Mahesh Buch's sad and sudden demise after a brief illness on June 6th has left not only the Vivekananda International Foundation bereft of one of its most eminent faculty members but also deprived the nation of one of its most independent, mature, and versatile commentators.

Born in pre partition Punjab in 1934, Mr Buch had his schooling in Lahore and Rajkumar College Rajkot. He graduated in economics from St Stephen's College and did his post graduation from Pembroke College, Cambridge. Though he joined the IAS in 1957 his academic endeavours continued apace. Thus he went on to obtain an MPhil from the Indian Institute of Public Administration, Punjab University and a Post graduate diploma from the University College, London. In 1967-68, he served as the Parvin Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson School of Princeton University and in 2002, he was conferred the title Doctor of Science (DSc) from the Rajiv Gandhi Technical University.

Mr Buch was an administrator par excellence and held many important positions in his career in the IAS including that of Vice Chairman of the DDA and Secretary in the MP Government. HIs forte was urban development and town planning and it is not without reason that he is regarded as the architect of modern Bhopal. Above all, wherever he served his can do and no nonsense approach coupled with his integrity and courage of conviction endeared him to the common man and ensured optimal efficiency in whatever he turned his hand to. Though this approach on occasion led to ruffled feathers amongst the high and mighty it did not deter him from doing what he thought was right.

Mr Buch took voluntary retirement in 1984 and founded the National Centre for Human Settlements and Environment in Bhopal which focuses on sustainable development of settlements. In retirement, Mr Bush has written four books and has been a prolific writer both in the print and electronic media on a wide range of national issues.

It is only fitting that the nation recognised Mr Buch's eminence by conferring upon him the Padma Bhushan. In addition, he was earlier also the recipient of several other honours and awards like the Agha Khan award and the UNEP award.

Mr Buch leaves behind a very wide circle of friends and admirers from all walks of life with some courting him from advice and guidance and others seeking him out for help and justice. He failed neither and, in addition, drew them ever closer to himself with his infectious sense of humour and wit.