Renowned architect and Padma Bhushan awarded BV Doshi passes away
Ahmedabad(PTI): Well-known architect and Padma Bhushan recipient Balkrishna Doshi, who worked with legends like Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn, died at 95 at his home here on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among those who paid rich tributes to Doshi.
"We are deeply saddened to inform you about the passing away of Balkrishna Doshi (August 26, 1927-January 24, 2023), loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather," his family said in a statement.
Condolences poured in from various quarters over the demise of Doshi, widely regarded as the foremost architect of modern India.
"Dr BV Doshi Ji was a brilliant architect and a remarkable institution builder. The coming generations will get glimpses of his greatness by admiring his rich work across India. His passing away is saddening. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti," tweeted PM Modi.
Born in 1927 in Pune, Doshi worked with architecture legends like Le Corbusier. He also worked with Louis Kahn as an associate to build the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and many other acclaimed projects.
CM Patel called Doshi the Pole Star in the world of architecture.
"Condolences on the passing away of Pritzker Prize winner 'Padma Bhushan' Balakrishna Doshiji, a world-renowned architect who is like the pole star in the world of architecture. May God rest his soul and give strength to his family, countless fans and disciples to bear this shock," he said in a tweet in Gujarati.
His family members said no one loved life more than Doshi. " Anand karo', celebrate life, as he would always say. He had so many people that he loved dearly and who loved him back," they said.
Some of Doshi's projects include the Institute of Indology, CEPT University and Kanoria Centre for Arts in Ahmedabad, the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore, and Aranya Low Cost Housing, a township for low- to middle-income families, in Indore which won the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1995.
Doshi founded his own practice, Vastushilpa, in Ahmedabad in 1956. Several members of his family are architects.
In 2018, he received the Pritzker Architecture Prize, considered one of the most prestigious prizes in the field of architecture, becoming the first Indian architect to receive the honour.
He was conferred upon the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian honour in India, in 2020.
In 2022, Doshi received the Royal Gold Medal' from the Royal Institute of British Architects, which described his work as combining "pioneering modernism with vernacular, informed by a deep appreciation of the traditions of India's architecture, climate, local culture and craft".
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Karnataka health dept mandates heat stroke units across hospitals
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government on Friday directed state-run health facilities to set up dedicated ‘heat stroke management rooms’ to address risks from extreme temperatures, officials said.
In a circular issued, the Commissionerate of Health and Family Welfare Services said community health centres should earmark two beds, taluk hospitals five beds, and district hospitals 10 beds for heat stroke management.
The circular, issued under the National Action Plan on Heat-Related Illnesses, stated that these facilities must be made operational every year, including in 2026, from March 1 to July 31.
All doctors and paramedical staff have been instructed to undergo training in the management of Heat-Related Illnesses (HRI).
It also directed all health institutions to establish ORS corners and equip heat stroke management rooms with essential facilities such as fans, ice cubes, and thermometers.
All health facilities at every level have been instructed to submit daily reports on HRI cases through the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), the circular said.
The health department said the measures aim to prevent heat stroke-related complications and deaths amid rising temperatures and has directed authorities concerned to submit compliance reports on implementation.
