John Pennycuick (engineer) - Revision history

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← Older revision		Revision as of 05:17, 12 December 2022
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	\|name =John Pennycuick		\|name =John Pennycuick
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	\|death_date ={{death date and age\|df=yes\|1911\|3\|9\|1841\|1\|15}}		\|death_date ={{death date and age\|df=yes\|1911\|3\|9\|1841\|1\|15}}
	\|death_place =[[London]]		\|death_place =London
	}}		}}
	Colonel '''John Pennycuick''' <small>[[Order of the Star of India\|CSI]]</small> (15 January 1841 – 9 March 1911) was a British [[Army engineer]] and [[civil servant]] who served as a member of the [[Madras Legislative Council~~]] when parts of the Indian subcontinent were under [[Colonial rule]] of the British [[East India Company~~]]. He undertook several [[irrigation]] works which included the [[masonry dam]] of [[Mullaiperiyar Dam\|Mullaperiyar]] on the [[Periyar River]].		Colonel '''John Pennycuick''' <small>[[Order of the Star of India\|CSI]]</small> (15 January 1841 – 9 March 1911) was a British [[Army engineer]] and civil servant who served as a member of the [[Madras Legislative Council]]. He undertook several [[irrigation]] works which included the [[masonry dam]] of [[Mullaiperiyar Dam\|Mullaperiyar]] on the [[Periyar River]].

	== Early life ==		== Early life ==
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	== Career ==		== Career ==
	Pennycuick entered the [[Addiscombe Military Seminary\|East India Company Military College]] at [[Addiscombe]], Surrey, in 1857, and was commissioned as a [[lieutenant]] in the [[Madras Engineer Group]] in December 1858.<ref>{{cite book\|title=Addiscombe, its heroes and men of note\|last=Vibart \|first=H.M. \|year= 1894 \|publisher=Archibald Constable \|place= Westminster \| url=https://archive.org/stream/addiscombeitsher00viba#page/298/mode/2up/\|pages=298, 701}}</ref><ref name=obit>[http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/singfreepressb19110412.2.7.aspx The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 12 April 1911, Page 2]</ref> He arrived in India on 11 November 1860.{{citation needed\|date=December 2011}} He became a Second Captain on 15 October 1870;<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/23675/pages/4734/page.pdf London Gazette, 4 November 1870:4734]</ref> and a major on 8 December 1876.<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/24398/pages/7144/page.pdf London Gazette, 29 December 1876:7144]</ref> He commanded H company at Zoulla during the [[1868 Expedition to Abyssinia\|Abyssinian campaign of 1868]].<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/23395/pages/3676/page.pdf London Gazette, 30 June 1868:3676]</ref> On 10 October 1895 the Queen nominated him a [[Order of the Star of India\|Companion of the Order of the Star of India]].<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/26670/pages/5585/page.pdf London Gazette, 11 October 1895:5585]</ref> He served in the [[Public Works Department]] till January 1896. During his six years of service in the PWD, Pennycuick served as Chief Engineer in the construction of the [[Mullaperiyar Dam]] ~~and was awarded a medal for his participation in Abyssinian Expedition of 1867–68~~.		Pennycuick entered the [[Addiscombe Military Seminary\|East India Company Military College]] at [[Addiscombe]], Surrey, in 1857, and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the [[Madras Engineer Group]] in December 1858.<ref>{{cite book\|title=Addiscombe, its heroes and men of note\|last=Vibart \|first=H.M. \|year= 1894 \|publisher=Archibald Constable \|place= Westminster \| url=https://archive.org/stream/addiscombeitsher00viba#page/298/mode/2up/\|pages=298, 701}}</ref><ref name=obit>[http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/singfreepressb19110412.2.7.aspx The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 12 April 1911, Page 2]</ref> He arrived in India on 11 November 1860.{{citation needed\|date=December 2011}} He became a Second Captain on 15 October 1870;<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/23675/pages/4734/page.pdf London Gazette, 4 November 1870:4734]</ref> and a major on 8 December 1876.<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/24398/pages/7144/page.pdf London Gazette, 29 December 1876:7144]</ref> He commanded H company at Zoulla during the [[1868 Expedition to Abyssinia\|Abyssinian campaign of 1868]].<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/23395/pages/3676/page.pdf London Gazette, 30 June 1868:3676]</ref> He received a medal for his participation in the expedition. On 10 October 1895 the Queen nominated him a [[Order of the Star of India\|Companion of the Order of the Star of India]].<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/26670/pages/5585/page.pdf London Gazette, 11 October 1895:5585]</ref> He served in the [[Public Works Department]] till January 1896. During his six years of service in the PWD, Pennycuick served as Chief Engineer in the construction of the [[Mullaperiyar Dam]].

	Pennycuick was nominated to the [[Madras Legislative Council]] in November 1893. He was the last president of the [[Royal Indian Engineering College]] at Coopers Hill. He also held the position of President of the [[Sanitary]] Board and was a faculty in the University of Madras. He received a [[Telford Medal\|Telford medal]] from the Institution of Civil Engineers. The [[Australian government]] sought his advice for avoiding damage from flooding of the [[Brisbane ~~river~~]] in 1899. He was also a keen [[cricketer]].		Pennycuick was nominated to the [[Madras Legislative Council]] in November 1893. He was the last president of the [[Royal Indian Engineering College]] at Coopers Hill. He also held the position of President of the [[Sanitary]] Board and was a faculty in the University of Madras. He received a [[Telford Medal\|Telford medal]] from the Institution of Civil Engineers. The [[Government of Australia\|Australian government]] sought his advice for avoiding damage from flooding of the [[Brisbane River]] in 1899. He was also a keen [[cricketer]].

	== ~~Mullai Periyar~~ Dam ==		== Mullaperiyar Dam ==
	~~[[Colonel]]~~ Pennycuick decided to divert the west-flowing [[Periyar (river)]]'s culmination in the [[Arabian Sea]] towards the East so that it could irrigate hundreds of thousands of acres of dry land depending only on [[Vaigai river]].		{{main\|Mullaperiyar Dam}}
			Pennycuick decided to divert the west-flowing [[Periyar (river)\|Periyar river’s]] culmination in the [[Arabian Sea]] towards the East so that it could irrigate hundreds of thousands of acres of dry land depending only on [[Vaigai river]].

	~~Though~~ Pennycuick ~~and other British Engineers~~ went ahead with the construction~~, braving~~ the ~~nature's fury~~ and ~~the dangers of poisonous~~ insects ~~and wild animals~~, ~~the construction works were disrupted by~~ relentless ~~rain~~. Large number of sand bags kept for the construction of the dam was destroyed due to severe flood. Since he could not get adequate funds from the British government, Pennycuick went to [[England]] and sold his family property to mobilise money to fund the project. The dam was completed in 1895.		Pennycuick went ahead with the construction of the dam in spite of dangerous diseases and insects, as well as relentless storms. Large number of sand bags kept for the construction of the dam was destroyed due to severe flood. Since he could not get adequate funds from the British government, Pennycuick went to England and sold his family property to mobilise money to fund the project. The dam was completed in 1895.

	The dam was inaugurated by [[Beilby Lawley, 3rd Baron Wenlock\|Lord Wenlock]], the then Governor of the [[Madras Presidency]]. It resulted in irrigation of 223,000 acres in [[Theni]], [[Dindigul]], [[Madurai]], [[Sivaganga]] and [[Ramanathapuram]] districts.		The dam was inaugurated by [[Beilby Lawley, 3rd Baron Wenlock\|Lord Wenlock]], the then Governor of the [[Madras Presidency]]. It resulted in irrigation of 223,000 acres in [[Theni]], [[Dindigul]], [[Madurai]], [[Sivaganga]] and [[Ramanathapuram]] districts.
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	== Family ==		== Family ==
	Pennycuick married Grace Georgina Chamier in 1879. Their son, Sir [[John Pennycuick (judge)\|John Pennycuick]], became an English barrister and [[High Court judge (England and Wales)\|High Court judge]].		Pennycuick married Grace Georgina [[Chamier]] in 1879. Their son, Sir [[John Pennycuick (judge)\|John Pennycuick]], became an English barrister and [[High Court judge (England and Wales)\|High Court judge]].

	== Commemoration ==		== Commemoration ==
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	* The people of Palarpatti in Theni district venerated the great man by preparing pongal in front of his statue on his birthday<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article332802.ece\|title = Pongal offered to Engineer}}</ref>		* The people of Palarpatti in Theni district venerated the great man by preparing pongal in front of his statue on his birthday<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article332802.ece\|title = Pongal offered to Engineer}}</ref>
	* Many of the farmer families of the Theni and [[Madurai district]]s still keep portraits of Pennycuick and worship him as a god. Villagers prostrate before his portrait, offer prayers, decorate with garlands and perform aarati to his photos which are usually kept in the hall or in puja room along with images of other gods.<ref name="thehindu.com"/>		* Many of the farmer families of the Theni and [[Madurai district]]s still keep portraits of Pennycuick and worship him as a god. Villagers prostrate before his portrait, offer prayers, decorate with garlands and perform aarati to his photos which are usually kept in the hall or in puja room along with images of other gods.<ref name="thehindu.com"/>
	*A white marble bust of Pennycuick was donated to his descendants by [[A. K. Viswanathan]] (Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai Police). This statue was unveiled at St Peter's Church in [[Frimley]] on 12 January 2019 by Indian High Commission Minister A. S. Rajan.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/police-gift-pennycuick-bust-to-uk/articleshow/67564368.cms\|title=Police gift Pennycuick bust to UK - Times of India\|website=The Times of India\|access-date=2019-02-23}}</ref>		*A white marble bust of Pennycuick was donated to his descendants by [[A. K. Viswanathan]] (Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai Police). This statue was unveiled at St Peter's Church in [[Frimley]] on 12 January 2019 by Indian High Commission Minister A. S. Rajan.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/police-gift-pennycuick-bust-to-uk/articleshow/67564368.cms\|title=Police gift Pennycuick bust to UK - Times of India\|website=The Times of India\|access-date=23 February 2019}}</ref>
			*A bust donated from [[Tamil Nadu]] will be installed in [[Camberley]] in 2022.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news \|date=2022-09-07 \|title=John Pennycuick: The British-era colonel revered in Tamil Nadu \|language=en-GB \|work=BBC News \|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-62816672 \|access-date=2022-09-08}}</ref>

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==
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	* http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/18888.html		* http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/18888.html
	* {{cite news\|title=Has the penny dropped right?\|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/06/02/stories/2003060200130300.htm\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040103155852/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/06/02/stories/2003060200130300.htm\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=3 January 2004\|author=S. Muthiah\|authorlink=S. Muthiah\|work=[[The Hindu]]\|date=2 June 2003}}		* {{cite news\|title=Has the penny dropped right?\|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/06/02/stories/2003060200130300.htm\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040103155852/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/06/02/stories/2003060200130300.htm\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=3 January 2004\|author=S. Muthiah\|authorlink=S. Muthiah\|work=[[The Hindu]]\|date=2 June 2003}}
	* Booklet in Honour of Man Behind Mullaperiyar Released http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-15/madurai/30519671_1_mullaperiyar-dam-booklet-madhavan~~{{Dead link\|date=June 2021 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes }}~~		* Booklet in Honour of Man Behind Mullaperiyar Released [https://archive.today/20130126072143/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-15/madurai/30519671_1_mullaperiyar-dam-booklet-madhavan]

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	[[Category:British East India Company Army officers]]		[[Category:British East India Company Army officers]]
	[[Category:British military personnel of the Abyssinian War]]		[[Category:British military personnel of the Abyssinian War]]
			[[Category:19th-century English people]]
			[[Category:19th century in Tamil Nadu]]

216.208.215.184: /* Mullai Periyar Dam */

2022-01-16T17:41:21Z

Mullai Periyar Dam

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:11, 16 January 2022
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	Colonel '''John Pennycuick''' <small>[[Order of the Star of India\|CSI]]</small> (15 January 1841 – 9 March 1911) was a ~~[[United Kingdom\|~~British]] [[Army engineer]] and [[civil servant]] who served as a member of the [[Madras Legislative Council]] when parts of the Indian subcontinent were under [[Colonial rule]] of the British [[East India Company]]. He undertook several [[irrigation]] works which included the [[masonry dam]] of [[Mullaiperiyar Dam\|Mullaperiyar]] on the [[Periyar River]].		Colonel '''John Pennycuick''' <small>[[Order of the Star of India\|CSI]]</small> (15 January 1841 – 9 March 1911) was a British [[Army engineer]] and [[civil servant]] who served as a member of the [[Madras Legislative Council]] when parts of the Indian subcontinent were under [[Colonial rule]] of the British [[East India Company]]. He undertook several [[irrigation]] works which included the [[masonry dam]] of [[Mullaiperiyar Dam\|Mullaperiyar]] on the [[Periyar River]].

	== Early life ==		== Early life ==
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	[[Colonel]] Pennycuick decided to divert the west-flowing [[Periyar (river)]]'s culmination in the [[Arabian Sea]] towards the East so that it could irrigate hundreds of thousands of acres of dry land depending only on [[Vaigai river]].		[[Colonel]] Pennycuick decided to divert the west-flowing [[Periyar (river)]]'s culmination in the [[Arabian Sea]] towards the East so that it could irrigate hundreds of thousands of acres of dry land depending only on [[Vaigai river]].

	Though Pennycuick and other British Engineers went ahead with the construction, braving the nature's fury and the dangers of poisonous insects and wild animals, the construction works were disrupted by relentless rain. Large number of sand bags kept for the construction of the dam was destroyed due to severe flood. ~~A popular myth is that since~~ he could not get adequate funds from the British government, Pennycuick went to [[England]] and sold his family property to mobilise money to fund the project (however, there is no evidence of this as stated by his grandson himself<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.livemint.com/Sundayapp/3PeedgK5bx4Z9uPKEE0KPL/John-Pennycuick-The-man-who-built-the-Mullaiperiyar-dam.html\|title = John Pennycuick: The man who built the Mullaiperiyar dam\|date = 27 August 2016}}</ref>). The dam was completed in 1895.		Though Pennycuick and other British Engineers went ahead with the construction, braving the nature's fury and the dangers of poisonous insects and wild animals, the construction works were disrupted by relentless rain. Large number of sand bags kept for the construction of the dam was destroyed due to severe flood. Since he could not get adequate funds from the British government, Pennycuick went to [[England]] and sold his family property to mobilise money to fund the project. The dam was completed in 1895.

	The dam was inaugurated by [[Beilby Lawley, 3rd Baron Wenlock\|Lord Wenlock]], the then Governor of the [[Madras Presidency]]. It resulted in irrigation of 223,000 acres in [[Theni]], [[Dindigul]], [[Madurai]], [[Sivaganga]] and [[Ramanathapuram]] districts.		The dam was inaugurated by [[Beilby Lawley, 3rd Baron Wenlock\|Lord Wenlock]], the then Governor of the [[Madras Presidency]]. It resulted in irrigation of 223,000 acres in [[Theni]], [[Dindigul]], [[Madurai]], [[Sivaganga]] and [[Ramanathapuram]] districts.

	Pennycuick used [[Lime (material)\|lime]] and [[~~surki~~]] paste for construction, taking into consideration the gravitational force: this allows the dam to withstand tremors and remain strong. Pennycuick said: "I am going to be only once in this earthly world, hence I need to do some good deeds here. This deed should not be prorogue nor ignored since I am not going to be here again".<ref>'Kumudam' Tamil weekly magazine</ref>		Pennycuick used [[Lime (material)\|lime]] and [[surkhi]] paste for construction, taking into consideration the gravitational force: this allows the dam to withstand tremors and remain strong. Pennycuick said: "I am going to be only once in this earthly world, hence I need to do some good deeds here. This deed should not be prorogue nor ignored since I am not going to be here again".<ref>'Kumudam' Tamil weekly magazine</ref>

	==Death==		==Death==
	Pennycuick died in [[Camberley]], Surrey, on 9 March 1911. He is buried in the Churchyard of St. Peter's Church in Frimley. The grave has a substantial granite cross and plinth. In 2018 the grave was renovated and a large granite plaque was added in commemoration of his work on the Mullaiperiyar Dam. The plaque is from the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in recognition of the achievement.		Pennycuick died in [[Camberley]], Surrey, on 9 March 1911. He is buried in the Churchyard of St. Peter's Church in Frimley. The grave has a substantial granite cross and plinth. In 2018 the grave was renovated and a large granite plaque was added in commemoration of his work on the Mullaiperiyar Dam. The plaque is from the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in recognition of the achievement.

	== Family ==		== Family ==
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	* The people of Palarpatti in Theni district venerated the great man by preparing pongal in front of his statue on his birthday<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article332802.ece\|title = Pongal offered to Engineer}}</ref>		* The people of Palarpatti in Theni district venerated the great man by preparing pongal in front of his statue on his birthday<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article332802.ece\|title = Pongal offered to Engineer}}</ref>
	* Many of the farmer families of the Theni and [[Madurai district]]s still keep portraits of Pennycuick and worship him as a god. Villagers prostrate before his portrait, offer prayers, decorate with garlands and perform aarati to his photos which are usually kept in the hall or in puja room along with images of other gods.<ref name="thehindu.com"/>		* Many of the farmer families of the Theni and [[Madurai district]]s still keep portraits of Pennycuick and worship him as a god. Villagers prostrate before his portrait, offer prayers, decorate with garlands and perform aarati to his photos which are usually kept in the hall or in puja room along with images of other gods.<ref name="thehindu.com"/>
	* The 2014 [[Tamil film]] ''[[Lingaa]]'', starring [[Rajinikanth]], includes sequences showing the dam construction. However, it portrays the English governor as a villain and Rajinikanth as an Indian king who constructs the dam and gives no credit to Pennycuick.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.rajareviews.com/2015/01/lingaa-dam-real-story-behind/\|title = All about Lingaa Dam - the real story behind \| Raja Reviews\|date = 2 January 2015}}</ref>
	*A white marble bust of Pennycuick was donated to his descendants by [[A. K. Viswanathan]] (Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai Police). This statue was unveiled at St Peter's Church in [[Frimley]] on 12 January 2019 by Indian High Commission Minister A. S. Rajan.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/police-gift-pennycuick-bust-to-uk/articleshow/67564368.cms\|title=Police gift Pennycuick bust to UK - Times of India\|website=The Times of India\|access-date=2019-02-23}}</ref>		*A white marble bust of Pennycuick was donated to his descendants by [[A. K. Viswanathan]] (Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai Police). This statue was unveiled at St Peter's Church in [[Frimley]] on 12 January 2019 by Indian High Commission Minister A. S. Rajan.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/police-gift-pennycuick-bust-to-uk/articleshow/67564368.cms\|title=Police gift Pennycuick bust to UK - Times of India\|website=The Times of India\|access-date=2019-02-23}}</ref>

2409:4072:316:1693:9FF0:2033:974E:A185 at 05:32, 10 September 2021

2021-09-10T05:32:12Z

New page

{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{infobox person
|name =John Pennycuick
|image=John_Pennycuick_1895.jpg
|image_size =
|birth_date =15 January 1841
|birth_place=[[Pune]]
|death_date ={{death date and age|df=yes|1911|3|9|1841|1|15}}
|death_place =[[London]]
}}
Colonel '''John Pennycuick''' <small>[[Order of the Star of India|CSI]]</small> (15 January 1841 – 9 March 1911) was a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Army engineer]] and [[civil servant]] who served as a member of the [[Madras Legislative Council]] when parts of the Indian subcontinent were under [[Colonial rule]] of the British [[East India Company]]. He undertook several [[irrigation]] works which included the [[masonry dam]] of [[Mullaiperiyar Dam|Mullaperiyar]] on the [[Periyar River]].

== Early life ==
Pennycuick was born on 15 January 1841 at [[Pune]], a younger son of [[Brigadier-General]] [[John Pennycuick (brigadier)|John Pennycuick]] and his wife Sarah. His father and eldest brother, Alexander, fought and died at the [[Battle of Chillianwalla]] in 1849. He was educated at [[Cheltenham College]].

== Career ==
Pennycuick entered the [[Addiscombe Military Seminary|East India Company Military College]] at [[Addiscombe]], Surrey, in 1857, and was commissioned as a [[lieutenant]] in the [[Madras Engineer Group]] in December 1858.<ref>{{cite book|title=Addiscombe, its heroes and men of note|last=Vibart |first=H.M. |year= 1894 |publisher=Archibald Constable |place= Westminster | url=https://archive.org/stream/addiscombeitsher00viba#page/298/mode/2up/|pages=298, 701}}</ref><ref name=obit>[http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/singfreepressb19110412.2.7.aspx The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 12 April 1911, Page 2]</ref> He arrived in India on 11 November 1860.{{citation needed|date=December 2011}} He became a Second Captain on 15 October 1870;<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/23675/pages/4734/page.pdf London Gazette, 4 November 1870:4734]</ref> and a major on 8 December 1876.<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/24398/pages/7144/page.pdf London Gazette, 29 December 1876:7144]</ref> He commanded H company at Zoulla during the [[1868 Expedition to Abyssinia|Abyssinian campaign of 1868]].<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/23395/pages/3676/page.pdf London Gazette, 30 June 1868:3676]</ref> On 10 October 1895 the Queen nominated him a [[Order of the Star of India|Companion of the Order of the Star of India]].<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/26670/pages/5585/page.pdf London Gazette, 11 October 1895:5585]</ref> He served in the [[Public Works Department]] till January 1896. During his six years of service in the PWD, Pennycuick served as Chief Engineer in the construction of the [[Mullaperiyar Dam]] and was awarded a medal for his participation in Abyssinian Expedition of 1867–68.

Pennycuick was nominated to the [[Madras Legislative Council]] in November 1893. He was the last president of the [[Royal Indian Engineering College]] at Coopers Hill. He also held the position of President of the [[Sanitary]] Board and was a faculty in the University of Madras. He received a [[Telford Medal|Telford medal]] from the Institution of Civil Engineers. The [[Australian government]] sought his advice for avoiding damage from flooding of the [[Brisbane river]] in 1899. He was also a keen [[cricketer]].

== Mullai Periyar Dam ==
[[Colonel]] Pennycuick decided to divert the west-flowing [[Periyar (river)]]'s culmination in the [[Arabian Sea]] towards the East so that it could irrigate hundreds of thousands of acres of dry land depending only on [[Vaigai river]].

Though Pennycuick and other British Engineers went ahead with the construction, braving the nature's fury and the dangers of poisonous insects and wild animals, the construction works were disrupted by relentless rain. Large number of sand bags kept for the construction of the dam was destroyed due to severe flood. A popular myth is that since he could not get adequate funds from the British government, Pennycuick went to [[England]] and sold his family property to mobilise money to fund the project (however, there is no evidence of this as stated by his grandson himself<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Sundayapp/3PeedgK5bx4Z9uPKEE0KPL/John-Pennycuick-The-man-who-built-the-Mullaiperiyar-dam.html|title = John Pennycuick: The man who built the Mullaiperiyar dam|date = 27 August 2016}}</ref>). The dam was completed in 1895.

The dam was inaugurated by [[Beilby Lawley, 3rd Baron Wenlock|Lord Wenlock]], the then Governor of the [[Madras Presidency]]. It resulted in irrigation of 223,000 acres in [[Theni]], [[Dindigul]], [[Madurai]], [[Sivaganga]] and [[Ramanathapuram]] districts.

Pennycuick used [[Lime (material)|lime]] and [[surki]] paste for construction, taking into consideration the gravitational force: this allows the dam to withstand tremors and remain strong. Pennycuick said: "I am going to be only once in this earthly world, hence I need to do some good deeds here. This deed should not be prorogue nor ignored since I am not going to be here again".<ref>'Kumudam' Tamil weekly magazine</ref>

==Death==
Pennycuick died in [[Camberley]], Surrey, on 9 March 1911. He is buried in the Churchyard of St. Peter's Church in Frimley. The grave has a substantial granite cross and plinth. In 2018 the grave was renovated and a large granite plaque was added in commemoration of his work on the Mullaiperiyar Dam. The plaque is from the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in recognition of the achievement.

== Family ==
Pennycuick married Grace Georgina Chamier in 1879. Their son, Sir [[John Pennycuick (judge)|John Pennycuick]], became an English barrister and [[High Court judge (England and Wales)|High Court judge]].

== Commemoration ==
[[File:Col J Penny Cuick, Chief Engineer PWD.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A stone plaque bearing Pennycuick's name in [[Vadipatti]]]]
* The Public Works Department Office at [[Madurai]] houses a life-size bronze statue of Pennycuick. The PWD complex itself was named after Pennycuick by the state government.
* The PWD has erected four statues of Pennycuick on its premises, including a bust at the Periyar dam. The other busts are seen near the PWD Inspection Bungalow in Thekkadi and on its sub-divisional office premises at Uthamapalayam.<ref name="thehindu.com">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/for-farmers-gratitude-to-pennycuick-knows-no-bounds/article2812915.ece|title=For farmers, gratitude to Pennycuick knows no bounds|newspaper=The Hindu|date=19 January 2012|last1=Sundar|first1=S.}}</ref>
* Farmers of Appantirupathi unveiled a granite portrait and distributed sweets on his birth anniversary.
* A memorial to Pennycuick at the Lower Camp in [[Theni district]] was unveiled in January 2013.
* A new [[bus terminus]] in [[Theni]] was named after him in December 2013.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/New-Bus-Stand-in-Theni-Named-After-Pennycuick/2014/01/03/article1979710.ece |title=New Bus Stand in Theni Named After Pennycuick |newspaper=The New Indian Express|date=3 January 2014 |accessdate=8 December 2014 }}</ref>
* At Veerapandi (East Street), Balarpatti, Kutchanoor and Kuzhiyanur in Theni district, Pennycuick is remembered during the celebration of the traditional [[Thai Pongal]] harvest festival.
* Many children in this area are named after him.
* The people of Palarpatti in Theni district venerated the great man by preparing pongal in front of his statue on his birthday<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article332802.ece|title = Pongal offered to Engineer}}</ref>
* Many of the farmer families of the Theni and [[Madurai district]]s still keep portraits of Pennycuick and worship him as a god. Villagers prostrate before his portrait, offer prayers, decorate with garlands and perform aarati to his photos which are usually kept in the hall or in puja room along with images of other gods.<ref name="thehindu.com"/>
* The 2014 [[Tamil film]] ''[[Lingaa]]'', starring [[Rajinikanth]], includes sequences showing the dam construction. However, it portrays the English governor as a villain and Rajinikanth as an Indian king who constructs the dam and gives no credit to Pennycuick.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rajareviews.com/2015/01/lingaa-dam-real-story-behind/|title = All about Lingaa Dam - the real story behind | Raja Reviews|date = 2 January 2015}}</ref>
*A white marble bust of Pennycuick was donated to his descendants by [[A. K. Viswanathan]] (Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai Police). This statue was unveiled at St Peter's Church in [[Frimley]] on 12 January 2019 by Indian High Commission Minister A. S. Rajan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/police-gift-pennycuick-bust-to-uk/articleshow/67564368.cms|title=Police gift Pennycuick bust to UK - Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=2019-02-23}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{reflist}}

== References ==
* {{cite book | title=The India List and India Office List| last=Great Britain India Office| year=1905| publisher=Harrison and Sons| location=London| pages=586}}
* {{cite book |url = https://archive.org/stream/dictionaryofindi00buckuoft#page/334/mode/1up/search/Pennycuick | title=Dictionary of Indian Biography| last=Buckland| first=C. E.| year=1906| publisher=Swan Sonnenschein & Co| location=London| pages=334}}
* [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/32/32008/32008.html]
* http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/18888.html
* {{cite news|title=Has the penny dropped right?|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/06/02/stories/2003060200130300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040103155852/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/06/02/stories/2003060200130300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2004|author=S. Muthiah|authorlink=S. Muthiah|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=2 June 2003}}
* Booklet in Honour of Man Behind Mullaperiyar Released http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-15/madurai/30519671_1_mullaperiyar-dam-booklet-madhavan{{Dead link|date=June 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pennycuick, John}}
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