India has been significantly enriched by the remarkable contributions of two eminent visionaries, Sir M. Visvesvaraya in the domain of water engineering and Dr. M. S. Swaminathan in the realm of agricultural science. Sir M. Visvesvaraya, a pioneering civil engineer, played a pivotal role in India’s water management systems. His ingenious ideas and pragmatic approach led to the design and implementation of the Krishna Raja Sagara dam, revolutionizing irrigation and flood control in the Deccan region. His expertise and innovative solutions have continued to shape India’s water infrastructure, ensuring sustainable resource utilization.
On the other hand, Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, hailed as the “Father of the Green Revolution,” has been a stalwart in the field of agricultural science. His groundbreaking research and advocacy for advanced agricultural practices have immensely benefited India’s agrarian landscape. Dr. Swaminathan’s introduction of high-yielding crop varieties, coupled with modern farming techniques, catalyzed a surge in agricultural productivity, alleviating food scarcity and transforming India into a self-sufficient nation. The collaborative impact of Sir M. Visvesvaraya’s water engineering expertise and Dr. M. S. Swaminathan’s agricultural innovations has been instrumental in propelling India towards sustainable development, ensuring food security and efficient water resource management.
Tag: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Decoding the Question:
- In the Introduction, define in brief both the concept of water engineering and agriculture.
- In Body,
- Discuss Sir M. Visvesvaraya’s contribution in the field of water engineering.
- Discuss M.S Swaminathan’s contributions in the field of agricultural science.
- Conclude with highlighting the importance of the role of Indians in Science.
Answer:
The British rule in India neglected modernization of Indian agriculture and little was done to improve the irrigation system. After independence, India did not have enough to feed its burgeoning population and it was forced to subsist on “ship-to-mouth” existence.
At these junctures, two personalities M Visvesvaraya and MS Swaminathan- emerged who revolutionized their respective fields of knowledge, contributing enormously to India’s development.
Sir M. visvesvaraya’s contribution to the field of water engineering:
- The designing and patenting of a system of automatic weir floodgates were attributed to him in 1903. Later, this technology helped in managing floods in various cities and regions in the country.
- He constructed the great Krishna Raj Sagar dam to fulfill the agricultural demand for water in surrounding areas. This dam helped to improve technology adoption among farmers in the region due to the availability of water.
- Design of flood protection system for the city of Hyderabad to protect the city from floods of Mussi river. This flood-controlling system helped the city to manage floods and it also helped to use this flood water effectively for different uses such as for agriculture, industries, etc.
- His water engineering works also helped the Port of Visakhapatnam from tides and waves
M.S Swaminathan’s contributions in the field of Agricultural Science:
- A plant geneticist by training, Professor Swaminathan’s contributions to the agricultural renaissance of India have led to his being widely referred to as the scientific leader of the green revolution movement.
- Recognized worldwide for his basic and applied research in genetics, cytogenetics, radiation and chemical mutagenesis, and food, and biodiversity conservation, he conceptualized the ever-green revolution movement in agriculture.
- Swaminathan is the visionary who took India from the bondage of the ‘Ship to Mouth’ existence to the freedom of the ‘Right to Food’ through homegrown food.
- Apart from serving as head of various national and international institutions, he headed the National Commission on Farmers (NCF) constituted in 2004 to address the nationwide calamity of farmer suicides in India.
India needs to adhere to the visions of these two men, especially when our agrarian challenges are mounting due to erratic rainfall, cycles of floods and droughts, unsustainable practices, and other endemic issues. Such people not only led to welfare and development but also inspired generations to work with a similar spirit to tackle contemporary challenges.
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