Renowned Indian ecologist, academic, and prolific writer Dr Madhav Dhananjaya Gadgil passed away at his residence in Pune on Wednesday night, 7 January 2026, at the age of 83.
Survived by his son Siddhartha and daughter Gauri, Gadgil succumbed to age related ailments just months after his wife, noted meteorologist Sulochana Gadgil, passed away in 2025.
Known globally as the architect of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel report, his death marks the end of a transformative era for Indian environmental policy. Tributes have poured in from scientists and activists who hail him as a pioneer who placed local communities at the heart of conservation efforts.
Dr Madhav Dhananjaya Gadgil
Born in 1942 into an intellectually distinguished family in Pune, Madhav Gadgil’s journey into ecology began with childhood treks through the hills of the Western Ghats.
After completing his doctoral thesis in mathematical ecology at Harvard University, he returned to India to establish the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science in 1983. For over three decades, he worked tirelessly to bridge the gap between academic research and grassroots activism.
His multidisciplinary approach incorporated human history and social justice into biological studies, revolutionising how India perceives the relationship between its citizens and the natural environment.
The Gadgil Commission
Gadgil is most famous for chairing the 2010 Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, which produced the seminal “Gadgil Report” in 2011.
The document recommended declaring the entire 1,500 kilometre mountain range as an ecologically sensitive area, advocating for a total ban on mining and large scale development in the most fragile zones.
Though the report faced political resistance and was later diluted by subsequent committees, it remains a foundational text for modern environmental movements.
In 2024, the United Nations honoured his lifelong commitment with the Champions of the Earth award, recognizing his work in drafting India’s Biological Diversity Act and championing the Forest Rights Act.
Understanding The Gadgil Report
The Gadgil Report, officially submitted in 2011, was a landmark plan created to save the Western Ghats, one of the world’s most important “biodiversity hotspots.”
Dr Gadgil’s team recommended that the entire mountain range be declared an Ecologically Sensitive Area. This meant stopping harmful activities like large dams, mining, and polluting industries in the most fragile zones.
What made the report special was its “bottom-up” approach, Gadgil argued that the power to protect nature should lie with local Gram Sabhas (village councils) rather than just government officials. He believed that people living in the forests are the best guardians of the environment.
Awards & Recognition
Dr Madhav Gadgil’s extraordinary contributions to science and society earned him several of the highest honours both in India and abroad. The Government of India recognised his service with the Padma Shri in 1981 and the Padma Bhushan in 2006.
On the global stage, he was awarded the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement (often called the Nobel Prize for the environment) and the Volvo Environment Prize.
Most recently, in 2024, the United Nations conferred upon him the Champions of the Earth award, its highest environmental honour, celebrating his lifelong dedication to restoring nature and empowering local communities.
Nation Pays Tribute
The demise of Dr Madhav Gadgil has seen a cross-party outpouring of grief, with leaders across India hailing him as a pillar of ecological integrity.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed deep condolences, describing Gadgil as “one of India’s foremost voices in ecological inquiry” whose leadership turned scientific evidence into protective action for community rights.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, a long-time associate, lauded him as a “nation builder” who bridged modern science with traditional knowledge.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has historically acknowledged Gadgil’s vision of making development a “mass movement,” the scientific community continues to wait for a formal state tribute to honour his unparalleled service to the nation’s natural heritage.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The passing of Dr Madhav Gadgil is a profound loss for a nation currently grappling with the severe consequences of climate change and rapid industrialisation.
Gadgil was a rare intellectual who refused to see conservation as a barrier to growth, arguing instead that true development must be democratic and inclusive of the people who live within the forests.
His vision of a bottom up governance model, where local gram sabhas have the power to protect their own resources, is more relevant today than ever before.
We must move beyond mourning his death by actively adopting his principles of empathy, scientific integrity, and ecological harmony in our national policies.
