Prof. Natraj began humbly expressing that a personality like Sir MV does not need a certification from lesser mortals like himself adding that he was honored to be the speaker of the day. He used the forum to introduce the character of the man behind the ‘first-ever technocrat India saw’ to the young audience. A personality whose foot prints are all over the country; one who has initiated and successfully executed countless development projects, an institution builder, a nation builder, Sir MV has brought in technical knowhow from other countries to India during his services as an Assistant Engineer at PWD, Bombay Presidency, Chief Engineer Hyderabad State, President of Education and Industrial Committees, Mysore State, Dewan, Mysore State, Member of the Governing Councils of IISc and TISCO and other significant positions. Even after retirement, he has consistently emphasized the need for engineering & technology in national development.
A man whose thinking and vision were far ahead of his times and a recipient of various honors and awards including being conferred with ‘Bharat Ratna‘ — the highest distinction of the country, Sir M.V. had earned a reputation for his honesty, integrity, ability and intelligence. Yet, he held all honors lightly on his shoulders and walked the motto he truly believed in — “Work is Worship”, said Prof. Natraj.
Sir MV’s abilities were aptly recognized by the Maharaja of Mysore, His Highness Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, who convinced him to lend his services to the then Mysore State. He was offered the position of Dewan and given complete responsibility of all the development projects. His approaches have always been technical and he never understood the political and social nuances of Planning, he said, adding that Sir MV enjoyed the advantages of unconditional support of a progressive thinking Maharaja in Mysore and worked in an era with lesser political conflicts than we have today. Sir MV used these to the fullest advantage and played a prominent role in the establishment of the University of Mysore, University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE) and other educational institutions. His scientific temper and staunch belief that Education will make a significant difference is just another instance of his far-sighted thinking. He gave immense attention to education, women’s education in particular. This is well demonstrated in the fact that he introduced compulsory education in the State in the pre-Independence days which later was embodied as a fundamental right in the Constitution of independent India.
Though born in the remote village of Muddenahalli near Kolar, raised in a conservative family like Dr. B R Ambedkar, he was not carried away by the romanticism of Rural India, nor was he impressed by the 'panchayati raj', and has expressed his thoughts on moving populations from agricultural sectors to industrial sectors. He championed the cause of industrialization and insisted on the importance of the processes of Data Collection, Data Collation and Data Analysis to make intelligible decisions. He differed on controversial issues of reservations which he believed would come in the way of efficiency and hence resigned from being the Dewan of Mysore State, but continued as the Chief Engineer. His perceptions of modern technology, his emphasis on merit in every walk of life, exhibition of the highest form of integrity, his shunning of nepotism and favoritism, efficiency in administration and observance of discipline in life, are more relevant today than any time before — were the key take aways of his address to the young gathering.
Shri Krishna Swami in his address shared his personal encounters dating back to the days of Dewan Sir Mirza Ismail and later during the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Indian Institute of Science in 1959. He shared a few anecdotes revolving around him being a stickler for punctuality, a strict disciplinarian; a simple man with an unerring sense of honesty, integrity and professionalism and for always being an impeccably well-dressed man suiting the various occasions and forums he represented. Sir MV belongs to that small band of eminent Indians whose ideas and achievements have been among the truly creative and formative force of modern India, he said. He hoped to see the ‘Visvesvaraya spirit’ coming alive in enthusing the young generations of today. Shri Krishna Swami was felicitated by MYRA in the traditional way — a shawl and a bouquet of fruits.
An intensive interaction by the students followed with interesting questions on the most brilliant engineering feat of Sir MV; how Sir MV would have addressed the problems that the country faces today; and questions on whether he would he be a misfit amongst the political anarchy that exists today — were some of the issues shared by the gathering.
In his valedictory address, Dr. Shrijay Urs, Executive Director of MYRA said that while Sir MV had dedicated his life towards nation building and epitomized all the qualities of an ideal engineer throughout his life, he was also a management guru and an able administrator in his own style, and therefore it was thought very appropriate for MYRA to celebrate this day.
A report: http://goo.gl/f5dDJp
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