Anil Madhav Dave was a perfect gentleman and an erudite politician. We were elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh together in 2009. We shared a bench in the House and I got to know him well. He was deeply committed to the conservation of River Narmada and ran an efficient NGO called Narmada Samagra. 

0Few people know he could fly a plane and undertook a survey in a two-seater aircraft from the source of the Narmada at Amarkantak to its estuary on the Arabian Sea.

His RSS training made him lead a Spartan life even when he became Union Minister. He was passionate about the environment and was rightly made Environment Minister by Narendra Modi ji. 

Shocking that his life's work got cut short at just 60 years of age. I will miss a friend and India has lost a politician who was unlike the rest. My respectful farewell to him. Regret I am not in Delhi now. So cant pay my tributes in person. May his soul rest in peace.