Professor Shireesh Atmaram Deshpande, a well-known Architect, lovingly known as ‘Dada’ to his family and respectfully addressed as ‘Sir’ by the generations of students passed away on Friday night. He was 91. He was a resident of Paramount Heights, Shivaji Nagar. He leaves behind son, Unmesh Deshpande, Head of IT at Wockhardt Hospitals, and daughters, Sharvari Parasnis, Pune, and Prajakta Inamdar, Bengaluru.

 

Last rites were performed at Ambazari ghat. Born to the illustrious literary duo of Kavi Anil (Shri Atmaram Raoji Deshpande) and Shreemati Kusumavati Deshpande, he inherited a legacy of intellect, discipline, and cultural depth. A proud alumnus of Sir J J School of Architecture, Mumbai, Prof Deshpande chose the noble path of education over fame and fortune. He gave up a high-profile corporate career in architecture— including prestigious work under Le Corbusier’s influence in Chandigarh and Mumbai — to mould generations of architects in Nagpur.

 

As Head of the Department of Architecture at VRCE (now VNIT), Nagpur, he breathed life into the very concept of architectural education in India for nearly three decades. Prof Deshpande created the now-iconic M Arch in Architecture Education program. His ‘Talkshop to Workshop’ approach revolutionised pedagogy, emphasising experiential learning, interdisciplinary thinking, and rootedness in Indian ethos. Prof Deshpande was also the President of the Indian Institute of Architects (1992–1994) and remained associated to The Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA). His design initiatives, such as the Planning Cell at VNIT, delivered significant architectural projects, including the master plan of Panjabrao Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. Prof Deshpande received numerous accolades, including the MASA Lifetime Achievement Award and the prestigious Madhav Achwal Gold Medal.

 

Prof. S A Deshpande Studio Design Competition was instituted by the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) to acknowledge his contribution to Architectural Education. His depth and rigour are on full display in the book he wrote on the Taj Mahal (‘The Ultimate Taj Mahal’). The second book he published was ‘Design Dialog – Dialectics of Design in Architecture’. ‘Dada’ was a humble soul with unmatched clarity, elegant expression, disarming humour, and unwavering discipline. He was a beacon of wisdom, a quiet force of reason, and a compassionate pillar to those who sought his counsel. His teachings, often laced with poetic introspection, left lasting imprints—much like his father’s sonnet lines. He leaves behind a family in reverent memory of his rich life, a nation’s architectural conscience, and an army of students, mentees, and admirers keen to carry his torch forward.