Environmental Stalwart Dr Madhav Gadgil Dies at 83 in Pune

Senior ecologist, environmentalist and writer Dr. Madhav Gadgil (83), who authored the landmark report on the conservation of the Western Ghats, passed away in Pune on Wednesday night.

Dr. Gadgil was a former member of the Prime Minister's Scientific Advisory Council and headed the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) in 2010. The report prepared by the panel under his leadership came to be widely known as the Gadgil Commission Report.

Born on May 24, 1942, in Pune, Dr. Gadgil completed his BSc in Zoology from Fergusson College, Pune. He went on to earn his MSc from Harvard University in 1965 and later obtained a PhD in Biology from Harvard in 1969.

After returning to India in 1971, he joined the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, in 1973. He served the institution for nearly three decades and held several key positions before retiring in 2004.

Dr. Gadgil also served in various national bodies, including as a member of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the National Advisory Council (NAC).

A talented sportsperson in his younger days, Dr. Gadgil set records in the high jump at the Maharashtra State Junior level and at Pune University in 1959 and 1961. He also represented Pune University at the All India Inter-University athletics competitions.