The Exemplar

(By Ekansh Kumar – 020/1)

Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, Knight Commander (1860-1962), was an

engineer of modernity and undoubtedly a symbol of probity. No words can
be sufficient to describe a soul so blessed that he himself once expressed
his wish to be born again.

He was an Engineer, a Dewan, a Scientist, an Industrialist, & most

importantly an honest intellectual devoted to his duty. This study covers his
accolades followed by a salute to the strength of his morals and values.

He did his BA in 1981 & than topped his Engineering (LCE & FCE). He held various important
positions in his life, which have been enumerated below:
1. Assistant Engineer, Bombay Government Service
2. Chief Engineer, Hyderabad State
3. Chief Engineer, Mysore State
4. Secretary, Railways
5. President of Education and Industrial Development committees, Mysore State
6. Dewan of Mysore
7. Chairman, Bhadravati Iron Works
8. Member of the Governing Council of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
9. Member of the Governing Council of Tata Iron and Steel Company
10. Member of Back Bay enquiry committee, London
11. Member of a committee constituted in 1917 to make recommendations regarding the future
of Indian States.

He received numerous laurels, some of which have been listed below:

1. Honorary Membership of London Institution of Civil Engineers
2. Kaisar-i-Hind
3. C.I.E. (Companion of the Indian Empire) at the Delhi Darbar
4. K.C.I.E. (Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire)
5. D.Sc. - Calcutta University
6. LLD - Bombay University
7. D. Litt - Benaras Hindu University
8. Elected as an Honorary Life Member of the Institution of Engineers (India)
9. D.Sc. - Allahabad University
10. Doctorate - LLD., Mysore University
11. D. Litt - Andhra University
12. Honorary Fellowship of the Institute of Town Planners, India
13. ' BHARATHA RATNA'
14. 'Durga Prasad Khaitan Memorial Gold Medal' by the Royal Asiatic Society Council of Bengal
15. Fellowship of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

As discussed above, when everyone was running after him to honour him, he was the one who never
asked for it. He just believed in being dedicated towards duty & it was others who felt honoured by
honouring him. When Mahatma Gandhi was giving the world, the ethics of ‘Non-Violence’, he gave
us another virtue, called ‘Pride of Duty’. Let’s discuss the ethical perspective of such great inventor.
 Sir Visvesvaraya,
The symbolism of Ethical Leadership
Power with Purpose
He clearly specified that doing favours for his relatives was not the
purpose of his position as Dewan

Compassion
He disributed most of his income to his less affluent relatives, & even
marked a small portion of his will for his servants.

Courage
He audaciously resigned when he felt that the denial to position of
Chief Engineer created an inferiority complex for Indians

Integrity
He was very particular about moral soundness. He never overused the
office stationary even by mistake.

Vision
Founder of Mysore University, Architect of India's Nuclear program,
he had a vision unparalled accross the world

Team Oriented
He had the innate ability to make others work. He gave high
importance to his staff & ensured that they are properly looked after.

Teaching
He encouraged educating girls. He believed that only input Indians
need to compete internationally is proper education & training.

Mentoring
In all the vital positions that he held, he inclucated his values into
others who worked with him by creating an environment of discipline

People Centric
He believed that officers in-charge should be praised for working out his
schemes with success. He said 'One can be happy unless everyone around is
happy'

Humble
He didnt like to be praised. He felt that over-praising him would
prejudice people against him all the more.
“Vidya dadati vinayam, vinaya dadati paatrataam, paatratva dhanamaapnoti, dhanat dharmam
tatatsukham.”

This Sanskrit phrase literally translates to

“Education gives Humility; Humility gives Character; from character one gets wealth; from wealth
one gets righteous (dharmam) life; from righteousness gets happiness.”

Sir Visvesvaraya lived this phrase. As discussed above, the life of Sir Visvesvaraya clearly indicated
that respect comes with power for those who use it with humility and honesty. A great leader is one
who leads by example for the global good.

A movie called “Forrest Gump” shows a similar virtue that, success comes to those who are not just
hard working, but worship the work without any second thought.

Therefore, we the business leaders of the future aspire to live a live as honest, clean & full of virtue.