Premium

‘He would do anything for my daughters… stand on his head’, daughter remembers Madhav Gadgil

One of Gauri’s daughters, Tara Shah, is a professional badminton player. The lanky Gadgil was himself an athlete and a sportsperson in his youth.

5 min readPuneUpdated: Jan 9, 2026 08:15 AM IST

Environmentalist Madhav Gadgil with his granddaughters

Madhav Gadgil with his granddaughters. (Source: Family)

He was India’s best-known ecologist and environmentalist, a towering figure who amalgamated ethics and compassion with science and data. At home, Madhav Gadgil, was doting grandfather.

“He would do anything for my daughters, stand on his head just to make them laugh. He also used to make the most amazing fruit platters,” daughter Gauri remembered her father Madhav Gadgil who passed away in Pune on Thursday, aged 83, after a brief illness.

One of Gauri’s daughters, Tara Shah, is a professional badminton player. The lanky Gadgil was himself an athlete and a sportsperson in his youth.

“He would often regale his granddaughters with stories of his feats being the junior state high jump champion,” Gauri told The Indian Express.

Gadgil is most well known for his work on the ecological significance of the Western Ghats. His report on Western Ghats have been the basis on which ecologically-sensitive areas are being demarcated in these ecologically-fragile region.

He had been ailing for some time for different reasons, and undergone a treatment for hip fracture following a fall sometime back.

One of Gauri’s daughters, Tara Shah, is a professional badminton player. (Source: Family)

“Although he recovered from the injury, he later developed a throat infection and aspiration pneumonia. He was admitted to Prayag hospital (in Pune) where he succumbed to complications from the infection including a brain haemorrhage and septic shock,” his son Siddhartha told The Indian Express.

Story continues below this ad

The last rites will be performed this evening at Vaikunth crematorium.

“He was equally honest and liberal with us as he was at work,” Siddhartha said.

Madhav Gadgil had dedicated himself to intellectual pursuits ranging over mathematics, natural and social sciences, history and public policy.

“He would similarly encourage colleagues, friends and students,” Siddhartha recalled. Gauri also remembered the time when they had organised a function one and a half years ago to mark the release of his memoir ‘A Walk Up The Hill: Living with People and Nature’.

Story continues below this ad

Also Read | Madhav Gadgil interview: ‘The idea that coal is essential for economic development needs to be examined’

The book is an account of his life walking up and down the country’s hills and dales watching peacocks dance and elephants prance and living among fisherfolk on the west coast and horticulturists on the Western Ghats and tribals of Manipur and Maharashtra, all the while being a part of the vibrant scientific community.

Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist at the World Health Organisation and Chairperson of M S Swaminathan Research Foundation would make it a point to visit Madhav Gadgil when she visited Pune.

“I had great respect for Madhav and also (his wife) Sulochana Gagdil, both of whom dedicated their lives to science, rooted in compassion, empathy and pragmatism,” Dr Swaminathan said.

“We have lost an exemplary scientist, a dedicated and passionate ecologist and a wonderful human being.”

Story continues below this ad

She recalled the time when he presented her with his book ‘A Walk Up the Hill’ where he describes his early life and his father’s influence in nurturing his love for nature and later educational experiences, especially with the legendary biologist, E O Wilson.

Don't Miss | Madhav Gadgil writes: Wayanad tragedy exposes the gulf between haves and have-nots

“All students of wildlife, ecology and officers of forestry and environment departments must read his book. He had a unique perspective on the need to balance wildlife conservation with the needs of people living in the vicinity of forests and protected areas,” Dr Swaminathan said.

Prof Gurudas Nulkar, Director, Centre for Sustainable Development, Gokhale Institute for Politics and Economics said scientists like Gadgil were much needed in today’s age.

Also Read | 5 essential reads by Madhav Gadgil, the ‘people’s scientist’ who charted India’s ecological conscience

“In this age of economic growth and international competition, we need ecologists like Madhav Gadgil who are able to connect natural resources with livelihood and development. He has left this legacy and his approach to human development has been singular,” he said.

Story continues below this ad

Historian Ramchandra Guha said that he was devastated to learn about Gadgil’s death. “To me a friend and mentor for 40 years and more,” he said in a social media post.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories

Tags:
Madhav Gadgil

Loading Taboola...