Former VC of Shivaji University Dr D N Dhanagare no more

Noted sociologist, author and former Vice Chancellor of Shivaji University in Kolhapur, Dr D N Dhanagare, passed away this evening at a private hospital in Pimpri Chinchwad near Pune after suffering a cardiac arrest.

He was 81 years old, his granddaughter Sneha Dhanagare said.

Aditya Birla Hospital, where Dr Dhanagare was undergoing treatment, in a statement said, "Dr Dhanagare was on a regular dialysis. He was suffering from triple vessel disease, known case of hypertension and sever left ventricular dysfunction. He came for routine dialysis, during which sudden fall in BP was noticed. He was immediately attended and shifted to ICU but due to acute cardiac event, the coronary syndrome and comorbidities, he was succumbed to death."
 

Dhanagare was born in Washim in Vidharbha region of Maharashtra on June 11, 1936. He received his masters from Nagpur University and also completed his higher studies in Social Sciences from MIT in USA.

Thereafter, he worked as professor in Agra University, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and University of Pune and later worked as the Vice Chancellor of Shivaji University, Kolhapur.

He received the 2011 Indian Sociological Society Life Time Achievement Award. He was awarded the prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship for 1970-73 by the UK to pursue doctoral research at the University of Sussex.

Dr Dhanagare is survived by two sons and their families. The last rites will be performed tomorrow, Sneha Dhanagare said.

Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde in his condolence message said, "Dhanagare sir was a true academician, who always worked for students. With his demise, we have lost a true teacher."

Dr Dhanagare was also a coloumnist in a leading weekly magazine 'Saadhana', which is published from Pune.

Vinod Shirsath, editor of Saadhana said, "Dr Dhanagare was not only a popular professor in Pune, but when he got selected as the VC of Shivaji University, he laid foundation to many systems and developments, which are still in practice. Dhanagare's contribution in building an institution and making in pro-student is immense."

Dhanagare has penned several books including Peasant Movements in India, 1920, Themes And Perspectives In Indian Sociology.