In Loving Memory
Prof. C.K. Kokate
Former Vice-Chancellor, Kakatiya University · Former President, Pharmacy Council of India · Renowned author of the Pharmacognosy textbook
The UCPS KU USA Alumni Association mourns the passing of our beloved teacher, Prof. C.K. Kokate, at the age of 79. Generations of pharmacy students learned at his feet, and many of us owe our careers to the foundation he helped build at University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kakatiya University.
His lifelong dedication to pharmacy education, his outstanding contributions to the profession and his invaluable guidance will always be remembered.
May his noble soul rest in peace. Om Shanti.
A remarkable life in pharmacy
Prof. Kokate became a full Professor in his early thirties, a rare achievement in India. He took our college to national prominence, and in the 1980s and 1990s a Kakatiya pharmacy degree carried real weight, in India and in graduate schools across the United States. He went on to serve the profession at the highest levels, including as Vice-Chancellor of Kakatiya University and President of the Pharmacy Council of India. His Pharmacognosy textbook has been a companion to pharmacy students across India for decades.
Reflections from our alumni
“Indeed, it feels like Sir departed too soon. Seventy-nine is not young, but when the person is our own, whether a parent or a beloved teacher, we always feel they should have lived a few more years, and then a few more… I am deeply grateful to Sir and all the other senior Professors at whose feet I learned whatever little Pharmaceutical Science I know.”
“In the early 1990s, those of us who came to the US for graduate studies would proudly announce our alma mater… Indian students who came with us would acknowledge that they had heard of Kakatiya University.”
Dr. Siva Digavalli
Share your condolences
We invite alumni, faculty and friends to share a memory or message below. All messages will be gathered and passed to Prof. Kokate’s family. Messages are reviewed before they appear on the site.
I will always remember Kokate Sir for his distinctive approach to teaching and the values he instilled in us during my formative years in UCPS.
Whether teaching Forensic Pharmacy or Pharmacognosy, he brought ethics and professional responsibility into the classroom in a way that went beyond textbooks. I particularly remember his firm hand in addressing issues and maintaining discipline, balanced by his remarkable gentleness and understanding when it came to students.
He taught us that being a good professional was not just about knowledge, but also about integrity, responsibility, and character.
His lessons extended well beyond the classroom, and his influence will remain with those of us who had the privilege of being his students.
May his soul attain Sadgati. Heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.
Srikanth C. Nallani