Sir Arthur Cotton (1803 - 1899) was a British engineer renowned for revolutionizing India’s agricultural landscape through groundbreaking irrigation projects. His most notable achievement was the Dowleswaram Barrage on the Godavari River, completed in 1852, which transformed the Godavari delta into one of the most fertile regions in India. He also designed the Godavari Bridge, which enhanced connectivity and trade. Cotton’s contributions extended to the Krishna Barrage, which greatly improved irrigation in the Krishna River delta, and his modernization of the ancient Grand Anicut in Tamil Nadu significantly boosted water distribution in the Cauvery delta. These projects not only alleviated drought and famine but also elevated the livelihoods of countless farmers, earning him the title “Father of Indian Irrigation Engineering.”