Context:
Engineers’ Day (September 15) was observed to celebrate the birth anniversary of M Visvesvaraya.
M Visvesvaraya:
- Born – 15 September 1861 in Muddenahalli, Kingdom of Mysore (present-day Karnataka).
- Known for his innovative civil engineering solutions.
- Designed the flood protection system for Hyderabad.
- Chief architect behind the construction of the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) dam in Mandya, which transformed barren lands into fertile grounds.
- Served as the 19th Dewan (Prime Minister) of Mysore from 1912 to 1918.
- Instrumental in the economic and industrial development of Mysore.
- Established institutions like the Mysore Soap Factory, Parasitoid Laboratory, and Mysore Iron and Steel Works.
- Advocated for technical education and was instrumental in the establishment of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore.
- Awards and Honors –
- Bharat Ratna – Awarded in 1955, India’s highest civilian honour.
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE) – Honoured by the British government for his contributions.
- Legacy –
- Engineer’s Day – Celebrated on his birthday, 15 September
- Often referred to as “the maker of modern Mysore” for his contributions to the state’s development.
- Death – 1962
Source: The Indian Express
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
1. The first woman President of the Indian National Congress was Sarojini Naidu.
2. The first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress was Badruddin Tyabji.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2015 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is not correct. Annie Besant was the first woman President of Indian National Congress (INC).
