Veteran Ecologist Madhav Gadgil Passes Away at 83
Veteran ecologist Madhav Gadgil, renowned for his pioneering work on the Western Ghats, passed away at the age of 83 on Wednesday night in Pune after a brief illness.
Gadgil played a significant role in shaping grassroots environmentalism in India and was a strong advocate for community-driven conservation. He was also named one of the six “Champions of the Earth” for 2024 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Born in 1943 in Pune, Gadgil was influenced by his father, an avid birdwatcher, and developed an early fascination for the diversity of nature and the cultures rooted in local landscapes. He graduated in biology from Fergusson College, Pune, earned a master’s in zoology from Mumbai University, and completed his PhD at Harvard University, USA.
He served as a professor at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, for 31 years, where he established the Centre for Ecological Sciences. Gadgil collaborated extensively with tribals, farmers, herders, and fisherfolk on both basic and applied ecological research. He also held positions in the Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (1986–1990), the National Advisory Council (2010–2012), and chaired the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (2010–2011).
Gadgil is best known for the Gadgil Report, which warned against unsustainable development in the ecologically fragile Western Ghats. His recommendations, though not fully implemented, highlighted the urgent need to protect the mountain range from industrial and environmental threats.
In addition to his environmental work, he contributed to India’s Biological Diversity Act and remained committed to promoting ecosystem protection and marginalized communities throughout his life.
His wife, Sulochana Gadgil, a noted monsoon scientist, passed away in July 2025. His son, Siddartha Gadgil, confirmed his father’s passing, noting it was a “great loss to science and society.”