OBITUARY: DR. SETTY PENDAKUR (1934-2026)
Indo-Canadian Voice OBITUARY: DR. SETTY PENDAKUR (1934-2026) posted by: Rattan MallTHE community mourns the passing of Dr. Setty Pendakur, a pioneering urban planner, educator, and civic leader whose life helped break barriers for South Asians in public life in Vancouver. Widely respected for his scholarship and community leadership, he was among the first South Asian voices to help shape civic policy and public discourse in […] The post OBITUARY: DR. SETTY PENDAKUR (1934-2026) first appeared on Indo-Canadian Voice.Indo-Canadian Voice
Black News 
THE community mourns the passing of Dr. Setty Pendakur, a pioneering urban planner, educator, and civic leader whose life helped break barriers for South Asians in public life in Vancouver. Widely respected for his scholarship and community leadership, he was among the first South Asian voices to help shape civic policy and public discourse in the city.
Dr. Pendakur was born on February 11, 1934, in Karnataka, India, where he grew up in a small village with limited educational opportunities. Determined to continue his studies, he moved away from home to complete high school and later attended engineering college in Bangalore. After graduating, he joined the Indian Administrative Service and was posted to Shillong, Assam. Despite the prestige of the role, he remained driven by the goal of higher education.
In 1955 he travelled to North America with a United Nations scholarship and support to pursue graduate studies at the University of British Columbia. After encountering racial segregation during an initial stop in the United States, he chose to move to Canada, where he found a more welcoming environment. He eventually settled in Vancouver to study urban planning at UBC.
Dr. Pendakur later joined the UBC faculty in 1966, becoming a respected professor who mentored generations of students in urban planning and development. His academic work contributed to important conversations about how cities could grow while remaining accessible and inclusive.
In 1972, Dr. Pendakur made history when he became the first South Asian elected to the Vancouver City Council. At a time when the South Asian population in Vancouver was still small and representation in public office was rare, his election marked a significant milestone for the community. During his term he advocated for thoughtful urban planning and greater public access to the city’s shoreline, promoting his vision of “99 by ’99” — a proposal to create 99 kilometres of waterfront walkway by 1999.
He served one term before returning to academia, believing his greatest contribution lay in teaching and research.
Dr. Pendakur married Rajinder in 1959 after the two met while standing in line at a cafeteria at UBC. Rajinder, a teacher, supported the family while he completed his PhD and built his academic career. Together they raised two sons: Ravi, now a professor at the University of Ottawa, and Krishna, an economist and professor at Simon Fraser University.
Beyond academia and politics, Dr. Pendakur remained deeply involved in community life. He played an important role in the early development of the Akali Singh Sikh Society Gurdwara, helping the Gurdwara committee negotiate the purchase of land as chair of the building committee.
From a small village in India to the halls of academia and city government in Vancouver, Dr. Pendakur’s life reflected perseverance, vision, and a deep commitment to public service. His pioneering leadership helped open doors for future generations of South Asian Canadians.
Dr. Pendakur’s family will be hosting a path and celebration of life at Akali Singh Gurdwara on March 26 at 1 p.m. It is open to the public.
(Contributed by Harmohanjit (Harman) Singh Pandher, Burnaby)
The post OBITUARY: DR. SETTY PENDAKUR (1934-2026) first appeared on Indo-Canadian Voice.Indo-Canadian Voice
