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Triangle Indian community honors G.D. Sharma’s decades-long legacy
His century of service earned him the Order of the Long Leaf Pine — North Carolina’s highest civilian honor.
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Staff Reporter - Thu, 13, Aug 2026
- 03:04 EDT
- 15
Dr GD Sharma / Facebook@state Sen. J. Chaudhury
Indian American community members, leaders and public officials across North Carolina have paid rich tributes to Dr. Ganga Dhar “G.D.” Sharma, a scientist, professor and the founding father of the Research Triangle’s Indian American community, who passed away on July 31 at the age of 100.
Born near Agra in Uttar Pradesh and orphaned at a young age, Dr. Sharma transformed early hardship into a lifetime of resilience, education and devotion.
After immigrating to the U.S. via Canada in the 1970s, he settled in North Carolina with his wife, Saroj, after an assignment at the Research Triangle Institute.
While balancing a successful career as a scientist and university professor, he dedicated nearly five decades to community building and spiritual service as a volunteer Hindu priest.
In 1976, Dr. Sharma and his wife, along with 20 other families, helped found the Hindu Society of North Carolina (HSNC). What began as prayer gatherings in basements and rented halls grew into the temple and cultural center in Morrisville that now serves thousands each week.
The couple also founded the Hindi Vikas Mandal, teaching Hindi to hundreds of young people and bringing celebrated poets and artists to North Carolina.
His century of service earned him the Order of the Long Leaf Pine — North Carolina’s highest civilian honor.
Paying tribute to Dr. Sharma, state Sen. J. Chaudhury said, “He was the father of the Triangle’s Indian American community in every sense.”
“He didn’t just build a temple, he built a home for tens of thousands of us who came to North Carolina looking for one,” Chaudhury recalled.
Reflecting on her father’s extraordinary journey, his daughter and Vedic scholar Madhu Sharma emphasized that his legacy lies in the strength of the community he leaves behind.
“From a childhood marked by loss to a life of science, faith, teaching and service, he transformed personal resilience into collective strength,” Madhu said.
“He may have left this world at 100, but the community he helped create will continue to carry his spirit forward,” she said.
Dr. Dhiren Thakkar, former dean of the School of Pharmacy at UNC Chapel Hill, remembered Dr. Sharma as an icon whose influence rested on “the quiet power of kindness, empathy, humility and dignity.”
He called him a true “servant leader,” whose legacy would be cherished for generations.
Morrisville Mayor T.J. Cawley, who counted Dr. Sharma as a friend and celebrated his 100th birthday with hundreds of admirers, described him as a visionary who transformed Morrisville and North Carolina.
Another Indian community political leader and Town Council member, Satish Garimella, recalled the honor of having Dr. Sharma administer his oath of office when he became the first Indian-born American elected in North Carolina.
“He set the sail — it is now our responsibility to carry that legacy forward,” Garimella said.
Sajjan Agarwal, chairman of the HSNC Temple, said Dr. Sharma planted a seed when Hindu religious and cultural infrastructure in the region was almost nonexistent.
“That seed has grown into a remarkable spiritual, religious, cultural and community institution serving generations of Hindus,” Agarwal said.
Ishan, a former chair and current Executive Committee member of NCINPAC and an IBM executive, highlighted Dr. Sharma’s reach beyond the Triangle, noting how he inspired the growth of the Hindu community and temple efforts in Greenville, North Carolina.
Harider Dhindsa, owner of Swagat Restaurant, remembered the Sharma family’s passion for keeping Indian tradition, festivals and community gatherings vibrant.
Dr. Sharma spent his final days surrounded by family, reciting prayers alongside his wife.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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