Pune’s Sahyadri Son To Kerala’s Ghats Guardian: RIP Madhav Gadgil. Aarey Saved, Wayanad Warned — Fight Goes On

Last Updated:January 08, 2026, 10:14 IST

Born in 1942, Madhav Gadgil was inspired by the region’s rich biodiversity and cultural heritage which shaped his lifelong commitment to ecological study.

Madhav Gadgil completed a doctoral thesis in mathematical ecology from Harvard University. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

A giant in Indian ecology, Madhav Gadgil, passed away on Wednesday night, January 7, in Pune, Maharashtra, following a brief illness. He was 83. Gadgil was celebrated for his lifetime of work in conserving the Western Ghats and for promoting a community-centered approach to environmental protection.

“I am very sorry to share the sad news that my father, Madhav Gadgil, passed away late last night in Pune after a brief illness," said his son Siddhartha Gadgil in a statement.

From an early age, Madhav was drawn to the forests and hills of the Western Ghats. Born in 1942, he was inspired by the region’s rich biodiversity and cultural heritage which shaped his lifelong commitment to ecological study.

According to Penguin, which published his autobiography A Walk Up The Hill: Living With People And Nature in 2023, Gadgil decided while still in high school to pursue a career that combined field ecology with anthropology. His academic journey took him from Pune and Mumbai to Harvard University where he completed a doctoral thesis in mathematical ecology.

News pune Pune’s Sahyadri Son To Kerala’s Ghats Guardian: RIP Madhav Gadgil. Aarey Saved, Wayanad Warned — Fight Goes On

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