The students, faculty and staff of the South Asian University express their heartfelt condolences on the untimely and sudden demise of our President, our leader, our friend, philosopher and guide in all situations, our own Professor G.K. Chadha. He was a person of high ethics, humility and charm. Everyone who came into his contact; whether a faculty, staff or a student felt his warmth and established a direct bond with him forever. His touch is visible everywhere in the University and above all is felt in our hearts.
Professor Chadha was one of the greatest advocates of cooperation and friendship in South Asian Region. He used to call himself a citizen of SAARC. In his sad demise, the people of South Asian region in general and South Asian University in particular have lost a great academician, a visionary, a humanist and a proponent of regional cooperation and development.
The entire SAU community conveys its deepest condolences to the bereaved family and pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul.
My colleagues at the SAARC Secretariat and I are deeply saddened to learn of the passing away of Prof. G. K. Chadha, President of the South Asian University on 1 March 2014 in New Delhi.
At this hour of profound sorrow, we would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the grief-stricken officials of the South Asian University as well as to the bereaved members of family of the late President. All of us at the SAARC Secretariat pray to the Almighty to grant enough fortitude to the bereaved members of the University and the family of the late President to bear this irreparable loss.
Late President Prof. Chadha was instrumental in the establishment of the South Asian University (SAU) since the time the idea was mooted at the Thirteenth SAARC Summit held in Dhaka in November 2005. Upon the formal establishment of the University, as its first President, late Prof. Chadha contributed enormously to the work of the University which today is the centre for excellence for the aspiring South Asian students. His key role in bringing the South Asian University to where it stands today will be remembered by all of us at the Secretariat.
May the departed soul rest in eternal peace!
Arjun B Thapa
SAARC Secretary General
It is indeed heartbreaking to hear the demise of Prof. Chadha, who was the pioneer in setting up the SAU. I met him briefly when he visited Peradeniya University but I have heard a lot about him from Prof. Gaminee Samaranayake, Former UGC Chair. He was a man with a vision and leadership.
Please accept my heartfelt condolences and also extend my sympathies to his grieving family.
Prof. Abeygunawardena
Member/SAU Executive Committee
It was a unexpected sad news for us. Please convey my deepest sympathy for Family members of the Prof. Chadha.
Please accept Our heartfelt condolences to South Asia University and its staff at this moment
I feel extremely sad on learning about the sudden demise of Prof. G.K. Chadha. May his noble soul rest in peace.
I am deeply shocked and terribly saddened at a very personal level.
I am really shocked to hear this unexpected news of the sad demise of Prof Chadha. I met him just about a week ago in Maldives during the SAARC Ministerial Meeting. With his demise, we lost a great educationist and an intellectual of unmatched caliber. My condolences to his bereaved family members so that they can bear with this great loss. May his soul rest in peace.
Sarker
DG (SAARC)
Dear Esteemed Members of the Faculty and Administration of South Asia University,
We are deeply distressed and shocked to hear about the demise of Professor G. K. Chadha .
On behalf of the Maldivian Government, the Minister and staff of the Ministry of Education and on my own behalf, I wish to express our deepest condolences to Professor Chada’s family and all the staff members of the South Asian University.
Professor Chada’s excellent contribution and dedicated commitment to bring together all South East Asian students and staff as one family in the University since its inception is noted as a great success during the last governing board meeting when Pakistan finally was represented in the Board. I have been lucky to be in touch with him during his last visit to Maldives to represent SAU at the SAARC foreign ministers meeting in the Maldives.
Professor Chadha was noted as a close friend and supporter of all students at South Asia University. His vital role in establishing and developing the South Asia University, his tolerance in solving difficult issues, his close friendliness and his reputation as an outstanding academic will always be remembered by the Maldives and its people.
Our thoughts and sympathy are with all the staff of the SAU, Professor Chada’s family , relatives and his friends at this very difficult time for them.
May the blessings of Allah be with him and his family.
With deepest sympathy,
Yours sincerely,
Fathmath Amira
Director General,
Department of Higher Education ,
Ministry of Education ,
Republic of Maldives .
It has been a great shock to learn that Prof. Chadha is no more. He was SAU.
It will be difficult to come to terms with the loss of this lively, humble, loving individual.
The acute sense of loss and overwhelming sadness will be there for a long time.
Praying for his family to have the strength and courage at this time of bereavement.
Haseena Khan Ph.D.
Professor and Chairperson
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
University of Dhaka
It is with shock and great sadness I learnt the news of untimely demise of Prof. Chadda. He has been instrumental in bringing up the SAU and has been nurturing the infant child, the SAU with utmost care.
I have been privileged to be associate with him for a short period which made me wiser. I am indebted to him for that splendid association in which he has been a father figure.
Please convey my condolences to the family of later Professor and also to the members of the Faculty and and staff of the SAU.
Prasanna Gamage
Director – SAARC
Education, Security Aspects and Culture Division (ESC)
SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu
It was really a shock to get the news of the demise of your President. He was such a nice person. Even though I have met him once, His personality and concern towards the development of the University cannot be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to the University and his family members.
Prof. Vasanthy Arasaratnam
I was shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Prof. Chadha’s sudden demise.It is indeed a big loss to the South Asian University.
Please convey my deepest condolences to Mrs. Chadha and the family, and the staff and students at the South Asian University.
Prof. Chadha truely believed in the potential of SAU to bring greater understanding and harmony amongst our people in South Asia.We must continue his good work and develop SAU to its full glory.
Pema Thinley
I am in loss of proper words at this time to share. It is really a great loss for all of us and his family. The message from Professor Hameed contains all what I would have liked to share. I just want to assure all and every one of you, that I and Professor Babury will continue our sincere and dedicated contributions towards the future development of SAU. I will never forget Professor Chadha’s dreams and will strive and make every effort towards achieving those goals that he was so much proud of.
Offering our sincere and deepest condolences on the sudden death of our dearest friend, Professor Chadha.
Aminullah Amin (Ph.D)
Associate Professor,
College of Psychology & Ed. Sciences
Kabul University
We must make sure that his wishes for the SAU and the good work Prof Chadha commenced would be continued.
To Ms Chadha and the family, Registrar and the SAU staff, our deepest sympathies from UGC and the university system in Sri Lanka. We will give our fullest support to continue the good work commenced by Prof Chadha. SAU and India has lost a great academic.
Prof Kshanika Hirimburegama
University Grants Commission
Sri Lanka
Dr W K Hirimburegama
Vice Chancellor,
University of Colombo
Prof Chadha was a person of high ethics, humility and great friendship. He recently came to Male’ for the Council of Ministers meeting. Before leaving from New Delhi he called me and begged me to name anything he could bring for me from Delhi. He had meetings all day in a resort and Fathima managed to speak to him only in an evening at a late time. Unfortunately, as he was in hurry, he was not able to meet us but did call just before departure to the airport and told me about the outcome of his briefing about SAU progress to the Ministers. He was delighted with the outcome of the meeting and said he hoped to return soon. This was the type of friendly person he was.
It was an honor to have known such a great person and we will truly miss him. May God embrace his dear wife in comfort during this difficult time. Our deepest sympathies to his family and those at SAU.
At this critical time, it is incumbent on all at SAU to ensure that the great work he started continues with the same vigour and speed. You may draw inspiration from the noble spirit he was. Life is short and this day shall to come us all. His legacy will continue as long as SAU is there.
With prayers,
Fathima and Hassan
I was shocked and saddened at the untimely demise of our most passionate and able education leader. SAU and all of us in the SAARC have lost a friend and a true educationist. Please convey my deepest condolence to his family and and the faculty and students of SAU.
At this time of a great loss we are reminded of the impermanence, and the most we can do is offer prayers for Professor Chadha.
I am profoundly shocked and saddened to hear the news of sudden demise of Prof. G.K. Chadha, President, South Asian University, New Delhi. We greatly acknowledge his contributions to the overall development of India and that of the South Asian Countries. He was a visionary leader of the South Asia who cherished the idea of educated, prosperous and peaceful South Asia. In his sad demise this region has lost a great academician, a humanist and a proponent of regional economic cooperation and development.
The members of University Grants Commission of Bangladesh and the Academia of the country extend heartfelt condolence to his wife and family members, to the members of SAU and Academic Community of India.
May Almighty grant him eternal peace in heaven and hope that his family members and member of SAU family will be able to bear the shock and forebear the irreparable loss.
Professor Dr. A K Azad Cowdhury
Chairman (State Minister)
University Grants Commission of Bangladesh
and
Former Chairman and Currently Member of Governing Board, South Asian University
Dear Esteemed Members of the Faculty and Administration of South Asia University,
We were most distressed to learn of the passing of your beloved President, Professor G. K. Chadha, and are writing to extend our deepest condolences. His role in establishing South Asia University and his reputation as an outstanding academic will be remembered and honored for generations to come.
Professor Chadha was a close friend and long-time supporter of not only of Afghanistan and the Ministry of Higher Education, but also all Afghan students, many of whom had the unparalleled opportunity to study at South Asia University. He also had an important and vital role in establishing South Asian University (SAU).
Please know that our thoughts and our hearts are with all of you at this time of loss.
With profound sympathy,
Yours sincerely,
BABURY M.Osman
Prof. of Pharmacognosy,
Deputy Minister of Higher Education for Academic Affairs,
Ministry of Higher Education,
Afghanistan.
We have lost our guardian. In the whole of my student life i haven’t found in any institution where the VC, Principle or Head Master to accepted students as their own children. Prof. Chadha was the only such exception. I am sure that no where in the world, such kind of affectionate and student friendly behavior is offered from the Head of the institution. As an emeritus academic with the combination of best management capacity, Sir will always be our lighting candle in our future days. South Asia have lost such a diverse man who was the promoter of integrated South Asia.
Still it is hard to believe that Prof. Chadha will never come in SAU to walk in the corridor, to park car there and to ask students for all issues and problems.
RIP Sir.
The news about the sudden demise of Prof GK Chadha, President of South Asian University has been extremely shocking to all those who knew him. Prof Chadha had his education in the Department of Economics, Punjab University, Chandigarh where he started his teaching career. He joined the Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Dean, School of Social Sciences and as the Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University. He also worked as the Chairman of the Agricultural Costs and Prices Commission and the member of the Economic Advisory Council, Govt of India. He was called upon to provide shape to the South Asian University as its CEO and became its first President. The teachers in the universities and colleges know him as the Chairman of the 6th Pay Commission for university and college teachers.
The faculty, staff and students of the Department of Geography, Jamia Millia Islamia convey their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and pray that they get the strength to bear this irreparable loss. We also pray that his soul rests in peace.
Prof Shanaz Parveen
Head, Deparment of Geography
Jamia Millia Islamia
Professor Chadha to me represented a blend of some very fine human qualities. He came across as an extremely warm human being, had a capacity to reach out and make everybody feel rather special, encouraged younger people and was extremely hard working. Notwithstanding the terrible personal loss he faced during the traumatic subcontinental Partition, Prof.Chadha internalized a strong identity as a SAARC citizen. Even during his last address on the eve of a conference on regional perspectives on UN Peacekeeping he reiterated this point strongly and laboured the futility of war and discord between nations and the enormous toll it left on everyday civilian life. He was extremely popular even among the wider student body given his generous large heartedness which on various occasions he demonstrated. I will personally miss the presence of Prof.Chadha, his natural exuberance, compassion and strong institutional commitments which left an indelible imprint on many. I think the best tribute we can offer Prof.Chadha is to work hard, remain positive and contribute our very best for a more humane world.