Prophet of Modernity

Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya (1861–1962) was arguably the most famous Indian engineer of the twentieth century. And yet he was also much more. To this day, much in India bears the imprint of Visvesvaraya’s work—not only as civil engineer, but also as public administrator, constitutional analyst, and development thinker. His legacies include innovations in irrigation, multipurpose dams, piped water supply systems, technical institutions, industrial enterprises, and transformed cityscapes. He was an early proponent of economic planning and rapid, large-scale industrialization, which he believed were essential for national development. Yet he has remained an enigmatic figure. Despite his legendary status, little is known about the man, his strengths and foibles, the conflicts and negotiations involved in his career. How do we assess his technical achievements against those of his professional contemporaries? What were the intellectual and professional influences that shaped him? In what ways did his background as an engineer mould his conception of economic development? How were his essentially technocratic views received in his lifetime, and what do we make of them today? These are some of the key questions that Aparajith Ramnath explores in Engineering a Nation. Based on in-depth archival research, field visits, and interviews, the book provides a vivid portrait of Visvesvaraya’s eight-decade-long public career. Throughout, it highlights the historical context in which he worked. To explore Visvesvaraya’s life, the book argues, is to understand the emergence of the Indian nation itself. The author will be in conversation with Dr. Jahnavi Phalkey, followed by an audience Q&A.

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