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Come September 15th!

September 15th 2010 was the first time that I had acknowledged Engineers' Day on Facebook - by sharing this piece of neglected history at the head of the Agumbe ghat.... 


These stones represent a part of civil engineering that is seldom appreciated or acknowledged (surveying) - and, that was my logic behind sharing. Now, Facebook reminds me about it every year!!

The distance from this point to Shivamogga is about 90 kilometres (almost equal to the 55 miles, 1 furlong and 122 yards carved on the stone). Hence, I am assuming that the stones have been untouched for nearly two centuries (1839 carved on the stone).....

From 1802 to 1871, the British undertook multiple surveys of conquered territories in India - to gather topographical, botanical, crop, soil, and other such data - to tax us and supposedly to govern us better.

These stones look like benchmarks on the roadway connecting the upper regions with the coast.
'RC & co' probably refers to the team that conducted the survey. 
Wonder what C.I.G & H.B refer to....


2-3 years ago, I noticed that the Karnataka Forest Department has put up a couple of boards near the stones, somewhat dwarfing them.....


.....and, robbing them of their importance!
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  1. Yamini15 September, 2025

    One Henry Barrow served as "Mathematical Instrument Maker" to the Surveyor General of India from 1830-1839, apparently. I wonder if that's what HB stands for...

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