“Hard work performed in a disciplined manner will in most cases keep the worker fit and also prolong his life. The way to build a nation is to build a good citizen. The majority of the citizens should be efficient, of good character and possess a reasonable high sense of duty. To give real service, you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money” – Sir M Visvesvaraya
“Roofs help us to survive, But we build it. No software, No hardware without a proper roof. When civil engineers rest, the world rests. Civil Engineer forever. Civil Engineer rules. Civil Engineer Rocks-Proud to be a Civil Engineer” – a Civil Engineer’s testimony
Mangaluru: “Remember, your work may be only to sweep a railway crossing, but it is your duty to keep it so clean that no other crossing in the world is as clean as yours.”- These were the words of the greatest engineer India has ever seen, Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya- the engineer whose birthday is celebrated as “Engineers Day” all over India on the 15th of September every year. Visvesvaraya is often used as a metaphor here for an extremely intelligent person. We say “He has Visvesvaraya’s brain “. Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya (1860-1962) was a prominent Indian engineer, scholar, visionary, and statesman. Early in his career, he designed the flood protection system for the city of Hyderabad. He served as the Chief Engineer of Mysore in 1909 and the Dewan of Mysore from 1912 to 1918.
As an advocate of the modern industrial civilization and national planning, Visveswaraya led the establishment of the Bhadravati Iron Works, the Krishnarajasagar Dam (KRS) across the Cauvery river, the Mysore Soap Factory, the Parasitoide Laboratory, the Sri Jayachamarajendra Polytechnic Institute, the Bangalore Agricultural University, the State Bank of Mysore, The Century Club, the Mysore Chamber of Commerce, and numerous other institutions and industrial ventures. Visveswaraya published numerous short books on rural development, industrialization, state planning, and nation-building. He was a recipient of the Bharat Ratna, India’s topmost civilian award, in 1955 and was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Indian Empire by King George V for his contributions to the public good. His birthday, 15-September, is celebrated as Engineer’s Day in India in his memory.
Engineers operate at the interface between science and society. To identify the great works done by the hard working engineers each year 15th September is celebrated as Engineers’ Day marking the birth day of Sir Visvesvaraya, recognizing his contributions in the field of hydel energy in India. Like every year, this year also ACCE (I), which comprises of efficient technocrats who have been serving the local community and the nation, acknowledged the work of this great engineer by celebrating this day jubilantly. They interacted and discussed the importance and works of the engineers in today’s era.
Engineers are the harbingers of change. They can change the way the world lives. They are the silent revolutionaries and unsung heroes who ceaselessly engage themselves in nation building activities. On September 15, 2015 to mark the 155th Birth Anniversary of Sir M Visvesvaraya and also the 48th Engineers’ Day, the fraternity of Association of Consulting Civil Engineers (India)- (ACCE(I) Mangalore Centre in association with Ramco Cements Ltd celebrated the occasion at Hotel Ocean Pearl. It was a time to recollect the invaluable contribution made towards the community and the nation building by these gifted engineers, and also about the life and achievements of India’s pioneering and greatest engineer of all times, Sir M Visvesvaraya.
Er Vijaya Vishnu Mayya, the pro-compere of the occasion with his witty punchlines began the programme with thought-provoking words of Civil Engineers- ” We design, We Construct, We Observe, We Initiate, We Drive, We Move, We Accelerate the World, We are the gears of Progress, We are the future of the Nation, We are Engineers, and I am Proud to be an Engineer”, which was followed by invoking God’s blessings through a prayer song rendered by Er Viman Keerthi Jain. Chairman of ACCE(I)- Er Vinayak Pai welcomed the gathering, and spoke about the achievements of ACCE(I)-Mangaluru chapter, and also its contribution to the community.
Light symbolizes knowledge while darkness represents ignorance. Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness. Furthermore, knowledge is a lasting inner wealth by which all outer achievement can be accomplished. Hence we light the lamp in reverence to knowledge as the greatest of all forms of wealth.
Whilst lighting the lamp we thus pray: “Deepajyothi parabrahma, Deepa sarva tamopahaha, Deepena saadhyate saram, Sandhyaa deepo namostute” (I prostrate to the dawn/dusk lamp; whose light is the Knowledge Principle (the Supreme Lord), which removes the darkness of ignorance and by which all can be achieved in life)- thus the inauguration of the “Engineers’day and Launching of Techno-week 2015 was done by garlanding the portrait of Sir M Visvesvaraya and by lighting the traditional lamp.
The honours were done by inaugurator and chief guest Venkatesh M- Director, MRPL, along with guest of honour Anil Kumar Pillai- Deputy General Manager, The Ramco Cements Ltd. and other ACCE (I)-Mangalore Centre members on the dais namely- Er T Vinayak Pai-Chairman, Er Mohammed Iqbal-Secretary, Er Anil S D’Souza- Vice Chairman/Convener of Techno Week 2015, Er Premanand A- Treasurer, Er Vijaya Vishnu Mayya- Past Chairman/Advisor-Techno Week-15, Er Ranganath Aithal- Imm.Past Chairman/Advisor-Techno Week-15, Er Suraj Kumar A and Er Ajith Kumar-both conveners of Techno Week-15 .
Addressing the gathering chief guest Venkatesh M said, ” Engineers are the backbone of development and technology. Sir Visvesvaraya had proved that with dedication, will power and commitment even the impossible could be accomplished. Bharat Ratna Sir M V was considered an engineering wizard. He was not just an engineer, but an individual who was ready to take any work that would contribute to nation building. A genius by his own means, Sir M Vs works remain a tremendous source of inspiration and guiding light for engineers at all times. I humbly request that all the engineers gathered here to follow in the footsteps of Sir M V, because engineers just like Sir M V through their technological feats can transform the world into a better place to live.”
He further said, “Engineers are required for the structural development of a city, and I am glad many of you engineers have played a vital role in the development of Mangaluru City.The City has grown immensely with enormous infrastructure during the past 15 years, and the credit for this success should go all you civil engineers who made it possible. While you all have done a good job to the community, I also urge you to give and share your ideas and knowledge with others who are seeking to get better knowledge and ideas in the field. So, as we all pay salutations to Sir M V, let us make lives better through hard work and through the Principle of Work is Worship which Sir M V advocated”. Through power-point presentation, Venkatesh also briefed about Mangalore Refinery and Petroleum Ltd (MRPL) and what it stands for and what it has done to the society.
Also during the occasion two eminent senior engineers were felicitated, namely Er K I George and Er G R Rai, ( Er T J Lobo, a senior engineer who was also supposed to be felicitated couldn’t make it to the function-he will be felicitated at his residence); Apart from felicitating the senior engineers, a young engineer Er K S Arun Prabha was also felicitated with the ” Anantha Mithra Kalbavi Award”. Arun Prabha is the CEO of Skycell Towers and Infrastructures Pvt Ltd and project Head for TIPL-Tharaka JV for construction of flyovers, Pipe rack cum Road Corridor for Mangaluru Special Economic Zone. He has worked in various capacities in major corporates like Reliance Infocomm as Territory Manager, Jindal South West as AGM, ESSAR constructions Ltd as Joint General Manager, Reliance NMSEZ as asst. Vice President and TVS ICS as Circle Head. He is an empaneled Engineering Arbitrator, Life member of Indian Council of Arbitration, and many more Engineering organizations.
Er Anil Kumar Pillai also spoke on the growth of the Ramco cement Company , where he also said that company conducts tests in cement and concrete and is responsible for finding the suitability of waste/reject material used in the cement industry and contributing substantially for sustainable development. Apart from routine tests, Ramco is involved in finding solutions to concrete challenges faced by various customers and projects. Customers satisfaction is the utmost priority of Ramco Company, he said. Pillai also said that the relationship between Ramco and ACCE-Mangaluru has been great for the last so many years, and will continue in the same trend in the future years where unique projects/programmes will be planned for the betterment of the community.
Er. Mohammad Iqbal-Secretary of the association proposed the vote of thanks, followed by a power point presentation of Smart City Mangaluru-the land of Dancing Gods, well presented by Er Dharmaraj-Proprietor of Dharmaraj Associates being in-house architectural / Technical firm for MCPL. The event was organized successfully and left its imprints like flowing water embarks its impression on a pebbled shore. It gave an opportunity to everyone to remember and cherish the works of Sir Visvesvaraya.
In conclusion, Engineering is not merely knowing and being knowledgeable; engineering is not merely analysis; engineering is not merely the possession of the capacity to get elegant solutions to non-existent engineering problems; engineering is practicing the art of the organized forcing of technological change.Civil engineers build the World, CS/IT create the Magic, Mech/Auto move the World, EEE give power to the World, EC/TC connect the World and make it smaller..Hence Engineers are True Creators- and that’s very much true. Long live the CIVIL ENGINEERS!
