SIR MOKSHAGUNDAM VISVESVARAYA
HALLMARK OF A GENIUS
ON THE BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF SIR M VISVESVARAYA, TOI LOOKS AT THE MAN AND HIS IMMENSE CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY
It may come as a surprise to many to know that the famed sandalwood soap from Bangalore was also sent to troops in faraway Mesopotamia (largely modern-day Iraq) almost 96 years ago. All possible thanks to the genius of Sir M Visvesvaraya, the then dewan of Mysore.
Visvesvaraya ensured that Bangalore made significant contributions, including the iconic Mysore sandal soap. And, the Indian Institute of Science was the institution privileged to foster his vision.
Science historian B V Subbarayappa says Visvesvaraya was deeply interested in the industrialisation of Mysore. “His association with IISc had its impact on applied research at the institute. He was nominated to the council of the institute by the government of Mysore in place of T Ananda Rao on the latter’s retirement from the office of the Dewan.”
It was in 1914, Subbarayappa points out in his book, ‘In Pursuit of Excellence: A history of IISc’, that the Mysore government requested the institute’s applied chemistry department to conduct experiments on the manufacture of soaps using easily available oils. “Soon, a five tonne soap plant was ordered to be built with the intention of setting up a soap factory near the institute. Much of the soap procured in trial experimentation at the institute was sent by the Indian Red Cross Society to troops in Mesopotamia during the First World War operations,” observes Subbarayappa. In 1915, Visvesvaraya enabled the setting up of a pilot experimental sandalwood oil unit. He got two students to undergo training at IISc with scholarships to work as assistant chemists in the Government Sandalwood Oil Factory.
Visvesvaraya also introduced compulsory education in Mysore state, which later was embodied as a fundamental right in the Constitution of independent India. Visvesvaraya was responsible for other achievements like the Krishnarajasagara dam, Bhadravati Iron and Steel Works, Mysore Sandal Oil Factory and the Mysore Soap Factory.
A vital contribution was the setting up of Mysore University. Visvesvaraya is believed to have asked: “If Australia and Canada can have universities 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? Can we not have public libraries in Mysore and Bangalore? And can we not encourage girls to attend school?”
He also helped set up the Kannada Sahitya Parishath and Sri Jayachamarajendra Occupational Institute in Bangalore. When the birth centenary was celebrated at Lalbagh, the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru flew down to Bangalore by a special plane to honour “the greatest son of India”.
SIMPLE LIVING
He led a very simple life, was a strict vegetarian and a teetotaler. He would go to bed by 10pm and wake up at 6am. His light breakfast and lunch included two slices of bread or chappatis, vegetables without spices, rasam, curds and Nanjangud bananas. His honesty and integrity were legendary. Before accepting the position of Dewan of Mysore, he invited all his relatives for dinner. He told them very clearly he would accept the prestigious office on the condition that none of them would approach him for favours.
SNAPSHOTS
• Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, popularly known as Sir M V, was born on September 15, 1860 at Muddenahalli in Chikballapur taluk, Kolar district
• After lower secondary schooling in Chikballapur, he joined Central College, Bangalore for his graduation
• Sir M V died on April 12, 1962 at the age of 102. As per his wish, he was cremated at his birthplace, Muddenahalli
HONOURS
1904 Honorary continuous membership of London Institution of Civil Engineers for 50 years 1906 Kaisar-i-Hind for services rendered 1911 Companion of the Indian Empire 1915 Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire 1921 DSc - Calcutta University 1931 LLD - Bombay University 1937 D.Litt - Benaras Hindu University 1943 Elected honorary life member of Institution of Engineers (India) 1944 DSc - Allahabad University 1948 LLD - Mysore University 1953 DLitt - Andhra University 1953 Honorary fellowship of Institute of Town Planners, India
IN SERVICE
• Assistant Engineer, Bombay Government Service
• Chief Engineer, Hyderabad State
• Chief engineer, Mysore State
• Secretary, Railways
• President, education and industrial development committees, Mysore State
• Dewan of Mysore for six years from 1912
• Chairman, Bhadravati Iron Works
• Member, governing council, IISc
• Member, governing council, Tata Iron and Steel Company
• Member, Back Bay enquiry committee, London, to make recommendations future of Indian states
• Retired in 1908
