SHARAD MADAN- in fond remembrance

It is with profound sadness that we mark the passing of Sharad Madan, distinguished architect and one of our senior most alumni. He expired on 7th June 2014 after a brief illness. He was 85.

Madan Sir had perhaps the longest stint in Sir JJ College of Architecture as a Visiting Faculty- for more than 30 continuous years. His time as a teacher outdistanced the senior most full-time faculty of our college by quite a few years. I am proud to be both a student and colleague to him. For several years he was a final year Thesis Guide, and several of our best students have excelled under his mentor-ship. In recent years he taught working drawings and architectural design. Madan Sir was always popular with the students who constantly reached out to him for his sound architectural knowledge and friendly guidance. He was one of the first to get comfortable with assessing a students work on the computer screen, a skill that some of us still struggle with. As for me, he was the backbone of the final year working drawings class that I have been coordinating for some years now. In fact, he was scheduled to stat a new academic year with me in the first week of June. His absence is acutely felt.

Sharad Madan was one of the few alumni we had the privilege to know who joined the Sir JJ School of Art to study architecture in the late 40s. Solomon Reuben was the principal then, and the city was dealing with the twin challenges of independence and urban development. Madan had a long career as an architect, being one of the principals of the firm Madan, Patki and Razdan with several projects in Mumbai and beyond. The Vishnudas Bhave Sabhagriha in Vashi is one of his most notable public buildings. He was part of the first group of modernists who set up practice immediately after independence and led the way in architecture that contrasted with the work that was produced for the two decades before.

Despite his achievements and vast knowledge (which he happily shared), he was self-effacing and disdained the limelight.  But he could light up a studio by his grace and cheerfulness and an impeccable sartorial presence, He leaves behind are several friends, relatives, colleagues and a large number of students who owe their careers to him. 

Madan Sir, thank you for everything. We will always miss you.

- Prof. Mustansir Dalvi