Tribute to Ecologist Madhav Gadgil (May 24, 1942 – January 7, 2026)
Whenever the Western Ghats face disaster, his name inevitably echoes through the mountains. There is always a lingering sense of regret that he warned us long ago, and we failed to listen.
This was the period when the Western Ghats report, prepared by Madhav Gadgil, ignited a fierce debate among policymakers and nature lovers. The report clearly detailed what needed to be done - and what must be avoided - to protect the Western Ghats for generations to come. While the report was largely welcomed, it also provoked significant opposition.It was during this time, in 2014, that an invitation came from the Keystone Foundation. Mr. Pratim Roy and Mrs. Sarala contacted me to ask whether I could translate a lecture delivered by Madhav Gadgil as part of the Nehru Memorial Lecture series into Tamil. Driven by keen interest, I agreed.I began the translation but made very little progress.
Since the deadline was only two weeks away, I asked a few friends for help, but they were unable to take it on. While I was in Erode to deliver a talk on vultures around that time, I met the late Dr. V. Jeevanandam, leader of the Tamil Nadu Green Movement. I mentioned the translation work to him, and he immediately asked me to send him the article.
Within just three days of receiving it, he translated the entire piece and sent it back, asking only where it should be forwarded. I then refined the text slightly and published it as a book titled ‘ஒரு மலையும் சில அரசியலும்’ (A Mountain and Some Politics).
The book release was organised by Mr. Kumar of PUCL. Madhav Gadgil participated in the event as a special guest. Scholars Dr. Ranjit Daniels and Dr. Jayashree Vencatesan, who had assisted Mr. Gadgil in preparing the Western Ghats Report, also attended and provided detailed insights.
It is important to note that Madhav Gadgil always raised his voice on behalf of marginalized people, especially voiceless indigenous communities. Reading his interviews can sometimes be unsettling; nevertheless, his contribution to the development of a new scientific perspective and approach is immeasurable.
By challenging and overturning the notion of nature conservation without public participation, he adopted a rational, people-centered approach - focused on the downtrodden similar to that of Periyar E.V. Ramasamy.We remember him with deep respect.
For the benefit of all, we have provided a link to the speech he delivered -
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DEnAh5RfBsB8gdEHSDjc2129c1Nn65FE/view?usp=sharing
Photo Credits- Harish Vasudevan, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo- Madhav Gadgil in Kasargod, Kerala, 2013