Book Launch: Engineering a Nation: The Life and Career of M. Visvesvaraya (1861–1962)
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 industrialisation, which he believed were essential for national development. Most of all, he was an ardent technocrat: a believer in the power of science and technology to solve society’s most pressing problems. Technocratic visions are once more at the centre of public discourse today: as in Visvesvaraya’s day, they hold much promise, but also have important limitations.
In Engineering a Nation, Aparajith Ramnath delves into a wide range of sources to paint a balanced picture of a man who has come to be regarded as a national icon. Based on in-depth archival research, field visits, and interviews, the book explores the professional and intellectual relationships that shaped Visvesvaraya, and 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.
About the author: Aparajith Ramnath is a historian of science, technology, and business. He is an Associate Professor in the Humanities and Languages division, School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University.
In conversation with: Leya Mathew is an Assistant Professor at the School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University. She has a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania.
Date: Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Time: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM IST
Venue: Ahmedabad University Bookstore, Central Campus
