Obituary: Surendra Abaji Pandhare (1940 – 2023)

Abstract

Shri Surendra Abaji Pandhare, Retired Director, Geological Survey of India (GSI), did his schooling from Chandrapur. He completed his post graduation in Applied Geology from the University Department of Geology, Nagpur University, in 1965, topping the merit list. He worked with the Directorate of Geology and Mining (DGM), Maharashtra, for two years thereafter, and joined GSI as Assistant Geologist in February 1968. Shri Pandhare was promoted as Geologist in 1972 and as Senior Geologist in 1981. Posted at Raipur and Bhopal, he was engaged in systematic mapping. Thereafter, he was engaged in magnesite exploration in Bastar dist, bauxite in Amarkantak and East Coast, base metals in Sidhi district and iron ore in Raoghat area, all in the then undivided M.P. state. During 1968, he compiled technical information on the till then, all the GSI Engineering Geology projects in Central India and prepared a reference map. Shri Pandhare was transferred to the then Planning and Coordination Division (now Policy Support System Division), Central Region, GSI, Nagpur, in 1982, where he continued to be posted till 1998. Here, he handled matters related to technical coordination of field items in the Central Region, material management (stores) and was also inquiry officer for many vigilance cases . He was elected as President of the GSI Scientific Officers Association (GSISOA) for the 1993- 95 term. His keen administrative acumen helped him navigate through as a popular leader, during the turbulent years of career progression of GSI geoscientists. He was liked by a vast majority in the geoscientific fraternity of the GSI.