About Prof. Jagdeep S. Chhokar

Prof Jagdeep S. Chhokar, aged 81 years, one of the founding members of the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), passed away at 4 AM on 12th September 2025 in New Delhi, leaving behind an enduring legacy of integrity and courage. A respected academic, civic activist, lawyer, engineer, and conservationist, Prof Chhokar’s life was distinguished by his commitment to strengthening democratic governance and promoting transparency in Indian public life. There was an overwhelming outpouring of grief across the nation on his demise.

To those who knew him, he was more than an advocate for clean politics; he was a generous mentor, an incisive thinker, and a warm friend. He was a fearless and honest lone but the loudest voice in the room. Colleagues, students, and those who worked alongside him remember him as patient yet persistent, principled, and relentlessly committed to public accountability.

Prof Jagdeep Chhokar's vision reshaped the way India thinks about elections and accountability. His absence leaves a void, but his example will continue to inspire all who strive for a stronger and more vibrant democracy.

All his life, he worked for the upliftment of people, and even in his death, he did the same by donating his body to Lady Hardinge Medical College.

He will be deeply missed by his family, his students, his colleagues at ADR, and the many citizens who benefitted from his decades of work. May his efforts continue to bear fruit in the public life of the nation.

His work will continue to inspire the ADR team to work harder towards the realisation of the goals of ADR.

Educational Background:

Grad. Mechanical Engineering (1967)
Grad. Production Engineering (1967)
MBA (1977, University of Delhi)
Ph.D. (1983, Louisiana State University)
LL.B. (2005, Gujarat University)
Obtained a certificate in ornithology from the Bombay Natural History Society in 2001

Professional life apart from ADR:

• Before joining the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, he worked with the Indian Railways as a mechanical engineer and manager for over a decade, and as an International Marketing Manager with a public sector organization for four years.
• He had also taught at Universities in Australia, France, Japan, and the US.
• He was a professor (teacher, trainer, researcher, and advisor) of Management and Organisational Behaviour at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, from 1985 till November 2006, when he retired after reaching the mandatory age of superannuation. He was Dean (2001-02) and Director In-charge (July-Sep 2002) at IIMA.
• He was also the founding Chairperson of Aajeevika Bureau, a civil society organisation that works on issues pertaining to internal migration in India.
• He was the lead editor of a volume titled Culture and leadership across the world: The GLOBE Book of in-depth studies of 25 societies, brought out by the Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness (GLOBE) Research Programme, and published by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, N.J. (now Routledge/Psychology Press), in 2007.