Renowned Indian ecologist and “people’s scientist” Dr. Madhav Gadgil passed away at the age of 83 on the night of January 7, 2026, at his residence in Pune following a brief illness. A visionary who bridged the gap between rigorous academic science and grassroots activism, Gadgil was best known for chairing the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), whose 2011 report remains the gold standard for protecting one of the world’s most significant biodiversity hotspots. Throughout his six-decade career, which included founding the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and receiving the UNEP’s 2024 Champions of the Earth Award, he consistently championed “bottom-up” governance, arguing that true conservation is impossible without empowering local communities and Gram Sabhas. His death is being hailed as the end of an era for Indian environmental
