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Edgar Francisco Noel Ribeiro (1930–2026) was a pioneering urban planner, educator, and institution builder whose work shaped the trajectory of planning practice in post-Independence India. He served as chief town planner of India, guiding national-level policy and development frameworks, and later as director of the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Delhi, where he played a key role in nurturing generations of planners and architects. Deeply committed to conservation-led planning, he was also closely associated with INTACH, contributing to its efforts to integrate heritage and ecology into mainstream urban discourse. Across these roles, Ribeiro combined public service, academic leadership, and advocacy to advance a more inclusive and context-sensitive approach to planning in India. He was also known for his role in safeguarding Goa’s green cover. Having passed away at his ancestral house in Socorro on April 24, at age 96, he leaves a quiet but profound void in the many circles he shaped and sustained. Colleagues, students, and collaborators share their fond memories of him, recalling his quiet mentorship and enduring influence:
Ribeiro’s optimism was infectious. Even during COVID-19 years, he stood with us in the front yard of St. Cajetan, in solidarity with the Save Old Goa citizens’ group when the issue of an illegal bungalow surfaced. In 2023, when I approached him to release our book ‘Conservation and the Indian City,’ his face lit up at the list of contributors, many of them his former students and colleagues and he readily agreed. I will deeply miss his warmth, wit, and wisdom. He was always just a phone call away. The mantle of his legacy is a heavy one, and it can only be carried forward collectively. It is in this spirit that this shared remembrance takes shape, because only together can we hope to uphold it.
-Poonam Verma Mascarenhas conservation architect, director Archinova_Environs, co-founder GHAG, Goa
Professor Edgar Ribeiro’s passing is undoubtedly a professional loss to the nation. Many of us will miss him as a person of impeccable integrity with a fund of knowledge and experience, which he shared with all who approached him. I know this well because I knew him as a professional planner, an academic, and as an important interlocutor in the nascent discipline of urban conservation, for over four decades, during which time my respect and affection only grew stronger. The profession has lost a founding father, and I offer my deepest condolences to his family at their great personal loss.”
-A.G.K. Menon, architect, urban planner, conservation consultant, Intach Convenor, Delhi
To recall Edgar Ribeiro is to recall one’s moral compass. He was my boss at INTACH for three or four years. Hugely experienced, he had limitless patience with my inexperience to get things done quickly. From him I learnt the intersect of development, planning and ecology as he fought for the protection of khazan lands when the Konkan Railway was being built. Were it not for the resolve of Ribiero, Goa would have lost so much more. We spent a lovely couple of weeks together discovering Portugal with the Gulbenkian Foundation. At the end of a long work day, he was sporting enough to spend the evenings with us trawling Lisbon’s many Fado bars. Rest in peace Mr. Ribiero. You had the best of time in the best of times.”
-Amita Baig, cultural heritage
specialist and author, Delhi
Edgar combined a quiet competence with great analytical skill to lead from the front, the two seemingly contradictory disciplines of modern planning and heritage conservation. A public minded professional, he was very pragmatic and gently persuasive, be it in the board room or in the class room. As the most respected planner across India, Edgar’s contribution to the wholeness of India’s built environment will remain unsurpassed.”
-K. T. Ravindran, urban
designer and academician, Delhi
Since the 70’s, professor Ribeiro has been central to all path-breaking initiatives linked with recognition of the importance of environmental and cultural heritage resources within the town planning frameworks for sustainable development in India. He sought to ensure that an understanding of the environmental and cultural resources was integrated into planning initiatives such as the plan for PAPANKalan (now Dwarka). His contribution to our department and the school will always be remembered.”
-Anuradha Chaturvedi, head of
Department of Architectural
Conservation, SPA, Delhi
He was a scholar of rare humility and intellectual grace. I especially cherish an association from my time as team leader for an urban development project under the Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), when I had the privilege of presenting our work at the Department of Science and Technology in Delhi. What began as a brief presentation evolved into an intense and illuminating exchange between two distinguished sons of India, then chairman, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, and the project advisor, professor Ribeiro. For nearly 90 minutes, we witnessed a rare dialogue of intellect, conviction, and national vision, an experience that remains indelibly etched in my memory even after three decades. Professor Ribeiro’s passing marks the loss of an extraordinary mind and a truly gracious human being. May his soul rest in peace.”
-Amit Bose, director, DDF Consultants Private Limited, Delhi
I have known Ribeiro since his tenure as director of SPA, when I served as faculty. I later interacted with him during the preparation of Local Area Plans for several Delhi wards, where he was a key committee member overseeing multiple institutes. Working under his guidance was a valuable learning experience. Despite his frank and firm approach, his insights were always constructive and never intimidating.
-Sanjukkta Bhaduri, CEO- Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design, SPA, Delhi
I first met professor Ribeiro at a conference he chaired, where I presented a paper that was later published under his editorship. Over time, we became good friends, sharing platforms at numerous seminars and conferences on town planning. He strongly valued the integration of environmental concerns into planning, and during his tenure at SPA, I was able to introduce a postgraduate course in environmental planning with his support. We went on to collaborate on several seminars and projects, most notably the planning of the Dwarka Sub City, envisioned to house a million people. I have lost a friend, philosopher and guide and Indian Town Planning has lost a visionary.
-A.K.Maitra, former
director, SPA Delhi
I first met professor Ribeiro in 1990 on a post-conference trip from IIT Kharagpur to Kolkata, when he shared many stories from his long experience in the planning profession. His publication, ‘The Law and the Conservation of Man-made Heritage in India’ (INTACH, 1989), became a bible for my conservation work and teaching: clear, precise, and remarkably concise. My last interaction with him was in July 2021, in a virtual panel discussion on the Local Area Plan, which I moderated on behalf of ICOMOS India. He was in his 90’s, yet the clarity of his thought, his pragmatic approach, and the depth and boldness of his observations remained undiminished. I feel blessed to have come into contact with him and to have been enriched by it. May his soul rest in peace.
-Sanghamitra Basu, professor (Retired) IIT Kharagpur, Kolkata, West Bengal
The passing away of professor Ribeiro is an irreplaceable loss for us. For me he was an elder, a great supporter in my work on Ahmedabad WHS Dossier, and a true well-wisher, who appreciated heritage conservation as the logical basis for any urban development. He truly valued our heritage and always advocated people’s participation in conservation and town planning. He was always ready to help and support younger generation of professionals. His legacy is most valued and it’s now our responsibility to emulate his ideals. He will be deeply missed.
-Rabindra Vasavada, architect, professor (Retired) CEPT, Ahmedabad
In the early 1980s, I was designing a house for a wealthy business family in Delhi. Edgar, then commissioner (Planning) at DDA, was also a good friend. Unfamiliar with Delhi’s difficult and corrupt building-permission system, I approached Edgar, explaining that my design complied with all regulations, and asked if he could help. He directed me to an informal system operator to get the work done. In June 2021, INHAF organised its 50th webinar, ‘Indian City: Past, Present and Future,’ with some of India’s most celebrated architects. In the four days leading up to the event, he called me several times to discuss its importance, its possible direction, and its future relevance. Edgar’s professional ethics were exacting and self-defined. He was, above all, a genuine professional and a planner, profoundly invested in the future of Indian cities.
–Kirtee Shah, president- INHAF, Hon. director – ASAG, Ahmedabad
My partner Uday and I met him in 1989 on a DDA project, and soon after on the Turkman Gate redevelopment. We continued working together, later forming EFN Ribeiro Associates, which ended before he moved to Goa. Generous to a fault, he helped others in big and small ways. He had a sharp sense of humour and loved cricket, often slipping out to check scores. A rare blend of kindness and professionalism, he was admired for his work—but above all, he will be remembered as an exceptional human being.
-Manjari Gupta, architect, Vvsiting faculty -Indira Gandhi Technical University for Women, Delhi
Ribeiro was my teacher, mentor, and later my partner at EFN Ribeiro Associates. He and Mrs. Ribeiro were like family to us in Delhi. In 1994, when we had no work, I sought his advice. He asked me to co-teach Urban Planning Policy at the TVB School of Habitat Studies. When I said I knew nothing about planning, he replied, “It’s all common sense, I’ll teach you.” He did, in a practical way that led to many collaborations. Chetan Vaidya once called him the ‘God of Planning,’ but to me he was its heart and soul. A natural leader, he brought together diverse viewpoints. After he retired to Goa, we visited yearly—pilgrimages our children cherished. He remains a guiding light, embodying the very best of humanity.
-Uday Pattanayak, architect,
visiting faculty, Delhi
Sauve and gentle with a caring demeanour, ever willing to guide the budding professionals, Ribeiro used to personify what an ideal mentor should be.
-Ravindra Singh Verma, architect (SPA 1988 – 1993), Delhi
Late professor Ribeiro has been a guiding lamp in both, the planning and conservation profession. He believed that planning should be the best in our country to lead it to better built environments. His passion for heritage structures and ensuring spatial protection through incorporating it into City Master Plans is still to be implemented. A person with fearless opinions with humbleness, always ready for finding solutions are qualities which many professionals need to follow. His stature of being a role model shall be missed.
-Vishakha Kawathekar, dean (Student Affairs) SPA Bhopal
Deeply saddened by the passing of Ribeiro sir. He fought many battles for integrating conservation within master planning, which gave unprotected heritage an identity and protection for the first time in India. I had the good fortune to work with him on several initiatives at SPA, INTACH, TCPO and during his private practice. His legacy will live on through his work and many professionals like me whom he taught and mentored. May his soul rest in peace.
-Divay Gupta, a conservation
architect in gratitude, Delhi.
Riberio was very gentle and understanding. He shared useful references such as the challenges faced by the Goa Heritage Action Group for integrating heritage in the Goa Master Plan. His contribution to urban planning and architectural education in India always will be remembered.
-Shikha Jain, director-
Dronah, Gurugram
He was a very sharp and practical person with amazing knowledge of planning. He was instrumental in advising young conservation architects who were trying to do listing and to NGOs wanting to enact heritage legislation. Always very helpful and optimistic. He will be missed immensely.
Vikas Dilavari, conservation
architect, Mumbai
Ribeiro was my thesis guide at our architecture college. I will never forget his beaming face when I got the gold medal for the thesis. Since college, for 30 years, he continued to have the same deep interest in my work, my family and in me. He was the only reason I ever visited Goa. I was beyond blessed to always have both his friendship and blessings. RIP sir.
-Ratish Nanda, conservation
architect, CEO-AKTC, Delhi
Ribeiro was a lone, visionary champion who brought cultural heritage into the heart of planning, far ahead of his time. His inspiring lectures, humility, and calm wisdom left a lasting imprint. His immense contributions continue to guide our mission to integrate heritage into urban development in India and South East Asia.
-Rohit Jigyasu, conservation
architect, ICCROM, Rome
