Satya Sharma

Sharma, Satya January 1, 1942 - February 13, 2017 It is with a heavy heart and deep sorrow that we announce the passing of retired Professor Satya Prakash Sharma, age 75 after a brave and courageous battle with his health. He crossed over in the presence of his two children. He was able to pass with dignity and spent time saying farewell to his grandkids over his final days and was grateful to say good bye to many family and friends before he went.

Satya was known to many people in the community of Saskatoon. As a Professor of Cultural Anthropology in Saskatoon for 44 years, he taught thousands of students and was described as leaving a "magnificent imprint on this world". Over the years, he wrote many papers, attended numerous conferences and travelled extensively around the world learning and writing about many cultures. He touched the lives of so many, mentored numerous students and still found time to enjoy photography, watch Hindi movies, listen to classical Indian music and tend to his garden. He arranged over 60 Indian Classical concerts in Saskatoon and around Canada and was involved in volunteer organizations like The Open Door Society of Saskatoon and the Heart & Stroke Foundation as well as the Hari Sharma Foundation.

He is survived by his children, Rachna (spouse Alfredo) and Rahul (wife Sara); Five grandchildren, Nishaa, Deeya, Amitav, Amoreya, and Nikhil.

He is also survived by his older brothers Om, Jagat (wife Kanu), sister Kiran (husband Opie); sister-in-law Ingrid; nephews Sanjay, Yogesh, Manish, Sameer, Rajesh, Surendra, Gopal, Ananda and Ashoka; nieces Kala, Poonam, Mona, Kamini, Babli and Rumjhum along several grand nephews and nieces. His parents, Kundan Lal Sharma and Mohar Devi Sharma predeceased him, as well as his dear wife, Manjari (Manju), her parents Saraswati and Ram Chandra Arora, his older brother, Hari, older sister Binno, sister in-law Savitri, brother in-laws, Rajat and Santosh Arora.

Satya was born in Khurja Ciy in Uttar Pradesh, India. As a son of a Railway Station Master, Satya spent his early childhood in several small towns in U.P. At the age of 15, he attended college and received a B.Sc in Physics, Chemistry and a B.Sc Mathematics.

Satya was a Fulbright Scholar and in 1965, he moved to Ithaca, NY, USA to do a Masters of Anthropology from Cornell University. He went back to India in 1967 to marry his wife, Manjari (Manju) and a year later, they gave birth to their daughter, Rachna. Together they lived in the USA while Satya was studying until they moved to Saskatoon in 1970. Three years later, their son, Rahul was born. Satya started his career as a Professor at the University of Saskatchewan in 1970 where he taught Anthropology until he retired in 2014. He made a permanent move to Surrey, BC. in 2015.

When Satya's wife, Manjari who was an accomplished artist and singer passed away suddenly in 2009, as a way of staying connected to her, he took up painting which became cathartic for him. He had two solo exhibitions of his own work in Saskatoon and in Delhi, India and created over 250 paintings in his short career as a self-taught artist.

Satya kept busy in retirement, painting and writing. He wrote a book called "Railway Babu: My Father" which was published last year. He did a book signing in Saskatoon last summer. While he was in the hospital, his second book about his wife Manju, was accepted by a publisher in England which he was very excited about and he had started writing his third book on his recent trip to Europe which will remain unfinished. He had also finished a documentary in India about the village he studied for over 50 years which will be released later this year and distributed to libraries across the world.

He gave generously of his time and energy for many causes and he had amazing organizational skills and discipline. He lived his life on his own terms. He was a wonderful provider and an incredible caregiver to his wife, Manjari in her last years. He also set up the Manjari Sharma Memorial Award in Sculpture at the University of Saskatchewan in the Department of Art and Art History in honor of her. In his death, we will miss a father, father-in-law, brother, Chacha, Mamaji, Phuphaji, an uncle, Nana, Dada and a friend.

In August, a Celebration of Life will be held in Saskatoon.