Chandra Prakash
Vanier recently learned that Chandra Prakash a former Vanier teacher passed away last spring.
Chandra was born in Quetta in 1940, before the partition between Pakistan and India. His family fled Pakistan in 1947 due to the partition, and settled in New Delhi.
After completing an M.A. in English literature, Chandra left New Delhi, traveled to Hamburg, Germany, where he worked for a few months before emigrating to Canada in 1965 and settling in Montreal.
He worked for a couple of years at the Montreal Classics Bookstore before studying at McGill University for a second M.A. in English literature.
In 1972, Chandra joined Vanier’s English and Creative Arts (Cinema) departments where he taught for many years, retiring in 2009. While teaching, he completed a PhD in English literature, also at McGill.
He passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, on May 10, 2023, after a lengthy battle with cancer.
His friend and colleague Hart Cohen remembers, “I am sad to hear of Chandra’s passing. My memories of him are suffused in Jazz, smoke, food and conversations…. endless conversations. He was erudite and funny and unrelenting in his passion for all things. I will miss him.”
Posted in 2020-2029In the event that a member of the Vanier community learns about the passing of either a current or a former employee, please contact Isabelle Moncion, Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs, directly at extension 7543 or via email so that we can communicate the information/funeral details to you as quickly as possible.Thank you for your collaboration.
Lilian Latour:
Dear Prakash family, Sincere sympathy to you and your family. Hoping that in time memories of Chandra bring you strength and peace. How sad to hear of the passing of this kind and gentle soul. He was my professor at Vanier College in '74 & '75. Numerous times since then I have thought of him and how interesting is was to be in his classroom and hear him speak of amazing life experiences. He loved to exchange ideas with students and allowed them to express themselves without interruption. He was an eloquent speaker and his stories were easy to visualize, he had that special gift. One never wanted the stories to end because we were able to relate to them. He taught life lessons by example that we should always try to have empathy, patience and understanding towards others and every situation we encounter in our lives. Anyone who ever knew this man will never forget him.
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