It is a documentary that celebrates the life, work, vision and philosophy of architect Shivdat Sharma. “Eternal Modernity,” scheduled for release on Sunday, is close to Sharma’s heart for several reasons, the first of which is that the film was initiated by his daughter, Shivani Sharma, who recently passed away, whose creative vision and deep conviction led her to document stories and ideas.
“Her imagination and sensitivity brought this project to life, and although we greatly miss her presence, I know she would have been very happy to see her idea come to a beautiful conclusion. Shivani’s contribution to the film goes far beyond her role; she is defined by her unwavering commitment, clarity of vision, and quiet strength. From its early stages, she has been deeply involved in shaping the film’s direction, guiding its purpose with intuition and grace. What truly stands out is her perseverance and ability to balance creativity. She has overcome every challenge with determination. Quiet, ensuring the core of the story remained intact, her persistence was the driving force that kept the team together and the vision alive.
The 50-minute film is a reflection of architect Sharma’s 65 years of experience in the profession and took nearly 14 years to produce. The film contains interviews with prominent architects of India and other professionals who talk about Sharma’s architecture. Produced by Shivani and directed by Atul Sharma, ‘The Eternal Modernist’ is an excerpt from his career and life, along with his projects in Chandigarh, his experience and other tenures, including as Chief Architect at ISRO Bangalore.
At 94 years old, still practicing and working, Sharma’s life is an inspiring story.
Torn apart by the days of Partition, and with almost no resources, Sharma enrolled himself in a team of architects for the Capitol project in Chandigarh. Thanks to his hard work, he rose to assist Le Corbusier and P. Jeanneret in projects, especially the Museum and Art Gallery in Chandigarh. His creative potential was evident from the beginning, as his thesis was considered exemplary by the jury. The fact that the Le Corbusier Museum was handed over to him for completion after his untimely death speaks to Sharma’s drive and enthusiasm for built forms.
Other buildings designed by Sharma in Chandigarh are Technical Teacher Training Institute, IMTECH, NIPER, EDC Building in IT Park, PGIMER, to name a few.
“I was fortunate to be in Chandigarh, where I lived, worked, taught and learned the basics of architecture and understood the fascinating facts about Le Corbusier, the person, architect, thinker, writer and painter…an institute where architecture and town planning could be learned without discrimination. Being a blank slate, I did not have to shed any preconceived notions about what architecture is. I could not get past the depth and breadth of this great man, but for years of studying his works,” shares Sharma.
Speaking about the growing population, vehicles and parking in Chandigarh, Sharma says the administration and the heritage committee are working together to come up with a balanced solution for the city.
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“I am confident that the outcome will reflect the right harmony between Chandigarh’s rich heritage and its modern progress, preserving its essence while meeting the evolving needs of its people. The administration is aware of the challenges and is taking deliberate steps to resolve them,” smiles Sharma.
The film will be premiered on November 9 at the Exhibition Hall, Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10, Chandigarh at 11.30 am.
(Tags for translation)Architect Shivdat Sharma
