Haradanahalli Ramaswamy Janardhana Iyengar | |
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| Born | March 20, 1908 |
| Died | July 10, 1991 (aged 83) |
| Resting place | Harishchandra Ghat, Mysore, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Citizenship | Indian |
| Education | Marimallappa's College |
| Employer | Engineer |
| Spouse | H. R. Indiramma |
H.R. Janardhana Iyengar 8th September 1908 to 6th February 1991
Shri. H.R. Janardhana Iyengar, 82, passed away at Mysore on Wednesday the 6th of February 1991. He was an eminent Engineer and was one of the earliest past president and fellow of the Institute of Engineers, Mysore center. He made valuable contributions to the excellence of engineering profession especially during the 1940’s and 50’s by his innovative and original designs.
Background
editSri. H.R. Janardhana Iyengar was the eldest son of Hardanahally Ramaswamy Iyengar and Janakamma Shyam Ramaswamy Iyengar, born on 8th Sept 1908. He had 3 younger sisters – Indirama, Jayama and Rangama and 2 younger brothers – Sampath Iyengar and Sudarshana Iyengar. He married twelve year old Indirama Srinivasa Iyengar of Kollegal in 1926, when he was 18 years old. His father died from complications of carbuncle surgery in 1927 while still an engineering student. He assumed the head of the undivided Hindu un-divided family upon the demise of his father. He and his wife had seven children Ramaswamy in 1934, Rathna in 1936, Srinivas in 1938, Rangaraj in 1940, Krishnamurthy in 1942, Prakash in 1945 and Lavanya in 1950.
Education
editHe was a brilliant student and after obtaining his degree in Engineering from the University of Mysore, he started his career in the PWD in Bangalore.
Career
editHe moved to Mysuru in the year 1939 and founded the Mysore Engineering Company (MEC), specializing in Architecture and Design, with his maternal uncle, K.S. Ramaswamy and K. Tirumalachar.
During World War II, in 1939, the civil government expected many casualties and wanted to build an hospital town in Jalahalli, a sub division in Bengaluru. The contract was awarded to MEC and they completed the construction in a record time of 15 days. The MEC also constructed the Victoria Hospital, Mental Hospital in Bengaluru and the Cheluvamba Hospital for women and the Mysore Bank in Mysuru, Cinema houses and banks among other structures. Later, the MEC also constructed schools for rural education in Muddahalli and Nanjangud.
In the 1940s, he jointly formed the Associated Mysore Engineering Company (AMEC) with co-partners K.S. Ramaswamy, and others. A significant accomplishment by the AMEC was the completion of the Sharavati Project. in the 1950s, he jointly formed the Mysore Chip Boards with others. In addition he completed several Water Filtration plants mostly in Karnataka.
He was a past president and fellow of the Institute of Engineers, Mysore center. He was a member and past president of the Lions Club and was passionate about establishing Air Service at the Mandakalli airport in Mysuru.
Personal Life
editHe was a voracious reader of both Non-fiction and Fiction and was immensely interested in current affairs, spent several hours each day, devouring the Newspapers and Time Magazine.
Among his many hobbies was analyzing and optimizing the routes of the Indian Railway system.
A connoisseur of Fine Arts, he acquired Hindu carvings among other art works.
He was member of Hebbar Srivaishnava Sabha, a trustee of the vontikoppal Srinivasa temple.
He along with his maternal uncle K.S. Ramaswamy had an illustrious career in Engineering and were neighbors and inseparable from birth until death. They were each other’s friend philosopher & guide.
He had seven children as well as his two invalid younger brothers and sister and his beloved wife Indirama and his mother Janakama.
He had a major Heart attack in 1973, and his health gradually deteriorated. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome in the late seventies and he passed away due to Pneumonia on Feb 6th 1991.