Gangadhar Gade

{{Short description|Indian politician and activist (1939–2024)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}

Gangadhar Sukhdev Gade (1939 – 4 May 2024) was an Indian politician and Ambedkarite sociopolitical activist from Maharashtra. He was a leader of the Republican Party of India, and was president of the Panther Republic Party.{{cite news|title=NCP ties up with Panthers Republican Party|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ncp-ties-up-with-panthers-republican-party/865005/|accessdate=22 June 2013|newspaper=Indian Express|date=Oct 25, 2011}}{{cite news|title=Statue of equality should come up at Indu Mill site: Ambedkar|newspaper=Times of India|date=Jan 2, 2012}} He was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 1972. He was also the Transport Minister during the First Vilasrao Deshmukh ministry for six months.

A popular Buddhist leader among the state, Gade was the leader of the Namantar Andolan (Name change movement) of Marathwada University.{{Cite web|url=https://divyamarathi.bhaskar.com/news/MAH-MAR-AUR-former-minister-gangadhar-gade-news-in-marathi-4944149-NOR.html|title=युतीचे बोलणे झाल्यावर आमची बोलणी- माजीमंत्री गंगाधर गाडे|date=26 March 2015|website=Divya Marathi|accessdate=6 October 2023}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DwtBDwAAQBAJ&q=%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0+%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A1%E0%A5%87+%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE&pg=PA73|title=Dalit Painther : Bhoomika Evam Aandolan|isbn=9789387409408|last1=Sharankumar Limbale|first1=Dr|date=24 November 2017|publisher=Vani Prakashan }} On 7 July 1977, Dalit Panthers general secretary Gade firstly demanded that the name of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar be given to the then Marathwada University.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/marathi/india-42662010|title=मराठवाडा विद्यापीठाच्या नामांतर लढ्याचं स्मरण कशासाठी?|newspaper=BBC News मराठी}}{{Cite web|url=https://m.lokmat.com/aurangabad/namantar-andolan-know-namantar-namavistara-day-day-happenings/|title = Namantar Andolan : जाणून घ्या, 'नामांतर ते नामविस्तार' घटनाक्रम|date = 14 January 2019}}

Gade was born in 1939 in Kavthal village of Morshi taluka of Amravati district. He died in Aurangabad on 4 May 2024, at the age of 85.{{cite news |title=Ex-minister Gade passes away at 85 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/aurangabad/former-minister-gangadhar-gade-passes-away-at-85/articleshow/109849647.cms |access-date=7 May 2024 |work=The Times of India |date=5 May 2024}}{{cite news |title=पँथर काळाच्या पडद्याआड! माजी राज्यमंत्री गंगाधर गाडे यांचे दीर्घ आजाराने निधन |url=https://www.lokmat.com/chhatrapati-sambhajinagar/former-minister-of-state-panther-gangadhar-gade-passed-away-after-prolonged-illness-a-a320/ |access-date=7 May 2024 |work=Lokmat |date=4 May 2024 |language=mr}}