Birth date: Nov 24, 1936 Death date: Mar 28, 2025
On March 28, 2025, Chandrakant S. Desai died peacefully after several weeks of illness. He was born on November 24, 1936, in Nadisar, Gujarat, India in a poor farming village. He loved to question his own age because he always loo Read Obituary
sad i just saw this today. My MS thesis advisor.
First of all, my most sincere thanks to Professor D N Singh through whom I came to know that my dear friend, Professor Chandrakant S. Desai, has finally departed, leaving behind countless unforgettable memories. My deepest regret is that he left us on 28 March 2025, and I have come to know of it only today, 18 August 2025.
Looking back down memory lane, I vividly recall the year 1981, when Professor Desai—then at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in the USA, was to move to the Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at the University of Arizona, Tucson. He was invited by the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, deeply impressed by his pioneering work on the Finite Element Method. That visit marked the beginning of a close friendship between the two of us, one that endured for decades. He visited CBRI several times at my invitation, always combining his academic pursuits with a heartfelt pilgrimage to the sacred shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath. Later, on his invitation, I had the privilege of visiting the University of Arizona, where I saw first-hand the enormous reputation he had earned as a frontline researcher, admired and respected across continents.
One memory of his association with Roorkee remains etched in my mind. During one of his extended stays at CBRI, I requested him to help advance our research on skirted foundations, then being pursued by my colleague Dr. B.G. Rao during 1980–1990. At the same time, Dr. G.C. Nayak at the University of Roorkee was also working on FEM, and we sought to harness and benefit from the synergy of their expertise. After rigorously analysing a set of full-scale field test results on footings with and without skirting, Professor Desai came rushing to my office one day—amused yet puzzled. His analysis suggested a reduction in the capacity of skirted foundations compared to unskirted ones, even though the field tests had clearly shown the opposite—a substantial increase in carrying capacity.
This paradox triggered a painstaking review of the entire analysis, during which the fault lines in the modelling were revealed—an eye-opening lesson for all of us. It became clear that even the most sophisticated mathematical models can mislead if they are not grounded in a full appreciation of geotechnical investigations. That “failure” in the first attempt, in fact, became a stepping stone to success, leaving behind a valuable lesson that continues to guide us.
As I reflect on his life, I pay my debt of gratitude and rich tribute to the legendary Professor C.S. Desai. It is India’s pride that a young boy from the tiny village of Nadisar in Gujarat scaled such unprecedented heights of academic and professional achievement. His pioneering contributions, his humility, and his humanity will ensure that he is remembered by generations to come.
Rajendra Kumar Bhandari
Former Director, Central Building Research Institute
Roorkee (UP), India
Email : [email protected] Cell : 919810345123
I have had the great privilege of knowing Chandra’s since I was 12 years old when he was in Blacksburg, Virginia, teaching at the university. He really was a remarkable and extremely brilliant man with so much wisdom and knowledge to share over the years.
I used to babysit his son Sanjay when he was a newborn. And I became very close to his entire family. I have been In touch with Chandrakant and Pat, have Visited with them at their home, and have always maintain a very close relationship. As they were always my second family in life. I also have recentlybeen able to visit All the family in Tucson, Arizona. I am sharing some recent photographs. Chandrakant, may you rest in peace, and find all the answers to all the questions that you have been searching for! Sending lots of love to you and to the rest of the family at this time.
I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Professor Chandrakant S. Desai. I had the privilege of working with him as a Ph.D. student and research scholar at the University of Arizona, and I will always cherish the memories of his guidance, wisdom, and kindness.
Professor Desai was not only an extraordinary scholar and pioneer in computational mechanics and material modeling but also a truly dedicated mentor who cared deeply about his students’ growth, both academically and personally. His passion for research, his patience in teaching, and his encouragement in every step of my academic journey left a lasting impact on my life and career.
I will always remember his thoughtful advice, his humble character, and the respect he showed to everyone around him. His contributions to the field and to the lives of so many students will never be forgotten.
My heartfelt condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace.
I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Professor Chandrakant S. Desai. I had the privilege of working with him as a Ph.D. student and research scholar at the University of Arizona, and I will always cherish the memories of his guidance, wisdom, and kindness.
Professor Desai was not only an extraordinary scholar and pioneer in computational mechanics and material modeling but also a truly dedicated mentor who cared deeply about his students’ growth, both academically and personally. His passion for research, his patience in teaching, and his encouragement in every step of my academic journey left a lasting impact on my life and career.
I will always remember his thoughtful advice, his humble character, and the respect he showed to everyone around him. His contributions to the field and to the lives of so many students will never be forgotten.
My heartfelt condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace.
Amin Soltanianfard
Chandrakant was such a big, beautiful, stand-out soul! One of the things I loved most about him was how sweet and heartfelt his sentiments were about my mom’s Indian cooking. He said the kindest words about my parents at their memorial services, and I loved the heartwarming stories he told about their lifelong friendship. I know my mom and dad are singing his praises far and wide, as we all are. We love you Pat, Maya and Sanjay and are so sorry for your loss. We’re here for you in any way you need during this difficult time of transition.
I have fond memories of working my first-ever clerical job at VA Tech, hired as a summer secretary for Dr. Desai. I was timid and scared at first because I didn't really know what I was doing. But I came to realize that Chandrakant was a wonderful teacher and had a big teddy bear heart full of love.
He was my first "real" boss. He taught me the value of completing each task to the best of my ability without fearing the need to ask questions or ask for help when I needed it. By the end of the summer, I had gained a sense of strength and confidence that served me well in future positions.
With loving thoughts of a lifetime of happy memories for Dear Chandrakant and his family. We Love You!
