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Obituary : Prof. Ajay Patwardhan (1952-2025)

We observe with profound sadness the passing away of Prof. Ajay Patwardhan on 21st August 2025.


Born on 4th September 1952, Prof. Patwardhan devoted his life to the cause of education and scholarship. He served with exemplary dedication in the Department of Physics, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, from June 1984 until his voluntary retirement in October 2011, retiring as Associate Professor. Beyond Xavier’s, he also enriched the academic community as visiting faculty in several other institutions under the University of Mumbai. His core area of teaching and erudition was nonlinear dynamics, a field in which he inspired many to explore the beauty of complex systems.
He was a teacher of rare commitment whose erudition and integrity left a lasting impression on colleagues and students alike. Generations of students cherish the memory of his lucid explanations of Physics, his patience, and his unique ability to awaken intellectual curiosity. His teaching was not confined to classrooms – it was a lifelong mentorship that shaped many careers and minds.

As colleagues, we recall his collegial spirit, humility, and unfailing sense of duty. He had a fondness for conversations over a cup of coffee, where ideas, humor, and wisdom flowed in equal measure, a trait that endeared him to many and that is now all too rare. Loved equally by students and teachers, he truly embodied the finest traditions of academic life.

His legacy endures in the knowledge he imparted, the values he upheld, and the many students he mentored with care and dedication. Today, we mourn the loss of an exemplary teacher of Physics and a cherished member of our community.

Today we pray for eternal peace and pay our respectful homage to our beloved ‘Pattu’.
He will live forever in our memories!

Rajesh Singh 
Head, Department of Physics
St Xavier’s College

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