Ajudhiya Nath Khosla

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Dr. A.N. Khosla
Born 1892
Jalandhar, Punjab
Died 1984 (92 years)
Cause of death Natural
Monuments
Nationality Indian
Education BA, 1912
CE, 1916, IIT Roorkee
Alma mater IIT Roorkee (then Thomason College of Civil Engineering)
Known for being an eminent Engineer, educationist and social activist
Awards
Notes
Ajudhia Nath Khosla
14th Governor of Odisha
In office
16 September 1962 – 5 August 1966
Preceded by Yeshwant Narayan Sukthankar
Succeeded by Khaleell Ahommed
Governor of Odisha
In office
12 September 1966 – 30 January 1968
Preceded by Khaleell Ahommed
Succeeded by Shaukatullah Shah Ansari
Personal details
Born (1892-12-11)11 December 1892
New Delhi
Died 1984
Nationality Indian
Profession Engineer
Politician
Awards Padma Bhushan(1954)

Ajudhia Nath Khosla (11 December 1892 – 1984) [2] was an Indian engineer and politician. He was the Chairman of the Central Waterways Irrigation and Navigation Commission of India.[3]

Khosla was born in New Delhi, and worked as Vice Chancellor of the University or Roorkee from 1954 to 1959.[4] He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1954 and Padma Vibhushan in 1977.[5] He was nominated as member of the Rajya Sabha the Upper house of Indian Parliament in 1958, but resigned in 1959 and joined the Planning Commission of India.[6][7][8] He was the Governor of Odisha from September 1962 to August 1966 and again from September 1966 to January 1968.[9] He was the president of Indian National Science Academy from 1961-62.[10]

Education

Born in Jalandhar district of Punjab, he took up his early education there. After passing the matriculation in 1908 he took his BA with honours from D.A.V. College, Lahore, in 1912. He then joined the Thomason College of Civil Engineering (now IIT Roorkee) in 1913 and passed out in 1916 as Civil Engineer.

Career

After graduating in 1916, he started his career with the Irrigation Branch of the Punjab Public Works Department. In few years, the Indian Service of Engineers (ISE) was established (1919) and he was allotted his first assignment (September 1917– March 1921) for surveys and investigations of Bhakra Dam Project . During this period, he spent 18 months on deputation to Mesopotamia as a commissioned officer with the Indian Expeditionary Force. While serving there (1918–1920) he developed Khosla Disc for precision levelling across rivers and wide valleys. From 1921 to 1926 he was involved in the construction of the Suleimanke Barrage.[1]

In 1931 Khosla was deputed to the US and Europe to study soil reclamation, water logging and the latest techniques in dam design. On his return he was posted to the Panjnad Head Works of Sutlej Valley Canals.[11] Between June and September 1936 while in charge of the Hafizabad Division, he wrote his magnum opus, The design of weirs on permeable foundation. This publication revolutionised the design of such structures in India and abroad.

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It not only lucidly presents the theoretical aspects of seepage flow but also provides a complete, simple and reliable method for design of weirs.[12]

Contributions

As engineer

  • He applied his methods to the design of the Trimmu Barrage and constructed it within two years (1937–1939), against the normal period of 4–5 years.
  • He served as Superintending Engineer in 1939 and Chief Engineer in 1943 and in both capacities, cherished Bhakra project.
  • He was appointed the first Chairman of the newly constituted Central Waterways, Irrigation and Navigation Commission in 1945.
  • He developed the Poona Research Station at Khadakvasla into Central Water and Power Station.
  • He undertook planning, design and, as in Hirakud Dam, construction of major Water Resources Projects.
  • He served as vice-chairman and later chairman of the board of Consultants of Bhakra Control Board till its commissioning in 1963.
  • He was instrumental in bringing about a number of agreements on negotiations for Indus Water Dispute with Pakistan.

As educationist

  • He was appointed as the first Indian Vice-Chancellor of Thomason College of Civil Engineering (later renamed University of Roorkee and then IIT Roorkee).
  • He was the founder of two specialised engineering departments, which have made the University internationally known; the Water Resources Development Training Centre and the School of Research and Training in Earthquake Engineering.

Government

  • He was invited by the then Indian Prime Minister to serve as a member of Planning Commission in 1959.
  • He was appointed the Governor of Orissa in 1962, the first professional engineer to be given such a responsibility .

Recognition

See also

Palle Rama Rao

References

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  6. Our Governors Raj Bhavan Orissa
  7. Khosla, Ajudhia Nath (Engineer - Civil) Biography
  8. Orissa Government Biography
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Government offices
Preceded by Governor of Odisha
16 September 1962 to 5 August 1966 (1st term)
Succeeded by
Khaleell Ahommed
Preceded by Governor of Odisha
12 September 1966 to 30 January 1968 (2nd term)
Succeeded by
Shaukatullah Shah Ansari