Ambar Mukherjee

Ambar joined SPA to pursue the Bachelor of Architecture program in 1993. He topped the all-India architecture entrance exam and came to SPA after spending a year at the University of Roorkee.

He was extremely gifted, filled with curiosity and a thirst of knowledge. He was generous and kind to all, and always had the widest smile. He was an early adopter, not afraid to use the latest technology to get his work done. He was building 3D models and working in CAD when most others were still drafting by hand. He was a quick study with a keen ear for music, picking up the guitar by observing others and a little practice. His sketches were so realistic that they often resembled photographs. He embarrassed most of us and impressed the math and structures teachers by coming late to exams, deducing formulas and completing the exam questions before time ran out.

His remarkable talents didn't always keep him out of trouble though. Like many of his fellow classmates, he was often late for submissions, was short on attendance, and almost didn't make it to the third year. It took a while for him to understand how alcohol works, routinely overestimating how much was needed to see its impacts on him. In many ways he was a regular student just like the rest of us, but was always available to give his fellow classmates support when they needed it, and lean on them, when he needed to. But there was one thing you could be sure of, you would always be in for some fun and laughs when he was around!

Ambar went on to graduate school at the Arizona State University (ASU) to pursue a Master's in Science in Building Design. At ASU, he was finally doing what he loved - using technology to solve problems. He continued to add to his circle of friends, always expanding the group of people whose life Ambar touched. He took to snowboarding, went on road trips across the US, and developed skills in computer programming. He stayed connected to his friends from SPA, often getting together on camping trips or just some good old drink, eat, and gossip sessions. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles for work. He bought his childhood dream car - a black Mercedes Benz. During this period he also began to show early signs of mental illness. The illness made him avoid long-time friends and his circle in Los Angeles. Due to a lack of diagnosis his condition continued to deteriorate. After his mother’s passing, he moved back to India to be with his father. He also slowly lost touch with many of his closest friends. 

By 2014 his illness had taken over his life, and it seems eventually led to his untimely passing. All his friends and family felt helplessness and deep sadness one feels when you lose someone you dearly love. His death also left many of his closest friends struggling with a lot of unanswered questions - why could we not see what he was going through? Why were we not able to help sooner? Why did his condition go undiagnosed for so long?  His father told some of us when we visited after his passing that he insisted that his father read the book 'A beautiful mind' - the story of the American mathematician John Nash. He wanted his father to understand what he was going through. He knew he was ill, and his illness restricted him from seeking help. 
The Ambar Mukherjee Beautiful Minds Award has been instituted by his friends from SPA to cherish his memory, and look forward to encouraging students at the School to stay curious, follow their passions, grow their awareness for mental health related issues, and look out for each other.