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Introduction: Remembering the Engineers Who Made Modern India Possible

India’s journey from darkness to electrification was not automatic.
It was engineered.

Before power became a utility, before grids became national assets, and before electricity became invisible in daily life, there were engineers who worked with:

• Limited resources

• Immature technology

• Enormous responsibility

They were not celebrities.
They were not influencers.
Most of them worked quietly, often anonymously, building systems that outlived their names.

This article is a tribute, an inspiration, and a celebration of notable electrical engineers in Indian history who contributed directly to the development of electrical engineering and power infrastructure in the country.

Electrical Engineering in India: A Brief Context

Electrical engineering in India evolved through three defining phases:

1. Pre-Independence Foundations – Early power generation, rail electrification, and industrial electrification

2. Post-Independence Nation Building – Grid expansion, public utilities, and institutional development

3. Modernization and Stabilization – Reliability, scale, and professionalization of power systems

The engineers highlighted here worked within electrical engineering itself, not as administrators or political figures.

Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya (1861–1962)

Electrical & Systems Engineering Influence

Although widely remembered as a civil engineer and statesman, Visvesvaraya’s contribution to electrical power planning and industrial electrification in princely Mysore was foundational.

He strongly advocated:

• Planned electrification

• Industrial power supply

• Technical education linked to infrastructure

Under his influence, Mysore became one of the earliest regions in India to adopt organized power generation and distribution for public and industrial use.

His work demonstrated that engineering leadership must serve national development, not personal recognition.

Sir J. C. Bose (1858–1937)

Electrical and Electromagnetic Research Pioneer

Jagadish Chandra Bose was one of the earliest Indian pioneers in electrical and electromagnetic engineering research.

His work on:

• Radio waves

• Microwave optics

• Semiconductor-like properties of materials

laid foundations that later influenced:

• Wireless communication

• Solid-state electronics

• Electrical instrumentation

Bose remained committed to open science, refusing patents and commercial exploitation, a rare ethical stance even by today’s standards.

Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha (1909–1966)

Electrical Power Systems for Atomic Energy

While known primarily as a nuclear physicist, Bhabha’s contributions deeply involved electrical power engineering.

India’s atomic energy program required:

• Reliable power generation

• High-voltage systems

• Precision electrical control and safety

Bhabha emphasized interdisciplinary engineering rigor and created ecosystems where electrical engineers played a central role in national strategic infrastructure.

E. Sreedharan’s Early Electrical Engineering Contributions

Rail Electrification Systems

Before becoming known for large transport projects, E. Sreedharan worked extensively on railway electrification and electrical systems.

His work involved:

• Power supply coordination

• Electrical safety

• System reliability under Indian conditions

Rail electrification remains one of India’s largest electrical engineering achievements, demanding discipline, precision, and accountability.

Power Engineers of the State Electricity Board Era

Between the 1950s and 1980s, India’s electrification was carried forward by thousands of engineers working in:

• State Electricity Boards

• Thermal and hydro power plants

• Transmission and distribution networks

Most of their names are not recorded publicly.

Yet they:

• Designed substations

• Managed grid stability

• Expanded rural electrification

• Maintained aging infrastructure under extreme constraints

This generation defined engineering as public service, not a corporate career path.

Educators and Institution Builders in Electrical Engineering

Equally important were the engineers who built knowledge systems.

Professors and researchers at institutions like:

• IISc Bengaluru

• IITs

• Regional engineering colleges

developed:

• Power system curricula

• Electrical machines research

• Control and protection methodologies

They trained generations of engineers who went on to build India’s grids, industries, and institutions.

Their legacy is human capital, not monuments.

Part 2: What Today’s Electrical Engineers Must Learn from Them

This tribute is incomplete without reflection.

1. Engineering Was Treated as Responsibility, Not Branding

These engineers did not seek visibility.
They focused on systems that worked.

Modern engineers must remember:

• Reliability matters more than recognition

• Silent success often sustains nations

2. Ethics Were Embedded in Practice

Safety, honesty, and accountability were not optional.

Approving unsafe systems was unthinkable.

Electrical engineering ethics were lived daily, not taught in workshops.

3. Constraints Were Normal, Not Excuses

They worked with:

• Limited tools

• Manual calculations

• Minimal automation

Yet they delivered systems that still operate decades later.

Constraints sharpened engineering judgment.

4. Engineering Was Nation-First

Most decisions were guided by:

• Public interest

• Long-term stability

• Social impact

Personal gain was secondary.

This mindset is increasingly rare—and increasingly necessary.

Why Remembering These Engineers Matters Today

India is entering a new electrical era:

• Renewable energy

• EV infrastructure

• Smart grids

• Electrified transport

The scale is larger.
The consequences of failure are greater.

Without ethical grounding and historical awareness, technology alone will not save us.

Conclusion: Carrying the Legacy Forward

Electrical engineering in India is not just a profession.
It is a continuum.

Every engineer today stands on foundations built by:

• Known pioneers

• Unknown field engineers

• Teachers, planners, and system builders

This article is not a closing—it is a reminder.

To practice electrical engineering is to inherit a responsibility that extends beyond jobs, salaries, and trends.

It is to keep the lights on—safely, honestly, and for everyone.

Electrical engineering has not become irrelevant.
It has become uncomfortable.

Uncomfortable for students expecting quick results.
Uncomfortable for colleges stuck in old teaching methods.
Uncomfortable for those comparing it with software careers.

The discomfort comes from real structural challenges, not from lack of scope.

One of the biggest shocks for graduates is this:

Electrical engineering does not reward freshers instantly.

• Entry-level salaries are modest

• Early roles may involve site work, maintenance, or support

• Career acceleration takes time

This creates the false impression that the field has “no future.”

Reality:
Electrical engineering rewards responsibility and experience, not quick switching.

Many graduates struggle because:

• Labs are outdated

• Exposure to real equipment is limited

• Industry tools are rarely taught properly

As a result:

• Students know formulas

• But not systems

Employers do not reject degrees — they reject unusable skills.

Electrical engineering careers are:

• Less visible on social media

• Less advertised on campus

• Less talked about by influencers

Most hiring happens through:

• Contractors

• Industry references

• Project-based recruitment

This invisibility creates anxiety, especially for students from smaller towns.

A large number of students treat:

• GATE

• PSU jobs

…as the only respectable outcome.

This creates:

• Extreme competition

• Psychological pressure

• Career paralysis if not cleared

PSUs are valid — but not the only respectable engineering careers.

Many electrical engineering students do not know:

• What roles exist

• What skills map to which jobs

• What to do beyond exams

Without guidance, effort gets wasted in the wrong direction.

Now the important part — what rarely gets explained clearly.

Electrical engineers are central to:

• Power grids

• Renewable energy

• EV charging networks

• Railways and metros

• Data centers and hospitals

These are not optional industries.
They grow as the country grows.

Electrical engineering is infrastructure-proof.

Unlike trend-driven careers:

• Electrical engineering skills age well

• Responsibility increases earning power

• Senior engineers are difficult to replace

A 10–15 year experienced electrical engineer often holds:

• Decision-making power

• System ownership

• Long-term job security

This compounding effect is poorly understood by students.

Electrical engineering allows clear differentiation through skills:

• Power systems

• Protection and relays

• Power electronics

• PLC / SCADA

• EV systems

• Industrial automation

You do not need to compete with everyone — only within your specialization.

Many students exit electrical engineering early due to frustration.

This creates:

• High crowd at entry level

• Low competition at advanced levels

Engineers who persist and upskill often find themselves rare and valuable later.

Electrical engineers can work as:

• Consultants

• Project engineers

• System designers

• Independent contractors

• Technical trainers

Electrical engineering allows non-linear career paths, unlike many desk-only roles.

Electrical engineering demands:

• Patience

• Practical learning

• Long-term thinking

In return, it offers:

• Stability

• Purpose

• Societal relevance

• Technical depth

This is not a hype-driven career.
It is a civilization-building career.