Prof. Shamsher Prakash, an exemplary human being, a very able administrator and an academic stalwart in Soil Dynamics and Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering has left all of us for his eternal abode on December 2, 2025 in Roorkee, India after long illness. His sudden demise left his family, friends and admirers in deep shock. The members of Indian Society of Earthquake
Technology (ISET) convey our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and friends we pray that god gives enough strength to the family and friends to bear the great loss.
Prof. Shamsher Prakash was born on January 3, 1933 in India. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Civil engineering from the University of Roorkee in 1954. He has obtained an M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1962. Prof. Prakash was an international expert in the field of Soil Dynamics and Geotechnical
Earthquake Engineering. He spent most of his academic life as a Professor in Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, USA.
He was, without doubt, a legend in his own lifetime. The world knows him as a scholar, a pioneer, a global authority in earthquake geotechnical engineering. His achievements fill volumes – libraries, websites, and minds across continents. That story is written not in awards or citations, but in the deep trust we shared, the enduring friendship we built, and the rare meeting of hearts and minds that only strengthened with time.
Prof. Prakash, has served the Indian Society of Earthquake Technology in various capacities such as Editor, ISET Journal of Earthquake Technology (1962-65), Secretary, ISET (1968-1972), and President, ISET (1985-87).
Prof. Prakash has instituted three awards in the Society namely ISET Shamsher Prakash award for Life-Time Contributions in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, Shamsher Prakash Mid-Career Research Award for Significant Contributions in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Shamsher Prakash Early-Career Research Award for Significant Contributions in
Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering-2026. Prof. Prakash has also donated an amount of Indian Rupees 23.00 Lacs to ISET for establishing Soil Dynamic Forum.
We pray to almighty to rest his soul in peace.
Prof. B.K. Maheshwari
President, ISET