Bengaluru, The Karnataka government has approved the observance of September 15, the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Sir M Visvesvaraya, as ‘Engineers’ Day‘, in recognition of the invaluable contribution made by engineers toward the development and economic progress of the country.
The government also permitted the use of the title “Er.” (Engineer) before the names of engineers.
The government’s order came hours after Chief Minister D K Shivakumar made the announcement.
Recently on September 5 — Teachers’ Day — the state government allowed teachers in the state to use the prefix ‘Tr’ before their names as a mark of respect for their contribution to society.
The prefix is akin to professional titles such as ‘Dr’ for medical doctors and ‘Prof’ for professors.
“In recognition of the invaluable contribution of engineers who continuously strive for the development and economic progress of the country, the Government has accorded permission and issued an order to observe September 15, the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya, as “Engineers’ Day” and to use the title “Er.” (Engineer) before the names of engineers,” the government order said.
The G.O in its preamble said, “the role of engineers in the progress of society and in shaping the modern world is of paramount importance. It would not be an exaggeration to say that engineers are not merely designers of machines; rather, they are architects of the future who shape it by finding technological solutions to the challenges faced by humanity.” “Recognizing the significant role played by engineers in the development of the nation, and in order to honour the remarkable contributions made by Sir M. Visvesvaraya to the nation, it has been decided to officially declare and commemorate his birth anniversary, September 15, as “Engineers’ Day.” It has also been decided to honour his contributions through a distinctive title,” it said.
Accordingly, engineers in Karnataka may proudly use the prefix “Er.” before their names, it said, adding that “This is not merely a combination of two letters; rather, it represents and symbolizes the lifelong service and contribution of engineers.” Earlier in the day, Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced that the state government would celebrate Engineers’ Day officially from next year.
Speaking to reporters after garlanding the statue of renowned engineer and statesman Sir M Visvesvaraya here, he said, “More than one lakh engineers are being produced in our state every year. Karnataka has the highest number of engineers in India, and it is our responsibility to recognise them… All engineers across the length and breadth of the state should take note of this. It is our responsibility to respect you.” Calling engineers an asset to the country, the CM said they put into practice the research and discoveries of scientists. “Engineers lay the foundation for all development.” He further said engineers had traditionally been recognised for their contribution to architecture and construction, but their role had now expanded to areas such as energy, infrastructure and information technology.
“Visvesvaraya is a role model for the country. His contribution to Karnataka is immense,” Shivakumar said.
Born on September 15, 1861, at Muddenahalli in Chikkaballapur District, Visvesvaraya, one of India’s greatest engineers, the architect of modern Mysore State, and a great patriot, made invaluable and unforgettable contributions to the nation.
Noting that during the reign of Maharaja Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, Sir M. Visvesvaraya served as the 19th Diwan of the Mysore State from 1912 to 1918, the preamble listed his contributions and achievements across various fields including — the construction of the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) Dam, establishment of Bhadravati Iron and Steel Works, Mysore Sandalwood Oil Factory and Mysore Soap Factory, University of Mysore, State Bank of Mysore, Kannada Sahitya Parishat in Bengaluru. PTI
