We regret to announce that renowned astrophysicist Prof. Shashikumar Madhusudan Chitre (7 May 1936 – 11 January 2021) passed away yesterday in Mumbai after a brief illness. He was a stalwart of Indian Astronomy community, particularly solar physics. Prof. Chitre was a senior professor in Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai and retired from there in 2001. He was the driving force behind establishment of UM-DAE Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences in University of Mumbai. He was also passionate about science education and outreach and gave a large number of lectures in schools and colleges. Incidentally, he was the voice behind first ever show in Mumbai's iconic Nehru Planetarium. He was former president of Astronomical Society of India and was member of multiple committees and trusts for a number of years which shaped India's science policy.

Prof. Chitre was awarded Padma Bhushan by Government of India in 2012.