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Sir. M. Vishweshwariah

Saturday, 24 May 2008

Mokshagundam Vishweshwariah, popularly and afectionately known as Sir M.V., was born on September 15, 1860 in a village known as Muddenahalli in Chikballapur Taluk, Kolar District. His father died in Kurnool when Visvesvaraya was just 15 years old. Visvevaraya completed his lower secondary schooling in Chikballapur. After schooling he joined Central College in Bangalore for his graduation. He lead a very simple life. He was a strict vegetarian and a teetotaller. He would go to sleep by 10 P.M. and wake up at 6 A.M. His diet included a very light breakfast, two slices of bread or chappatis,vegetables without spcices, rasam, curds, Nanjangud bannanas for lunch. He was known for his honesty and integrity. Before accepting the position of Dewan of Mysore, he invited all his relatives for dinner. He told them very clearly that he would accept the prestigous office on the condition that none of them would approach him for favours. Such things are unheard of these days. Some of the job positions he held were Assistand Engineer, Bombay Government Service [in 1884] Chief Engineer, Hyderabad State [he served only for 7 months starting April 15, 1909] Chief Engineer in Mysore State [Nov 15, 1909]. He was also Secretary to the Railways. President of Education and Industrial Development committees in Mysore State Dewan of Mysore. [for six years starting 1912] Chairman, Bhadravati Iron Works Member of the Governing Council of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore Member of the Governing Council of Tata Iron and Steel Company [TISCO] Member of Back Bay enquiry committee, London Member of a committee constituted in 1917 to make recommendations regarding the future of Indian States. Sir M.V. retired in 1908 and Sri Krishnarajendra Wodeyar, Maharaja of Mysore, was eager to secure the services of Visvesvaraya to serve Mysore. He joined as Chief Engineer in Mysore because he wanted challenging opportunities. Sir M.V. had earned a reputation for his honesty, integrity, ability and intelligence. He had introduced compulsory education in the State which later was embodied as a fundamental right in the Constitution of independent India. To name few of the many things he was responsible for: Architect of the Krishnarajasagara dam - or KRS or Brindavan gardens, One of the biggest dams in India which irrigates a hundred and twenty thousand acres of land. Bhadravati Iron and Steel Works - as its Chairman he rescued it from becoming extinct. Mysore Sandal Oil Factory and the Mysore soap factory Mysore University - Sir M.V.'s question was "If Australia and Canada could have universitites of their own for less than a million population, cannot Mysore with a population of not less that 60 lakhs have a University of its own?" State Bank of Mysore (it was first named The Bank of Mysore) Public libraries in Mysore and Bangalore Encouraging girls to attend school. Mysore Chamber of Commerce Kannada Sahitya Parishad or the Kannada Literary Academy Sri Jayachamarajendra Occupational Institute, Bangalore - funded by the ENTIRE money [Rs 2 lacs] he earned from rescuing Bhadravati Iron Works (Modern Politicians - please learn something from Sir M.V.) Sir M.V. was never interested in fame or publicity. But they came to him on their own. Every university in India sought him out to confer honoris causa. The univs of Allahabad, Andhra, Bombay, Calcutta, Jadhavpur, Mysore, Patna  and Varanasi.

 

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