Anil Agarwal - visionary, founder and leader of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) - passed away on January 2, 2002, after a seven-year battle against cancer. The world has not only lost a rare thinker and advocate dedicated to improving the environment, but also a staunch supporter of the rights of the poor and of social justice.

Anilji's thinking and analysis was always far-sighted. His pioneering work taught people in India and the world to look at environmental and developmental concerns as related, where one could not be compromised to address the other. Always full of energy, he was never the one to be cowed down by the system. His vision and perception shaped an institution that uses the power of knowledge as an effective agent to bring about social change.

A perfectionist, he took problems head-on and analysed them with incisive clarity to arrive at effective solutions. He then worked untiringly to implement them. He worked hard even through his illness to ensure accuracy in the Centre's work, spending hours to look into every detail. Instead of rhetoric, he used hard facts to fight ignorance and indifference. He would never mince his words or hide his anger and frustration against apathetic governance. It was this forthright approach that he instilled in his colleagues at CSE, inspiring them in his inimitable style to go beyond their own perceptions of what they can achieve.

The world had a lot more to learn from Anilji. His death has left a void that cannot be filled. Though he will be greatly missed, his vision and energy will continue to inspire his colleagues at CSE to carry on his work.