVARAYA –

NATION BUILDER”, RUPA & CO., NEW

DELHI, 2003

10. “TRIBUTE - BHARATA RATNA

SIR M.V.”, VISVESVARAYA NATIONAL

MEMORIAL TRUST, BANGALORE, 2003.

BIBLIOGRAPHY (Contd…..)

� VISVESVARAYA DID HIS EARLY

EDUCATION IN CHIKKABALLAPUR

� SUBSEQUENTLY IN 1875 JOINED

WESLEY MISSION HIGH SCHOOL AT

BANGALORE

� CONTINUED STUDIES IN CENTRAL

COLLEGE IN BANGALORE, WHEREIN

HE COMPLETED HIS B.A IN 1881

FROM MADRAS UTY SECURING

FIRST CLASS

EDUCATION

(Contd/…)

� JOINED SCIENCE COLLEGE IN POONA

(PRESENTLY GOVT. COLLEGE OF

ENGINEERING) TO STUDY ENGINEERING.

� RANKED FIRST IN L.C.E AWARDED BY

THIS COLLEGE, IN 1883

(THIS IS LIKE THE B.E OF TODAY)

� WAS AWARDED “JAMES BERKELEY

GOLD MEDAL” FOR HIS OUTSTANDING

PERFORMANCE

EDUCATION (Contd/…….)

BACKDROP PRIOR TO

COMMENCEMENT OF HIS CAREER

• IT WAS, BY AND LARGE, BRITISH RULE

IN THE COUNTRY WITH PROMINENCE

FOR ENGLISH OFFICERS / ENGINEERS

• POVERTY, ILLITERACY, LACK OF

INFRASTRUCTURE AND BLEAK

FUTURE WAS THE COMMON HORIZON

(Contd/…)

• MAHARAJAS, NIZAMS AND OTHER

RULERS OF PRINCELEY STATES,

BY AND LARGE, WERE INTERESTED

MORE IN SELF- SURVIVAL AND SELF-

PLEASURES RATHER THAN WELFARE

OF COMMON PEOPLE

• THE COUNTRY, BY AND LARGE, WAS

THE MOST BACKWARD IN THE

WORLD SCENARIO, IN ALL SPHERES

BACKDROP (Contd….)

(Contd/…)

BACKDROP (Contd….)

1861 – BORN AS SECOND SON OF

SRI. SRINIVASA SHASTRY

1875 – SAD DEMISE OF SRINIVASA

SHASTRY

1882 – MARRIED Ms. SARASWATHI,

DAUGHTER OF RAMACHANDRA

SHASTRY OF CHIKKABALLAPUR

1888 – SAD DEMISE OF

Mrs. SARASWATHI ALONG WITH

NEW BORN BABY

A WORD ABOUT FAMILY

LIFE…..

(Contd/…….)

1889 – SECOND MARRIAGE WITH

Ms. SAVITHRI

1890 – SAD DEMISE OF Mrs. SAVITHRI

ALONG WITH NEW BORN BABY

1891 – THIRD MARRIAGE WITH Ms……

BUT SEPARATED FROM HER

SOON AFTER, FOR REASONS

NOT CLEAR

HOWEVER ENSURED TO SEND

MONEY FOR HER LIVELIHOOD

TILL HIS DEATH

SPENT REST OF HIS LIFE ALL ALONE

A WORD ABOUT FAMILY LIFE…..(Contd…)

1884 - APPOINTED ASST. ENGINEER,

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT,

BOMBAY PRESIDENCY,

BRITISH GOVT

1899 - APPOINTED EXE. ENGINEER,

IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT, POONA

BOMBAY PRESIDENCY,

BRITISH GOVT

1909 - APPOINTED SPECIAL ENGINEER,

HYDERABAD STATE

POSITIONS HELD

(Contd/…)

1909 - APPOINTED CHIEF ENGINEER,

MYSORE STATE

1912 - APPOINTED DEWAN OF MYSORE,

MYSORE STATE

1919 - RETIRED FROM DEWANSHIP

OF MYSORE

POSITIONS (Contd/…….)

SIR. M.V., AS DEWAN OF MYSORE

SIR M. V. --- A FEW MOMENTS

(Contd/…….)

�� “ONE OF HIS FIRST ACTIONS WHEN

APPOINTED TO THE DEWANSHIP WAS

TO INVITE ALL HIS RELATIVES TO A

DINNER, WHEREIN HE ANNOUNCED

NEWS OF HIS ACCEPTANCE OF THE

POSITION.

BUT HE MADE A SPECIAL REQUEST

TO THEM THAT NO FAVOURS

SHOULD BE ASKED OF HIM.

HE ADHERED STRICTLY TO THIS

PRINCIPLE TO THE VERY END.”

�� “HE TENDERED HIS RESIGNATION TO

THE DEWANSHIP WHEN CERTAIN

ISSUES PROPOSED BY THE

MAHARAJA (HIGHNESS) WERE NOT

ACCEPTABLE TO HIM IN PRINCIPLE.

WHILE HANDING OVER

RESIGNATION LETTER TO THE

HIGHNESS, HE DROVE TO THE

PALACE IN OFFICIAL CAR AND

DROVE BACK TO HIS RESIDENCE IN

HIS PRIVATE CAR.”

A FEW MOMENTS (Contd…)

(Contd/…….)

HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT(1884)

HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS IN

KHANDESH DISTRICT (DHULIA) OF

BOMBAY PRESIDENCY.

AS A PART OF WATER SUPPLY

SCHEME TO DATTARI VILLAGE, HE

HAD TO BRING WATER THROUGH A

SIPHON BELOW THE RIVER PANJIRA.

SIPHON WAS ESSENTIALLY THROUGH

ROCK.

THE BRITISH OFFICER HAD SET THE

TIME TARGET. THE WORK STALLED

FREQUENTLY DUE TO FLOODS IN

PANJIRA.

(Contd/…)

HIS INITIAL ASSIGNMENT (Contd….)

BUT THE DEADLINE HAD TO BE MET.

EVEN IN HEAVY RAIN, HE CONTINUED BORING WORK, BY MOTIVATING STAFF AND BY WORKING HARD ALONG WITH THEM.

ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, HE HAD TO TAKE OFF HIS COAT AND SWIM ACROSS THE RIVER TO ASSIST HIS STAFF.

THE TASK WAS COMPLETED MUCH BEFORE THE SET TIME TARGET.

SUKKUR WATER SUPPLY

SYSTEM (1895)

WATER SUPPLIED TO THE TOWN (SINDH

PROVINCE) WAS TURBID AND UNFIT FOR

DRINKING. IT WAS THE CAUSE OF

SEVERAL ILLNESS AFFECTING THE TOWN

INHABITANTS

HE DECIDED THAT CLEAN WATER MUST

BE SUPPLIED. SUKKUR TOWN AUTHORITY

WAS NOT FINANCIALLY SOUND ENOUGH

TO ADOPT “FILTRATION”

(Contd/…)

SUKKUR WATER SUPPLY (Contd….)

SIR MV DEVELOPED A NEW SCHEME. HE

DUG A TUBEWELL ON THE BANK OF THE

RIVER AND STRUCK UNDERGROUND

WATER. IT WAS ESSENTIALLY RIVER

WATER FILTERED BY THE INTERVENING

ROCKY MASS. WATER WAS CLEAN

ENOUGH

FURTHER A TUNNEL WAS DRIVEN FROM

THE BOTTOM OF THE WELL FOR SOME

DISTANCE UNDER THE FLOWING RIVER

TO AUGMENT THE CLEAN WATER

THIS TECHNIQUE TODAY IS TERMED

“COLLECTOR WELL” SYSTEM

� K.R.S DAM AT KRISHNARAJASAGAR

(1909)

� VISVESVARAYA IRON & STEEL

WORKS AT BHADRAVATHI (1918)

� ESTABLISHED UNIVERSITY OF

MYSORE AT MYSORE (1916)

SUMMARY OF SOME IMP. WORKS

OF SIR. M. V.

A. IN MYSORE STATE (PRESENT

KARNATAKA)

(Contd/…)

SUMMARY (Contd/…….)

� ESTABLISHED COLLEGE OF

ENGINEERING AT BANGALORE -

PRESENTLY TERMED UVCE (1917)

� ESTABLISHED SRI JAYACHAMARAJA

OCCUPATIONAL INSTITUTE AT

BANGALORE (1929)

� CONSTRUCTED 205 MILES OF

RAILWAY LINES

� INITIATED HYDRO-ELECTRIC

PROJECT TO HARNESS JOG FALLS

(Contd/…)


B. WATER SUPPLY SCHEMES IN

DIFFERENT PARTS OF INDIA

AHMEDNAGAR (MAHARASHTRA)

AKKALKOT (MAHARASHTRA)

BANGALORE (KARNATAKA)

BARODA (GUJARAT)

BELGAUM (KARNATAKA)

BHAVNAGAR (GUJARAT)

BHOPAL (MADHYA PRADESH)

BOMBAY (MAHARASHTRA)

DHARWAD (KARNATAKA)

MADGAON (GOA)

(Contd/…….)

HYDERABAD (ANDHRA PRADESH)

INDORE (MADHYA PRADESH)

KOLHAPUR (MAHARASHTRA)

MORVI (GUJARAT)

NAGPUR (MAHARASHTRA)

NASIK (MAHARASHTRA)

POONA (MAHARASHTRA)

RAJKOT (GUJARAT)

SANGLI (MAHARASHTRA)

SURAT (GUJARAT)


(Contd/…)

� SCHEMES FOR FLOOD PROTECTION

AND DRAINAGE FOR HYDERABAD CITY

� REMODELLING OF HYDERABAD CITY

� ADVISORY SERVICES DURING

CONSTRUCTION OF TUNGABHADRA

DAM


C. IN HYDERABAD STATE

(Contd/….)


� SELECTION OF SITE FOR

RAILWAY BRIDGE ACROSS RIVER

GANGA

� ADVISORY SERVICES FOR

CONSTRUCTION OF A MAJOR

DAM ACROSS MAHANADI

D. IN BIHAR AND ORISSA STATES

(Contd/…….)

� ADEN – WATER SUPPLY AND

DRAINAGE SCHEME

� SUKKUR BARRAGE – PROJECT

(PAKISTAN) SURVEY


E. WORKS OUTSIDE INDIA

� INTRODUCED BLOCK SYSTEM OF

IRRIGATION (1901 – NIRA CANAL

IRRIGATION SYSTEM)

� DESIGNED A NEW SYSTEM OF

AUTOMATIC FLOOD SLUICE GATES

(1901 – KHADAKVASLA DAM AT POONA)

F. GENERAL WORKS

1904 - HONORARY MEMBERSHIP OF

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL

ENGINEERS, LONDON

1906 - KAISAR-e-HIND IN RECOGNITION

OF HIS SERVICES BY BRITISH

GOVT.

1911 - C.I.E (Companion of Indian

Empire) BY BRITISH GOVT.

1915 – K.C.I.E (Knight Commander of

Indian Empire) BY BRITISH GOVT.

TITLES AND HONOURS AWARDED

TO SIR. M. V.

(Contd/…….)

1955 - BHARATH RATNA, THE HIGHEST

DISTINCTION IN THE

COUNTRY, GOVT. OF INDIA

TITLES AND HONOURS (Contd/…….)

(Contd/…….)

THE BHARATH RATNA DECORUM

1958 - DURGA PRASAD KHAITAN

MEMORIAL GOLD MEDAL, THE

ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY

1959 - FELLOWSHIP OF THE INDIAN

INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE,

BANGALORE

Titles and Honours (Contd/…….)

SIR. M. V., RECEIVING THE BHARATH RATNA AT

RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN, NEW DELHI

ON SEPTEMBER 7, 1955

D.Sc. - UNIVERSITY OF ALLAHABAD (1944)

CALCUTTA (1921)

JADHAVPUR (1958)

PATNA (1944)

L.LD - UNIVERSITY OF BOMBAY (1931)

MYSORE (1948)

D.Litt - UNIVERSITY OF BENARES (1937)

ANDHRA (1953)

HONORARY DEGREES AWARDED

TO SIR. M. V.

ADEN WATER WORKS (1906)

ONE OF THE SIGNIFICANT

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF SIR M.V. WAS THE

PROJECT AT ADEN

THIS WAS IN 1906. ADEN WAS BEING

ADMINISTERED BY BOMBAY PRESIDENCY

SEVERAL HARDSHIPS WERE BEING

EXPERIENCED BY THE PUBLIC AT ADEN

DUE TO PAUCITY OF DRINKING WATER

AND DUE TO PAUCITY OF CLEANLINESS IN

THE CITY. THE BRITISH GOVT. DIRECTED

GOVT. OF INDIA TO LOOK INTO THIS

PROBLEM.

(Contd/…….)

ALTHOUGH THERE WERE SEVERAL

SENIOR BRITISH ENGINEERS, THE

RESPONSIBILITY OF TACKLING THIS

PROBLEM WAS ENTRUSTED TO SIR

M.V., WHICH HE GLADLY TOOK UP

ADEN IS SURROUNDED BY HILLOCKS

ABOUT 60 MILES AWAY. THE SCANTY

RAIN FALL IN THE SMALL AREA

BETWEEN THE HILLOCKS AND THE

TOWN GETS INTO THE SANDY DESERT. A

SMALL STREAM IN THE BEGINNING

VANISHES AFTER A DISTANCE

ADEN WATER WORKS (Contd……)

(Contd/…….)

SIR M.V. STUDIED THE ENTIRE

GEOGRAPHY AND IDENTIFIED THAT A

RESERVOIR OF WATER EXISTED AT A

CONSIDERABLE DEPTH AT A LOCATION,

ABOUT 18 MILES AWAY FROM ADEN

SIR M.V.’S SCHEME COMPRISED OF

PROVIDING DEEP BORE WELLS AT THIS

LOCATION AND PUMPING OUT CLEAR

WATER FOR DRINKING. THE SCHEME

SUCCESSFULLY WORKED. FURTHER,

SIR M.V. DESIGNED SURFACE AND

UNDERGROUND DRAINAGE SCHEMES

FOR THE TOWN


(Contd/…….)

THE CITY STILL REMEMBERS THE

GREAT ENGINEER, WHO CAME TO THEIR

RESCUE. THE BRITISH GOVT. IN

RECOGNITION OF HIS SERVICES

AWARDED HIM THE TITLE “KAISER-E-

HIND”


SIR MV’S MAJOR VENTURE AS CHIEF

ENGINEER IN MYSORE STATE WAS THE

CAUVERY PROJECT FOR IRRIGATION

AND POWER GENERATION.

THE PROJECT INVOLVED CONSTRUCTION

OF A 130 FT HIGH MASONRY DAM.

CAPABLE OF HOLDING 48,000 MILLION

CUBIC FEET OF WATER

IT WAS INTENDED TO IRRIGATE 1,50,000

ACRES OF LAND AND GENERATE 80,000HP

POWER; ESTIMATED TO COST RS.91Lacs

K. R. S. DAM (1909)

(Contd/…….)

COMPLETED IN 1931, THE MASONRY

DAM TODAY STANDS 134 FT. HIGH AND

111 FT. WIDE. OF ITS 161 SLUICE

GATES, 48 ARE AUTOMATIC TYPE

DESIGNED AND PATENTED BY SIR M.V.

K. R. S. DAM (Contd….)

(Contd/…….)

OPERATING ON POWER, THE GATES

“AUTOMATICALLY CLOSE WHEN WATER

LEVEL IS BELOW 124 FEET. WHEN THE

LEVEL OF LAKE RISES ABOVE, THE

GATES AUTOMATICALLY RISE, ALLOWING

EXCESS WATER TO FLOW OUT”

IN ITS CONSTRUCTION. SURKHI MORTAR

WAS USED, INSTEAD OF CEMENT MORTAR


(Contd/…….)

THE PROJECT IS TERMED FIRST ‘MULTI-

PURPOSE RIVER VALLEY PROJECT’ IN

INDIA.


SOON AFTER HE RETIRED FROM BOMBAY

SERVICES (i.e. 1908), HE TOOK UP AN

EXTENSIVE TOUR ABROAD

DURING THIS PERIOD, DUE TO VERY

HEAVY RAINS, THERE WERE

UNPRECEDENTED FLOODS IN MUSI RIVER,

DEVASTATING PARTS OF HYDERABAD.

THE HAVOC WAS ESSENTIALLY DUE TO 12

INCHES OF RAIN ON A SINGLE DAY IN THE

CATCHMENT AREA OF MUSI RIVER

SERVICES TO HYDERABAD

STATE (1909- )

(Contd/…….)

SIR M.V. WAS CALLED BY THE NIZAM OF

HYDERABAD TO COME OVER

IMMEDIATELY AND TO PROVIDE RELIEF

HE CUT SHORT HIS TOUR AND

RETURNED ON THREE CONDITIONS –

1. HE SHOULD BE GIVEN INDEPENDENT

CHARGE,

2. HE SHOULD BE FREE TO APPOINT HIS

STAFF, AND

3. HIS SALARY SHOULD BE AT PAR WITH THE

SENIORMOST ENGLISH ENGINEER

SERVICES TO HYDERABAD STATE (Contd….)

(Contd/…….)

HE COULD ASCERTAIN THAT THE

PROBLEM WAS NOT JUST BY MUSI RIVER,

BUT BY THE TWIN RIVERS MUSI (WHICH

FLOWS THROUGH HYDERABAD CITY) AND

IYASI (WHICH FLOWS AT THE PERIPHERY

OF THE CITY)

HE INVESTIGATED IN DEPTH THE ENTIRE

STRETCH OF TWO RIVERS FROM BIRTH

TO THEIR POINTS OF MERGER

SERVICES TO HYDERABAD CITY (Contd….)

(Contd/…….)

HE RECOMMENDED 2 DAMS - THE FIRST

ACROSS MUSI AT 8 MILES FROM

HYDERABAD AND THE SECOND ACROSS

IYASI 6 MILES AWAY

FURTHER, HE RECOMMENDED RISING

THE BUND OF MUSI RIVER ON EITHER

SIDE INSIDE THE CITY AND

BEAUTIFICATION OF THE AREA


(Contd/…….)

THE CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS WERE

TAKEN IN 1913. AFTER RETIREMENT

FROM DEWANSHIP OF MYSORE, HE

HELPED HYDERABAD STATE

COMPLETING SUCCESSFULLY THE

PROJECTS. THESE ARE THE

WELKNOWN HIMAYATH SAGAR &

USMAN SAGAR OF HYDERABAD CITY

HE WAS REINVITED BY NIZAM DURING

1922 AND 1930 FOR IMPROVEMENT OF

HYDERABAD CITY


DAM ACROSS MAHANADI (1937)

ORISSA’S MAHANADI DELTA WAS A LAND

OF FLOODS, CAUSING MISERY YEAR AFTER

YEAR

IN 1927-28, A COMMITTEE OF 2 ENGINEERS

CONSTITUTED BY THE GOVT. HAD OPINED

THAT IT IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO

CONTROL FLOODS

IN 1937, ORISSA SUFFERED HEAVILY.

GANDHIJI VISITED THE AREA TO SEE FIST

HAND THE PLIGHT OF PEOPLE. HE

SUGGESTED TO THE CHIEF MINISTER OF

ORISSA PROVINCE, Mr. VISWANATHA DAS TO

INVITE VISVESVARAYA

(Contd/…….)

MAHANADI

SIR M.V. VISITED THE AFFECTED AREAS,

EXAMINED SEVERAL POSSIBILITIES, AND

STUDIED THE AVAILABLE FACTS AND

FIGURES

THE FIRST POSSIBILITY WAS TO

CONSTRUCT DAMS ACROSS THREE

IMPORTANT TRIBUTARIES OF MAHANADI TO

REGULATE FLOODS

SECOND POSSIBILITY WAS TO BUILD A

MAJOR DAM ACROSS MAHANADI AT HIGHER

REACHES

DAM ACROSS MAHANADI (Contd…)

(Contd/…….)

HE RECOMMENDED THE SECOND

ALTERNATIVE TO CONTROL FLOODS, TO

IRRIGATE VAST STRETCHES AND TO

GENERATE POWER

SOON AFTER INDEPENDENCE, HIRAKUD

WAS REALISED BASED ON HIS

RECOMMENDATIONS

DAM ACROSS MAHANADI (Contd…)

THE GANGA BRIDGE IN

BIHAR (1951)

IN 1907, BIHAR PROVINCE REALISED NEED

FOR A RAILWAY BRIDGE NEAR PATNA. BUT

ONLY IN 1945, A DECISION WAS TAKEN BY

THE RAILWAY BOARD TO BUILD THE

BRIDGE AT MOKAMEH NEAR PATNA. BUT

BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION STOPPED ON

ACCOUNT OF DIFFERENCES OF OPINION

AMONGST THE AUTHORITIES IN BIHAR,

BENGAL AND ASSAM PROVINCES

THE BENGAL PROVINCE SUGGESTED THE

BRIDGE AT FARAKKA OR RAJMAHAL. THE

ASSAM PROVINCE SUGGESTED MANIHARI

LOCATION, WHEREAS, BIHAR PROVINCE

STUCK TO MOKAMEH

(Contd/…….)

IN 1951, THE THEN NEHRU GOVERNMENT

LOOKED AROUND FOR AN EMINENT

ENGINEER, UNBIASED AND BEYOND PULLS

AND PRESSURES TO LOOK INTO THIS

PROBLEM

SIR M.V. WAS INVITED FOR THIS TASK BY

THE NEHRU GOVERNMENT. HE WAS

92 YEARS AT THAT TIME

THE OLD MAN EXAMINED THE ENTIRE

STRETCH OF GANGA RIVER FROM PATNA TO

FARAKKA THROUGH BOATS, HELICOPTER

AND RAILWAY

THE GANGA BRIDGE IN BIHAR (Contd…)

(Contd/…….)

HE HELD DISCUSSIONS WITH LEADING

INDUSTRIALISTS AND WITH VARIOUS

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

FURTHER, HE HELD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE

CHIEF OF ARMY ‘GENERAL THIMMAIAH’,AND

STUDIED STATISTICAL FIGURES / ECONOMIC

VIABILITIES

FINALLY, HE RECOMMENDED MOKAMEH AS

THE RIGHT PLACE

IN 1953 WORK COMMENCED AND WAS

COMPLETED IN 1959, COSTING ABOUT 15

CRORES

THE GANGA BRIDGE IN BIHAR (Contd…)

IT WAS DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF

“LLOYD BARRAGE” ACROSS SINDH

RIVER. THAT TIME IT WAS A GREAT

PROJECT. THE WORK WAS BEING

CARRIED OUT BY BRITISH ENGINEERING

CONCERNS

DURING THE CONSTRUCTION, THERE

WAS A HUE & CRY BY THE PUBLIC THAT

THERE WAS LARGE SCALE

MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS AND THE

QUALITY OF THE CONSTRUCTION WAS

SUSPECT

FURTHER, THERE WAS INORDINATE

DELAY IN THE CONSTRUCTION

AN INTERESTING FACT FINDING

REPORT… (1929)

(Contd/…….)

THE GOVT. OF BOMBAY PRESIDENCY

APPOINTED A TWO-MEN COMMISSION TO

ENQUIRE ABOUT THE DEEDS OF THE

BRITISH CONCERNS

THE MEMBERS WERE SIR M.V. AND THE

THEN CHIEF ENGINEER FROM

HYDERABAD STATE NAWAB ALI NAWAJ

JENG. FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS, SIR M.V.

STUDIED EVERY LITTLE BIT OF DETAILS

AND REPORTED THAT ---

a.THE QUALITY OF CONSTRUCTION WAS

SATISFACTORY

AN INTERESTING REPORT (Contd……)

(Contd/…….)

b. THERE WAS NO TRUTH IN THE RUMOURS

THAT THERE IS MISAPPROPRIATION OF

FUNDS

c. THE INORDINATE DELAY WAS DUE TO

THE COMPLEXITIES IN THE PROJECT

AND IMPROPER PLANNING; AND

d. THE PROJECT WAS ORIGINALLY UNDER-

ESTIMATED, AND WAS NOT

REALISTIC

AN INTERESTING REPORT (Contd……)

IN ESSENCE, SIR M.V.’S REPORT CLEARED ALL

CONCERNED, INCLUDING THE THEN GOVERNOR

OF BOMBAY PRESIDENCY AND VICEROY OF INDIA.

IN 1926, HE WAS APPOINTED A MEMBER

OF THE BACK BAY ENQUIRY COMMITTEE,

TO ENQUIRE INTO THE HISTORY OF

INCEPTION AND OPERATION OF THE

BACK BAY RECLAMATION SCHEME IN

BOMBAY

THERE WAS MUCH PUBLIC AGITATION AT

THAT TIME ABOUT THE RECLAMATION

AND SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST

THE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE

BRITISH GOVERNOR OF BOMBAY

PRESIDENCY

“BOMBAY BACK BAY” ENQUIRY

COMMITTEE (1926)

(Contd/…….)

BACK BAY

“BOMBAY BACK BAY” ENQUIRY (Contd…)

THE COMMITTEE STUDIED ALL FACTS

AND FIGURES IN DETAIL, AND

RECOMMENDED

i) THE ABANDONMENT OF FURTHER

RECLAMATION

ii) CURTAILMENT OF SOME PROJECTED

WORKS AND

iii) THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AREAS

ALREADY RECLAIMED

THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT COME OUT

IN SHINING COLOURS

“BOMBAY BACK BAY” ENQUIRY (Contd…)

TUNGA BHADRA DAM NEAR HOSPET IN

BELLARY DISTRICT WAS A MULTI-STATE

PROJECT

BEYOND THE DAM, THE RIVER WAS THE

DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN HYDERABAD

STATE AND MADRAS PRESIDENCY. THE

WORK WAS TAKEN UP DURING 50s

PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION, A DISPUTE

AROSE BETWEEN THE TWO STATES.

HYDERABAD STATE WANTED SURKHI TO BE

THE BINDING MEDIUM IN THE MASONRY

DAM. WHEREAS, MADRAS PRESIDENCY

INSISTED ON CEMENT MORTAR

THE CONSTRUCTION STALLED

A TECHNICAL MEDIATION… (1947)

(Contd/…….)

THE TWO STATES AGREED TO ABIDE BY

THE OPINION OF SIR M.V.

ALTHOUGH SIR M.V. WAS A STAUNCH

SUPPORTER OF SURKHI MORTAR, HE

HAD OPEN MIND. HE STUDIED THE

RESEARCH WORK AND THE

EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMMES IN THIS

AREA TO GIVE HIS FINAL VERDICT,

WHICH WAS IMPLICITLY FOLLOWED

FURTHER

THE VERDICT WAS ……. “THE BINDING

MEDIUM SHOULD BE COMPOSITE

MORTAR COMPRISING OF - 1 PART OF

SURKHI MORTAR : 4 PARTS OF

CEMENT MORTAR”

A TECHNICAL MEDIATION (Contd….)

AUTOMATIC FLOOD GATES WERE FOR

THE FIRST TIME DEVELOPED BY SIR

M.V. THESE WERE FIRST INSTALLED AT

KHADAKVASALA NEAR POONA IN 1903

BASED ON THE SUCCESS OF THIS, IT

WAS ADOPTED IN TIGARA DAM IN

GWALIOR, FOLLOWED BY

KRISHNARAJASAGAR DAM IN MYSORE

A PATENT FOR THIS WAS TAKEN BY

SIR. M. V. BUT HE NEVER COLLECTED

ANY ROYALTY FROM ANYBODY FOR THIS

AUTOMATIC FLOOD

GATES (1903)

(Contd/…….)

AUTOMATIC

FLOOD GATE

PATENT-AGREEMENT FOR THE

SLUICE GATES

SIR. M. V., MADE EXTENSIVE TOURS

ABROAD PARTICULARLY TO AMERICA,

EUROPE AND JAPAN

HE UNDERTOOK THESE TOURS TO SEE

THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF PEOPLE

IN THOSE COUNTRIES, TO COLLECT DATA

ABOUT INDUSTRIES AND TO STUDY CIVIL

ENGINEERING PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY

IRRIGATION PROJECTS

FOREIGN TOURS OF SIR. M. V.

(Contd/…….)

NATION WAS IMMENSELY BENEFITED BY THE TOURS

FOREIGN TOURS (Contd/…….)

(Contd/…….)

THE DIFFERENT TOURS WERE :-

1. 1898 - VISITED JAPAN WHILE IN BOMBAY

ENGINEERING SERVICES, TO

AQUAINT HIMSELF ABOUT THE

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES

THERE

2. 1908 - AFTER RETIREMENT FROM

BOMBAY SERVICE --

DURING THIS TOUR HE EXAMINED

ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENTS IN

WATER SUPPLY, DRAINAGE

AND GENERAL ENGINEERING

WORKS IN EUROPE, AMERICA AND

CANADA

(Contd/…….)

3. 1919 – AFTER HIS RETIREMENT AS

DIWAN OF MYSORE, HE JOINED

A GROUP OF INDUSTRIALISTS

OF BOMBAY HEADED BY

Mr. VITTALDAS D THACKERSAY

AND Mr. RUBRAL KHAITHAN

ON A TOUR OF JAPAN, AMERICA

CANADA AND BRITAIN


4. 1926 – HE TOURED EUROPE AND AMERICA

TO STUDY STEEL MANUFACTURE

5. 1935 – VISITED EUROPE AND AMERICA

TO STUDY AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY

6. 1946 – HE LED A DELEGATION OF

MEMBERS OF INDIAN

MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION TO

BRITAIN, AMERICA AND CANADA.

VISITED TEXTILE INDUSTRIES,

AIRCRAFT FACTORIES AND

AUTOMOBILE UNITS.

THE TOURS SERVED THEIR PURPOSE


SIR. M. V. IN BRITAIN

HIS SLOGAN WAS “INDUSTRIALIZE OR

PERISH”. HIS CONTRIBUTIONS WERE

SIGNIFICANT FOR INDUSTRIAL

GROWTH OF THE COUNTRY, WHICH AT

THAT TIME WAS MOST BACKWARD.

THE THREE THAT BENEFITED BY HIS

EFFORTS ARE -

1. STEEL MANUFACTURING

INDUSTRY

2. AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY; AND

3. AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE

INDUSTRIAL GROWTH OF INDIA

THE MYSORE IRON & STEEL

WORKS (BHADRAVATHI) 1918

• THE PLANT WAS THE RESULT OF FAR

SIGHTED VISION OF SIR M.V.

• COAL REQUIRED FOR CONVERTING ORE

TO IRON ON A LARGE SCALE WAS NOT

AVAILABLE NEAR BY. TRANSPORTING

COAL FROM LONG DISTANCES WAS

UNECONOMICAL.

• A SCHEME WAS PREPARED TO

TRANSPORT ORE FROM BABABUDANGIRI

HILLS BY A COMBINATION OF ROPEWAY

AND TRAMWAY. CHARCOAL INSTEAD OF

COAL BECAME THE FUEL MEDIUM FOR

MELTING IRON ORE

(Contd/…)

• BECAME THE FIRST PLANT IN ASIA TO

UNDERTAKE MANUFACTURE OF PIG

IRON USING CHARCOAL

• BECAME THE FIRST PLANT IN INDIA TO

EXPORT PIG IRON TO EAST COAST

DISTRICTS OF AMERICA


GENERATE POWER FROM WASTE GASES


UTILISE ‘WASTE CHARCOAL FINES’ TO

PRODUCE CALCIUM CARBIDE

• SUBSEQUENTLY IN 1925, CAST IRON

PIPES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH THE

HELP OF A GERMAN FIRM

THE MYSORE IRON & STEEL WORKS (Contd…..)

AUTOMOBILES

MANUFACTURING UNIT (1942)

• SIR M.V WAS KEEN IN ESTABLISHING A

MANUFACTURING UNIT IN INDIA

• THROUGH HIS FOREIGN TOURS, HE

ESTABLISHED RAPPORT WITH LEADING

MANUFACTURERS AROUND THE WORLD

SUCH AS ‘GENERAL MOTORS

CORPORATION’ AND OTHERS

• HIS NEGOTIATIONS WITH ‘CHRYSLER

COMPANY’ FOR ESTABLISHING THE

UNIT IN MYSORE, FELL THROUGH DUE

TO BAN ON NEW MANUFACTURING

UNITS IN PRINCELY STATES BY THE

BRITISH GOVERNMENT

• UNDETERRED, HE CONVINCED HIS

FRIENDS V.D.THACKERSAY, R. KHAITAN,

M.KHATAUV AND WALCHAND HIRACHAND,

TO ESTABLISH A UNIT AT LEAST IN BOMBAY

PRESIDENCY.

• EVENTUALLY WALCHAND HIRACHAND

GOT INTERESTED AND ‘PREMIER

AUTOMOBILE COMPANY’, THE FIRST

PLANT IN INDIA, WAS ESTABLISHED ON

THE OUTSKIRTS OF BOMBAY IN 1942.

• THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY

ESTABLISHMENT OF ‘HINDUSTAN

AIRCRAFTS’ AT BANGALORE IN 1946 BY

WALCHAND HIRACHAND.

AUTOMOBILES MANUFACTURING UNIT (Contd…)

(Contd/…)

HE TOOK PART IN TWO POLITICAL

CONFERENCES –

1. 1922 – THE BOMBAY ALL PARTIES

POLITICAL CONFERENCE,

(A ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE

CHAIRED BY HIM TO DISCUSS AND

SETTLE THE QUESTIONS AGITATING

THE INDIAN PUBLIC)

2. 1929 – THE SOUTH INDIA STATES

PEOPLE’S CONFRENCE (A CONFERENCE CHAIRED BY HIM TO

DISCUSS CONSTITUTINAL REFORMS)

SIR M.V IN POLITICAL

ARENA…..

(Contd/…….)

THE SECETARY OF STATE FOR

INDIA LORD MONTAGUE OFFERED

SIR M.V A SEAT IN HIS COUNCIL AT

LONDON. THIS WAS POLITELY

DECLINED BY SIR M.V

SIR M.V NEVER ENTERED

POLITICAL ARENA THEREAFTER

SIR M.V IN POLITICAL ARENA…..(Contd…)

CHAIRMANSHIPS AND

MEMBERSHIPS

1. 1921 - CHAIRMAN, BOMBAY TECH

AND INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION

COMMITTEE

2. 1922 - MEMBER, NEW CAPITAL

(NEW DELHI) ENQUIRY

COMMITTEE OF GOVT. OF

INDIA

3. 1923 - CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF

-29 MANAGEMENT, BHADRAVATHI

IRON & STEEL WORKS

4. 1925 - CHAIRMAN, INDIAN

ECONOMIC ENQUIRY

COMMITTEE

(Contd/…….)

5. 1926 - MEMBER, KARACHI MUNICIPAL FINANCE ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

6. 1927 - DIRECTOR, BOARD OF -55 DIRECTORS, TATA IRON & STEEL COMPANY

7. 1929 – MEMBER, BANGALORE POLITICAL DISTURBANCES ENQUIRY COMMITTEE

8. 1930 - CHAIRMAN, BOMBAY UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE FOR PROMOTING CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES

CHAIRMANSHIPS (Contd…)

(Contd/…….)

9. 1937 - CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON IRRIGATION POLICY BY BOMBAY PRESIDENCY GOVT.

10. 1938 - CHAIRMAN, COURT OF -47 THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, BANGALORE

11. 1941 - PRESIDENT, ALL INDIA -54 MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION

CHAIRMANSHIPS (Contd…)

1. “IF YOUR BUSINESS IS ONLY TO

SWEEP A CROSSING, REMEMBER -

IT IS YOUR DUTY TO MAKE THAT

CROSSING THE BEST SWEPT IN

THE WORLD”

2. “SUCCESS IN LIFE DEPENDS ON

ACTION, i.e, ON WHAT YOU DO, AND

NOT ON WHAT YOU FEEL OR

THINK”

A FEW SAYINGS OF SIR M V

(Contd/…….)

3. “THE PRICE OF SUCCESS IS

HARDWORK”

4. “IT IS BETTER TO SERVE LIKE STEEL

THAN RUST AND WITHER AWAY LIKE

IRON”

5. “TAKE CARE OF THE PIECES WELL.

THE WHOLE WILL TAKE CARE OF

ITSELF”

6. “NATURE NEVER EXCUSES LAPSES”

A FEW SAYINGS (Contd/…….)

(Contd/…….)

7. “COURAGE, CONVICTION AND

CONFIDENCE- SHOULD BE THE

HALLMARKS”

8. “DARE TO DO RIGHT, FEAR TO DO

WRONG”

9. “NEVER TRY TO APPEAR WHAT YOU ARE

NOT”

10. “SACRIFICE MONEY RATHER THAN

PRINCIPLES”

11. “DON’T RECKON ON CHANCES, BUT

WORK HARD”

….AND MANY OTHERS

A FEW SAYINGS (Contd/…….)

1920 - “RECONSTRUCTING INDIA”,

PUBLISHED BY P S KING & SON Ltd.,

LONDON

1932 - “UNEMPLOYMENT IN INDIA .. ITS

CAUSES AND CURE”, PUBLISHED BY

THE BANGALORE PRESS,

BANGALORE

1934 - “PLANNED ECONOMY FOR INDIA”,

PUBLISHED BY THE BANGALORE

PRESS,BANGALORE

1937 - “NATION BUILDING – A FIVE YEAR

PLAN FOR THE PROVINCES”,

PUBLISHED BY THE BANGALORE

PRESS, BANGALORE

BOOKS AUTHORED BY SIR. M. V.

(Contd/…)

1939- “DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT SCHEME –

ECONOMIC PROGRESS BY FORCED

MARCHES”, PUBLISHED BY THE

BANGALORE PRESS, BANGALORE

1943 - “PROSPERITY THROUGH INDUSTRY”,

PUBLISHED BY THE ALL INDIA

MANUFACTURERS’ ORGANIZATION,

BOMBAY

1951 - “MEMOIRS OF MY WORKING LIFE”,

PUBLISHED BY CAXTON PRESS,

BOMBAY

BOOKS AUTHORED (Contd…..)

“SRI VISVESVARAYA IS A MAN OF

INCORRUPTIBLE INTEGRITY AND A

MODEL OF PURITY OF CHARACTER

HIS SIMPLICITY AND SENSE OF CORRECT

BEHAVIOUR ARE EXTRAORDINARY,

RISING SOMETIMES TO AN

UNBELIEVABLE DEGREE

A PURE SOUL AND A GREAT HEART; AND

A PASSIONATELY PATRIOTIC CITIZEN OF

INDIA ……….”

C. RAJAGOPALACHARI

(in 1960)

ABOUT THE GREAT MAN…

“SIR M VISVESVARAYA WAS PERHAPS

THE FIRST TECHNOCRAT TO BECOME A

NATIONAL ICON

WHAT THE NARAYANAMURTHYS AND

THE PREMJIS OF THE IT WORLD ARE

TALKING TODAY, SIR M.V. HAD DINNED

IN THE EARS OF THEN IMPERVIOUS

LEADERS, INDIAN AND BRITISH

NEEDLESS TO SAY, SIR. M.V. WOULD

HAVE USHERED IN THE IT ERA HAD THE

TECHNOLOGY BEEN DEVELOPED IN HIS

TIME

A WORD ABOUT SIR M V…

(Contd/…)

HIS PERCEPTIONS OF MODERN

TECHNOLOGY, HIS EMPHASIS ON MERIT IN

EVERY WALK OF LIFE, THE HIGHEST

FORM OF INTEGRITY, SHUNNING

NEPOTISM AND FAVOURITISM, EFFICIENCY

IN ADMINISTRATION AND OBSERVANCE OF

DISCIPLINE IN LIFE, ARE MORE RELEVANT

TODAY THAN ANY TIME BEFORE”

THE CHIEF OF BUREAU

THE HINDU - SEPTEMBER 2003

(IN VISVESVARAYA MEMORIAL

TRUST PUBLICATION “TRIBUTE”)

A WORD ABOUT SIR MV (Contd…)

HISTORIC MEETS

1955 1960

HISTORIC MEETS 1960

�� SIR M.V IS INDEED A LEGENDARY

FIGURE IN THE INDIAN HISTORY

�� HIS CREATIVITY WAS NOT CONFINED

TO JUST HIS PROFESSIONAL

DISCIPLINE

�� HIS THOUGHTS AND INNOVATIONS

WERE FAR AHEAD OF HIS TIME

� HIS THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS WERE

ALWAYS OUT OF HIS CONCERN FOR

THE MASSES

� HE WAS THE EMBODIMENT OF

DISCIPLINE AND HARD WORK

IN CONCLUSION …

(Contd/…)

THIS IN BRIEF IS A GLIMPSE OF

THE LEGENDARY FIGURE……..

A GREAT ENGINEER

AN EMINENT STATESMAN

AN ECONOMIST PAR EXCELLENCE

AND ABOVE ALL

A PATRIOT OF THE HIGHEST ORDER

******

IN CONCLUSION (CONTD…)

Documents

Biography of Sir.M.Visveshariyah.pdf