Dr. Sharadchandra Gokhale:
A great Social Scientist of international repute and a
committed professional social worker
Left for
Heavenly Abode!
*****
The day
of 15th January, 2013 is a dark day for the professional social
workers in particular and for the social scientist in general. It is on this
day that Dr. Gokhale left for heavenly abode. He was born on 21st of
September, 1925 and lived about 88 years.
Dr.
Sharadchandra Gokhale was basically a trained professional social worker and
alumni of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. He was an eminent social
scientist of international repute. He has worked in the field of social
development. His contribution to the field of child welfare, leprosy, ageing
and policy are of significant nature. He had also
worked as an editor of the news papers, writer and researcher.
He had held many international positions such as President
of the International Federation On Ageing ( IFA ) For Two Terms,
Assistant Secretary General For Asia And Pacific Region Of The International
Council On Social Welfare, United Nations Consultant on Social Welfare Policy,
Govt. Of Iran, W.H.O Consultant to Bangladesh, Phillipines, UNICEF
consultant to Srilanka, Honorary Professor at UN institutions at Tokyo, Rome,
and Canberra, Dr. S.D. Gokhale is the only 2nd Indian to address the
UN General Assembly on the request of its Secretary General. Dr. Gokhale had
also held many government positions prominent among them are Consultant to the social welfare department and
Asst Director, Social welfare department, Government of Maharashtra. He has also worked as an Advisor to the Government of India and Dept. of
Social Welfare
His contribution to media and press is of great importance.
He has focused on many social issues through his editorial writings. He has
held the positions such as the
editor of the reputed Marathi daily “Kesri” and also of some
English journals on social work, and he was also the trustee of the Sakal trust
and served as the Chairman, Board of studies in journalism, University of Pune.
He was a prolific writer and published many books and articles. He has to his credit more than 30 books published in
Marathi and English, many of them are award winning from the government and
literary institutes. He has published several articles on the issues of social
causes in many national and international journals. Some of his writings are
translated in French and Chinese also.
His contribution to the field of
NGOs in Maharashtra has brought significant changes in the lives of the women,
children and such other down trodden segments of the society. He has served as
the President
of International Longevity Centre-India, Chairman of the
International Leprosy Union and President Emeritus of Community Aid and
Sponsorship Programme. He had also held the prestigious position of the Child
Fund India as
the President.
Taking into consideration of the yeoman services rendered by
Hon. Gokhale there were many awards and honors to his credit. His services have
been recognized by not only the Indian community but also the foreign
communities that have recognized his services and felicitated him. Some of the
prestigious international awards include the Sasakawa Health Prize awarded by World Health
Organization (WHO) at Geneva on May 25, 2006 for outstanding work done in the
field of leprosy. He was felicitated by the WHO for his outstanding
work in the field of ageing in 1999 at Bangkok by the United Nations.
The IFA Presidential award in
1999 at Montréal for outstanding work done in the field of ageing. ICSW
Presidential award in 1987 at Tokyo. UN special award for work in the field of ageing at
New York by the Secretary General of UN.
The Indian Awards include the Vayoshreshtha Samman Award For Outstanding
Work In The Field Of Ageing By The Govt. Of India In 2005.
The G.D. Birla International
Award for Humanitarian Service in 2002.
Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar By
The University Of Pune In 2001. Vruddha Mitra Puraskar Awarded By the
Tirupati University in 1998. International Gandhi Award Was Conferred On
Him By Gandhi Memorial Leprosy Foundation and Govt. Of India.Gandhi Puraskar
For Creative Writing In 1964, and many more!
Dr.
Sharadchandra Gokhale was an assiduous administrator, a prolific writer, a
great social work practitioner with a sense of commitment and concern to the
society. He was known by his hard work. Till the last breath he was active and
working for the society. Let us prey to God, the almighty, to rest his soul in
peace!
Dr.
B.T.Lawani
Dean & Director
Bharati
Vidyapeeth University, Pune
