The passing of Madhav Gadgil, a renowned ecologist and scientist, has left a void in India and Kashmir. Gadgil was a moral presence who reminded the nation that development without ecological wisdom is a form of violence. He was a champion of environmental conservation and justice, and his work had a profound impact on the way forests, rivers, and communities were discussed in public policy. As Kashmir mourns his loss, it must ask itself who will speak for its mountains, rivers, wetlands, and people with the same clarity and courage.
Kashmir is facing an ecological crisis, with its rivers shrinking, wetlands disappearing, and forests thinning. The region needs an independent ecological conscience, someone who can speak truth to power without fear and challenge short-term economic logic. Gadgil believed that conservation must be built with people, not imposed from above, and that local knowledge and community involvement are essential for sustainable development.
Gadgil’s legacy is a reminder that ecology is not a luxury, but a matter of justice and survival. His work showed that expertise without ethics is dangerous, and that knowledge must never become an instrument of power alone. He was a symbol of intellectual courage, humility, and moral restraint, and his approach to science and policy was rooted in a deep respect for local knowledge and community participation.
Kashmir needs to learn from Gadgil’s example and find its own ecological conscience. The region needs individuals and institutions that are willing to inherit his spirit, rooted in integrity, independence, scientific rigor, and moral fearlessness. It needs ecologists who can say “no” when the land is being pushed beyond its limits and planners who understand that ecology is tied to identity, culture, and livelihood.
Gadgil’s passing has left behind a responsibility to continue his work and to find new voices that can speak for the environment and the people of Kashmir. His life reminds us that one voice, grounded in integrity, can shift national conversations and that ecology is not a luxury, but a matter of memory, justice, and survival. Until Kashmir finds its own Madhav Gadgil, development in the region will remain fragile, imposed, and incomplete.