It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of Professor Shireesh Atmaram Deshpande, a legendary figure in Indian architectural education, who left for his heavenly abode on the night of 10 April 2026 at the age of 91. His departure marks the end of an era in India’s architectural field, leaving behind a rich legacy of wisdom, dedication, and grace that will continue to inspire generations of architects.
Professor Shireesh Atmaram Deshpande, affectionately called “Dada” by his family and “Sir” by generations of architects, was a towering figure in Indian architectural education. Born on 22 September 1934 in Nagpur, Maharashtra, into an illustrious literary family, he was the son of the renowned poet Kavi Anil (Shri Atmaram Raoji Deshpande) and Shreemati Kusumavati Deshpande. This heritage of intellect, discipline, and cultural depth shaped his life’s work. He chose the quiet, profound path of teaching over the glamour of corporate practice and, in doing so, transformed the very soul of architectural education in India.
After earning his Diploma in Architecture from the Sir J.J. School of Architecture, Mumbai, in 1956, he obtained a Diploma in Town & Country Planning from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi (1959), and a further diploma from Bouwcentrum, Rotterdam, in 1963. Early in his career, he worked as an architect-planner with J.K. Choudhury in Chandigarh (1959–1961), where he came under the direct influence of Le Corbusier’s vision, then with the Delhi Development Authority (1961–1963) and Gujarat Refineries, Baroda (1963–1965).
Yet, at the height of what could have been a glittering professional practice, he made a deliberate and courageous choice: he returned to Nagpur in 1966 to join the Visvesvaraya Regional College of Engineering (VRCE, now VNIT) as an educator. For nearly four decades, until 2007, he served as Head of the Department of Architecture and later became an emeritus professor whose influence far outlasted his formal tenure.
Prof. Deshpande’s greatest legacy lies in the classroom and the studio. He pioneered India’s first M.Arch. programme in Architectural Education and introduced the revolutionary “Talkshop to Workshop” pedagogy—an approach that shifted learning from passive lectures to immersive, experiential, and interdisciplinary exploration deeply rooted in Indian ethos. He established the Planning Cell at VNIT, which delivered landmark projects such as the master plan of Panjabrao Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola.
As President of the Indian Institute of Architects (1992–1994) and a lifelong associate of ARCASIA, he shaped national policy and standards. His contributions were recognised with the MASA Lifetime Achievement Award and the Madhav Achwal Gold Medal. He was also listed in Marquis Who’s Who. In honour of his work, the Indian Institute of Architects instituted the Prof. S.A. Deshpande Studio Design Competition.
A prolific and reflective writer, he authored two deeply researched books, The Ultimate Taj Mahal and Design Dialog: Dialectics of Design in Architecture, that remain essential reading for students and practitioners alike. The book on the Taj Mahal stands out for its rarely seen architectural drawings of the monument, photographs taken by the author himself from unique vantage points, documentation of hidden parts of the structure, and the author’s distinctive analysis.
Even after retirement, he continued to guide, mentor, and inspire. A registered architect with the Council of Architecture (1974) and a Fellow of the Indian Institute of Architects, he remained active in architectural discourse until the very end.
Professor Deshpande passed away peacefully on the night of 10 April 2026 at his residence in Paramount Heights, Shivaji Nagar, Nagpur. He is survived by his wife, Smt. Ashavati Ganesh Takle (married 12 December 1960), son Unmesh Deshpande, daughters Sharvari and Prajakta, and a vast extended family of students and admirers across India and abroad.
Memories of Time Spent with Sir
During his illustrious career spanning more than four decades as an educator, Prof. S.A. Deshpande touched countless hearts, bridged cultures, and reshaped the lives of thousands of students, including mine. I had the privilege of being his student, albeit for a brief period of about two weeks in February 1982. I attended a short-term course on Industrial Architecture conducted by the Department of Architecture at Visvesvaraya Regional College of Engineering, Nagpur (now Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur). Prof. Deshpande Sir was the Head of the Department at the time, and he had specially designed this course for working professionals like architects and engineers.
We were a batch of 17 participants from diverse organisations and regions across the country. I was perhaps the youngest in the group. Becoming a student of Prof. Deshpande and his esteemed colleagues was a matter of great honour and privilege. The memories of those two weeks remain a cherished treasure for all of us, even after more than four decades.
About five years ago, I shared our group photograph with Sir on his social media account, just to remind him of his “nice” students. His instant and warm reply was, “Those were the great times.”
Apart from teaching the technical subjects in our Industrial Architecture course, Prof. Deshpande Sir took on the role of a caring host, mentor, and guide. He ensured our comfortable stay on the campus and personally looked after our well-being. He would often visit our guest house to check if we were comfortable and would join us for meals. This served a dual purpose: ensuring the quality of food served to us and creating opportunities for informal, meaningful interactions. We were deeply humbled by his genuine hospitality and warmth.
One afternoon, while another faculty member was taking our class, Prof. Deshpande hurriedly entered the classroom, interrupted briefly, and advised us not to venture out of the campus after college hours due to some unrest in Nagpur city. Such was his genuine concern for the safety of his students!
Even today, every gesture and every word of Deshpande Sir resonates deeply in our hearts. Perhaps that is why, when I received the news of his passing a day after 10 April 2026, my eyes welled up instantly, and I was left speechless for a while.
My Tribute to Dada
Dada is gone, yet it feels as if the very air in Nagpur’s architectural studios still carries the quiet echo of his voice—measured, poetic, and laced with that disarming humour that could lighten the heaviest critique.
He never sought the spotlight. While others chased grand projects and international fame, Shireesh Deshpande chose the far more difficult task: to mould young minds into thoughtful, responsible, and rooted architects.
He lived with the elegant discipline of a true gentleman—humble, precise, and compassionate. Whether it was sharing stories of Chandigarh under Le Corbusier, reciting his father’s sonnets, or quietly helping a struggling student with fees or guidance, he gave without fanfare. In an age of noise, he was a quiet force of reason and wisdom.
Today, the studios he built, the programmes he founded, the competition that bears his name, and the countless architects practising across the country are living testaments to a life spent in the service of a higher ideal. The torch he carried so gracefully has now passed to us—his students, his children, and his extended family of admirers.
Dada, you may have left us on 10 April 2026, but your teachings, your clarity, your gentle laughter, and your unwavering belief in the power of good design will light our paths forever. We promise to carry forward the flame you lit with such quiet brilliance. Rest in eternal peace, beloved Sir. Your students, your family, and an entire generation of Indian architects will never forget you.
One Response
Deeply touched by your tribute!
I have lost my father but never knew that he was a “father figure” to so many!
With gratitude
Sharvari Parasnis