Prof. Madhav Gadgil’s passing on is a good loss to India’s ecological and environmental motion. His physique of labor is expansive, impactful and grounded in deep analysis. He mixed rigorous science, grassroots democracy, and environmental ethics. His contribution spans ecology, conservation coverage, schooling, and environmental governance.
He is without doubt one of the key founders of ecological analysis in post-independence India. Performed a serious function in shaping methods ecology, biodiversity research, and human–nature interactions within the Indian context. He emphasised finding out ecosystems as lived landscapes, not simply pristine wilderness.
Prof. Gadgil was additionally an establishment builder. He established the Centre for Environmental Research (CES) on the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, which grew to become India’s main ecology analysis centre. He helped construct generations of Indian ecologists, conservation scientists, and environmental thinkers. CES grew to become a mannequin for interdisciplinary environmental science in India.
“I’ve the satisfaction that as a scientist, empathetic to the folks, I’ve been in a position to do varied issues which have helped in altering the path of what’s taking place.
I’m a sturdy optimist – and hopeful that this progress will proceed to assemble tempo.”
Madhav Gadgil, one of many six ‘Champions of the Earth’ by UNEP.
Champion of Western Ghats
Prof. Gadgil labored very arduous to protect the Western Ghats as an ecologically delicate dwelling system. He was not an activist who wished to ban all actions within the Western Ghats. He proposed graded safety, not blanket bans. His report was popularly generally known as ‘The Gadgil Report’ made politicians alongside the lengthy Western Ghats shoreline detest him.
Prof. Gadgil strongly advocated native self-governance in environmental decision-making. He was deeply in favour of conservation that included folks dwelling round affected areas. As an extension of this strategy, he promoted community-led conservation. He pioneered the concept that environmental sustainability is unattainable with out social justice and democratic participation.
Main Contributions
- Key architect of the Organic Variety Act, 2002.
- First Chairperson of the Nationwide Biodiversity Authority (NBA).
- Instrumental in organising:
- Biodiversity Administration Committees (BMCs)
- Folks’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) — a globally admired mannequin for documenting native ecological data.
Prolific Creator
Prof. Gadgil wrote with readability for each specialists and residents. His writing linked ecology, historical past, economics and ethics. They immensely formed India’s environmental discourse in India. His main books embody the next:
- A Stroll Up The Hill: Residing with Folks and Nature. …
- Ecology and Fairness: The Use and Abuse of Nature in Up to date India. …
- This Fissured Land – An Ecological Historical past of India
The Inexperienced Literature Competition had the honour of awarding his ebook “A Walk Up The Hill: Living with People and Nature“ the GLF Honour Guide of the 12 months 2024.
