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Journalism of Courage
IT is a documentary film that celebrates the life, work, vision and philosophy of architect Shivdatt Sharma. ‘The Eternal Modernist’ to be screened this Sunday, is close to Sharma’s heart for several reasons, primarily because the film was initiated by Shivani Sharma, his daughter, who passed away recently, and whose creative vision and deep conviction led her to document the stories and ideas.
“Her imagination and sensitivity have brought this project to life, and though we deeply miss her presence, I know she would have been very happy to see her idea reach its beautiful finale. Shivani’s contribution to the film goes far beyond her role; it is defined by her unwavering commitment, clarity of vision, and quiet strength. From its earliest stages, she was 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 with conviction. She navigated every challenge with calm determination, ensuring that the essence of the story remained intact. Her persistence has been the driving force that kept the team aligned and the vision alive,” reflects Sharma.
The 50-minute film is a reflective take on architect Sharma’s 65 years in the profession and took almost 14 years to be made, and has interviews of India’s prominent architects and other professionals, who talk about Sharma’s architecture. Produced by Shivani and directed by Atul Sharma, ‘The Eternal Modernist’ is made with snippets from his career and life, along with his Chandigarh projects, his experience and his other tenures, including as Chief Architect in ISRO Bangalore.
At 94, still practising and working, Sharma’s life is an inspiring story.
Torn through the Partition days, virtually with no resources, Sharma enrolled himself in a team of architects in the Capitol project of Chandigarh. By dint of his sheer hard work, he rose to assist Le Corbusier and P Jeanneret in the projects, especially the Museum and Art Gallery in Chandigarh. His creative potential was evident right from the beginning, as his thesis was considered exemplary by the jury. The fact that Le Corbusier’s museum was handed over to him for completion after his untimely death speaks of Sharma’s drive and enthusiasm for the built forms.
Other buildings Sharma designed in Chandigarh are, Technical Teachers Training Institute, IMTECH, NIPER, EDC Building at IT Park, PGIMER, to name a few.
“I was fortunate to be in Chandigarh, where I lived, worked, learned and learnt the fundamentals of Architecture and understanding the fascinating facts about Le Corbusier, the person, architect, thinker, writer, painter… An institute where architecture and town planning could be learnt without discrimination. Being a clean slate, I didn’t have to unlearn any preconceived notions about what architecture is. I could not have exceeded the depth and vastness of this great man, but for years of study of his works,” shares Sharma.
Talking about Chandigarh’s increasing population, vehicles, and parking issues, Sharma says that both the administration and the Heritage Committee are working together to arrive at a balanced solution for the city.
“I am confident that the outcome will reflect the right harmony between Chandigarh’s rich heritage and its modern progress, preserving its essence while addressing the evolving needs of its people. The Administration is aware of the challenges and is taking thoughtful steps to resolve them,” smiles Sharma.
The film will premiere on November 9 at the Auditorium, Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10, Chandigarh at 11.30 am.
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