The purpose of this study is to retrace the historical background of the Indian dam building at the time of its independence. For that purpose, the author tries to identify the main scientists and engineers who wanted to transplant the American dam model (TVA) into India and expound the domestic & international situation which made possible the construction of Indian dams. Inwardly, the American-style dam construction in India was encouraged by the Indian scientists and technologists who were attracted by the scientific logic and technological prowess of the western world. Internationally, the good news of 'big dam construction' was propagated by the U. S. politicians, businessmen and technicians in the context of Cold War politics. Colonial government, which wanted to change its political control by an economic one, also played a role in proposing the big construction projects. It was in this intricate situation that dam building began as a big project of Indian nation-building. In the latter part, the author shows the actual process of Indian dam building-Damodar, Hirakud, Bhakra-Nangal-and, through this, wants to show that the original projects were distorted on the terrain of Indian politics and society. Finally, the author wants to stress the intricacy of the Third World development programs tried as nation-building projects.