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Engineering is all about applying the theories of science to solve practical problems. Have you ever been impressed by the towering skyscrapers, the streamlined trains, or the technology in India? Behind these incredible structures are brilliant minds from India. Indian engineers have played a crucial role in moulding our modern world. In this blog, we will get to know about some famous engineers in India like Verghese Kurien, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, and Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, to name a few. Their contributions extend far beyond the national borders, impacting industries and societies globally.
Table of Contents
List of Famous Engineers in India
Here is the list of top famous engineers in India to know and get inspiration from them and their contribution to making India proud. This list also highlights their main achievements –
| Famous Engineers | Main Achievements |
| Verghese Kurien | Revolutionised the Indian dairy industry through the establishment of Amul, a cooperative dairy union. |
| Dr A P J Abdul Kalam | Developed India’s nuclear weapons program and served as the 11th President of India. |
| Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya | A pioneer in civil engineering in India, known for his work on irrigation projects and dams. He was also the first Indian engineer to be appointed as the Diwan of Mysore. |
| Satish Dhawan | Played a crucial role in India’s space program, serving as the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). He is credited with overseeing the successful launch of India’s first satellite, Aryabhatta. |
| Vinod Dham | Co-invented the Pentium microprocessor, which revolutionised the personal computer industry. |
| Kalpana Chawla | The first Indian-American woman to go into space. She served as a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Columbia. |
| E. Sreedharan | Known as the “Metro Man” of India for his work on the Delhi Metro and other metro rail projects across the country. |
Also Read – Indian Scientists Who Changed The World
Know All About Famous Engineers in India
Here we have described all the details about the life and career of 7 famous engineers in India with their awards, occupations and for what they are known. Let’s start to learn about them below –
Verghese Kurien
Verghese Kurien was an Indian dairy engineer and social entrepreneur. He made a big contribution to the white revolution in India. He did his schooling at Diamond Jubilee Higher Secondary School. In 1940 he graduated in physics and in 1943 he received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
| All About Verghese Kurien | |
| Name | Verghese Kurien |
| Born | 26 November 1921Calicut, Madras Presidency, |
| Died | 9 September 2012 (aged 90) Nadiad, Gujarat, India. |
| Alma mater | University of MadrasMichigan State University |
| Occupation(s) | dairy engineer social entrepreneur |
| Known for | White Revolution in India |
| Awards | Ramon Magsaysay Award (1964) Padma Shri (1965) Padma Bhushan (1966) World Food Prize (1989) Order of Agricultural Merit (1997) Padma Vibhushan (1999) |
Dr A P J Abdul Kalam
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was an Indian aerospace scientist and statesman who served as the 11th president of India from 2002 to 2007. In Kalam’s school year, he used to score average but was considered a brilliant student who had a desire to learn. He settled in Madras to study aerospace engineering in 1955. His dedication to science and technology with his vision for India’s development made him a beloved figure.
| All About Dr A P J Abdul Kalam | |
| Name | Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam |
| Born | 15 October 1931 Rameswaram, Madras |
| Died | 27 July 2015 (aged 83) Shillong, Meghalaya, India |
| Alma mater | St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli (BEng) Madras Institute of Technology (MEng) |
| Notable work(s) | Wings of FireIndia 2020 Ignited MindsIndomitable Spirit Transcendence: My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji |
Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya
Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya was an Indian civil engineer, administrator and statesman. He served the 19th Dewan of Mysore. In India, he is remembered as the foremost civil engineer and his birthday is celebrated on the 15th of September as Engineer’s Day in India. He played a crucial role in building dams, irrigation projects and hydroelectric power plants. His contributions towards India get him the title of “Father of Modern Mysore”.
| About Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya | |
| Name | Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya |
| Born | Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya 15 September 1861 Muddenahalli, Kingdom of Mysore, British India |
| Died | 12/14 April 1962 (aged 100) Bangalore, Mysore State, India |
| Alma mater | Central College, Bangalore College of Engineering, Pune University of Madras University of Bombay |
| Profession | Civil engineer and statesman |
| Awards | Bharat Ratna (1955) |
Also Read – Famous Mathematicians of All Times
Satish Dhawan
Satish Dhawan is known as the father of experimental fluid dynamics research in India. He was an Indian mathematician and aerospace engineer. Satish Dhawan served as the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation during a period of significant growth and achievement, supervising the development of India’s first satellite launch and the successful launch of several satellites.
| About Satish Dhawan | |
| Name | Satish Dhawan |
| Born | 25 September 1920 |
| Died | 3 January 2002 (aged 81) Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Alma mater | University of Punjab (BA and MA) Punjab Engineering College (BE) University of Minnesota (MS) California Institute of Technology (PhD) |
| Known for | Indian space programme |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan(1971) Padma Vibhushan(1981) |
| Fields | Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering |
| Institutions | Indian Space Research OrganisationIndian Institute of Science California Institute of TechnologyNational Aerospace Laboratories |
| Thesis | Direct Measurements of Skin Friction (1951) |
Vinod Dham
Vinod Dham is also known as the ‘Father of the Pentium Chip’ for his contribution to the development of Intel’s Pentium microprocessor. He is an Indian-American entrepreneur, engineer and venture capitalist. He received Padma Bhushan(1971) and Padma Vibhushan(1981) for his contributions to semiconductor industries.
Credit: Smart CEO
| About Vinod Dham | |
| Name | Vinod Dham |
| Born | 1950 (age 73–74) Pune, Maharashtra State, India |
| Education | B.Tech, MS |
| Alma mater | Delhi College of Engineering (Delhi Technological University); Delhi University, |
Kalpana Chawla
Kalpana Chawla was the first Indian woman of India to fly in space. She was an astronaut and aerospace engineer. In 2001, she made her first spaceflight aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. During her second mission which was in 2003, The Columbia disintegrated during atmospheric reentry, resulting in the tragic deaths of all seven crew members. Kalpana’s determination, courage and passion for space exploration still inspire many people all over the world.
| About Kalpana Chawla | |
| Name | Kalpana Chawla |
| Born | March 17, 1962 Karnal, Haryana, India |
| Died | February 1, 2003 (aged 40) Over Texas, U.S |
| Education | Punjab Engineering College (BEng) University of Texas, Arlington (MS) University of Colorado, Boulder (MS, PhD) |
| Fields | Aerospace engineering |
| Awards | Congressional Space Medal of Honor NASA Distinguished Service Medal NASA Space Flight Medal |
E. Sreedharan
E. Sreedharan is well known for changing the face of transportation in India while leading in building the Konkan Railway and the Delhi Metro. He also served as the managing director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). He got many awards such as Padma Shri (2001), Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur (2005), Padma Vibhushan (2008) etc.
| About E. Sreedharan | |
| Name | E. Sreedharan |
| Born | Elattuvalapil Sreedharan12 June 1932 |
| Age | 92 |
| Alma mater | G.L.P.S Chathanur, Government Victoria College, Palakkad, KeralaUniversity College of Engineering, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh (JNTUK) |
| Occupation | Civil engineer (retired) Politician |
| Known for | Konkan Railway, Delhi Metro, Kochi Metro and other rail-related developments |
| Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party (2021-2021) |
| Awards | Padma Shri (2001) Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur (2005) Padma Vibhushan (2008) Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star (2013) G-Files Award (2013) |
FAQs
India’s most prolific engineer is Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya. He studied civil engineering in Pune and then after completing his degree began his career as an assistant engineer.
The youngest engineer in India is Nirbhay Thacker who had completed her b.tech in one year which is usually of 4 years.
Some of the popular engineers are Nikola Tesla, Thomas Edison, and Isambard Kingdom Brunel etc.
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This was all about Famous Engineers in India. If you want to know more about other Famous Personalities then visit our General Knowledge page!