India, Jan. 8 -- Veteran ecologist Madhav Gadgil, known for his work on the Western Ghats, died at the age of 83 after a brief illness in Pune on Wednesday night.

His son, Siddartha Gadgil, said in a statement, "I am very sorry to share the sad news that my father, Madhav Gadgil, passed away late last night in Pune after a brief illness."

Madhav Gadgil played a significant role in shaping grassroots environmentalism in India.

Born in 1943 in Pune, Madhav Gadgil was influenced by his father, a birdwatcher, learning to recognise birds from their pictures before he could even read.

Gadgil's interests were a rare combination -- he was fascinated by the diversity of the natural world, the landscapes and the life they support and was also c...