As India celebrates Engineers' Day on Sept. 15 in honour of Sir M Visvesvaraya who was one of the greatest engineers that the country has produced, it is also time to discover the offbeat work done by the eminent personality. Sir MV (Sept. 15, 1861 - April 12, 1962), best known for designing and building the Krishna Raja Sagar Dam on the Cauvery in Mysore, has also contributed immensely to other projects that have yielded benefit to many regions across the world. 

Here are some of the lesser-known contributions of Sir M Visvesvaraya: 

  • Designed and developed a full-fledged drinking water system for Egypt.
  • Constructed automated floodgates at the Khadakvasla dam in Pune, Maharashtra.
  • Designed and constructed dams to regulate water flow and supply in Iyasi and Mossi rivers at Hyderabad.
  • Set up the Mysore Bank (now State Bank of Mysore) and served as the founder chairman of the institution.
  • Established the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering aka UVCE, one of the premier engineering institutions, in Karnataka.
  • Founded Government Soap Factory, now called the Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd. (KSDL) that manufactures the well-known Mysore Sandal soap.
  • Developed the Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant at Bhadravati, Karnataka.
  • Established the Sharavati Hydro-Electric Project at the famous Jog Falls.
  • Commissioned the first-ever Bangalore-Mysore railway line in the then Mysore (now Karnataka) state.
  • Developed a project to stop sea erosion of the Vishakhapatnam port.
  • Developed a project for the development of Bhatkal port in Karnataka state.
  • Revamped Maharani's Women's College in Mysore and introduced degree courses in the institution.
  • Established the Sri Jayachamarajendra Polytechnic Diploma institute at Mysore in Karnataka.

Inspirational quotes by Sir M Visvesvaraya

Ideas and thoughts of Sir M.V continue to be an inspiration for today's youth. Check some of these below:

  • "To give real service, you must add something, which cannot be bought or measured with money."
  • "It is better to serve like steel than rust and wither away like iron."
  • "One man will be doing nothing. One man will be resting. Another man will be watching them. Yet another man will be helping these three."