Renowned Indian ecologist Madhav Gadgil passes away aged 83

PUNE: Professor Madhav Gadgil, the celebrated Indian ecologist, academic, writer and chairman of the Western Ghats Conservation Committee (Gadgil Committee), passed away on Thursday. He was 83. Gadgil died at his residence in Pune. He was undergoing treatment for age-related ailments. It was Gadgil’s report for the conservation of the Western Ghats that created a major revolution in environmental discussions in India.

Madhav Gadgil was born in Pune in 1942. After studying biology in Mumbai, he obtained a doctorate in mathematics and environmental science from Harvard University. He was a visiting professor at Stanford and the University of California. He wrote 215 research papers and six books. He was a member of the committee under the India Biodiversity Act of 2002. This internationally renowned ecologist was honoured by the country with the Padma Shri and the Padma Vibhushan.

The Gadgil Report was widely discussed in the context of recurring natural disasters in Kerala. Gadgil’s warning of major disasters awaiting Kerala if not given proper protection to the Western Ghats stirred discussion during the Wayanad landslide. Gadgil’s main vision was environmental protection with the participation of local communities. He was also the founder of the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science.