Dr. Ganga Dhar Sharma

Dr. Ganga Dhar “G.D.” Sharma — scientist, teacher, spiritual leader, and a founding father of the Triangle’s Indian American community — passed away peacefully at his home on July 31, 2026 in Morrisville, North Carolina. He was 100 years old.

Born on March 5, 1926, in Shikohabad, near Agra, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, he was the son of Pandit Brij Kishore Shastri and Smt. Leelawati Sharma. Orphaned in childhood and raised by his older brothers, his family instilled a deep grounding in the Hindu faith and the strong value of education. He earned his Master of Science degree from Agra University in 1950 and taught at Lucknow University before traveling to Canada, where he received his PhD in Entomology from McGill University in Montreal in 1964.

In 1949 he married Saroj Sharma, his devoted partner in every endeavor for the next 77 years. Together they raised five children, building a family with a strong sense of community, faith, and identity through many moves around the world.

Dr. Sharma’s calling as an educator carried him across three continents. He taught in Ajmer, India; at the University of Ife in Nigeria; and served for five years as a UNESCO advisor to the Government of Sudan in Khartoum. In that role he regularly collaborated with key dignitaries, including future President George H.W. Bush. In 1972, the Sharmas settled in Raleigh, North Carolina. After a research assignment at the Research Triangle Institute, he returned to his first love, teaching science, spending the heart of his career at the Governor Morehead School, where he taught blind and special-needs students with legendary patience. He authored three high school textbooks and more than two dozen articles, and was a proud member of the Raleigh Lions Club from 1978, serving as its Vice President. His passion for educating kept him actively teaching until he was well into his 80s.

His most enduring legacy, however, began in 1976, when he and Mrs. Sharma, with twenty fellow families, founded the Hindu Society of North Carolina (HSNC). What started as prayer gatherings in basements and rented halls, grew into an iconic temple and cultural home in Morrisville that today serves thousands of devotees each week. This vision would never become a reality without decades of the Sharmas’ tireless fundraising, leadership and faith. He served the Society as President, board member, and Founder Trustee, and remained a daily presence at the temple even into his final days. Perhaps his greatest contribution to the community came from thousands of ceremonies and pujas he presided over giving blessings via marriages, childbirths, new homes or business ventures and equally sharing comfort and faith with families during times of distress, angst and tragedy.

He and Mrs. Sharma also founded the Hindi Vikas Mandal, teaching the Hindi language to hundreds of young people and bringing renowned poets and artists to North Carolina. Their work was honored abroad and locally alike, including the Government of Uttar Pradesh in 2005, and in bringing the first-ever Diwali celebration to the NC Governor’s Executive Mansion in 2017.

Known simply as “Uncle” or “Sharma Ji” to generations, Dr. Sharma was widely credited, alongside Mrs. Sharma, with transforming Morrisville into one of the most vibrant Indian American communities in the country. In 2019, Governor Roy Cooper bestowed upon the Sharmas the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s highest civilian honor, alongside past recipients like Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jordan. The Town of Morrisville commemorated their contributions with a mural in Town Hall, and this past March — on his 100th birthday — he was celebrated with a proclamation from the Mayor of Morrisville, letters from Governor Josh Stein and the President of McGill University, and recognition from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America for a century of seva, dharma, and service.

Through it all, he remained what he had always been: a humble teacher who believed that faith is best expressed in service, and that a community is built one welcomed stranger at a time.

Dr. Sharma was the ultimate family man. Alongside Mrs. Sharma, he continually inspired his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to seek education and make a positive impact on the community. He is the namesake of the Sharma Family Scholarship Fund, which supports first-time college students in North Carolina public universities. One of his favorite traditions was celebrating Christmas with all of his loved ones around the Christmas tree. He also enjoyed sharing Dunkin Donuts coffees and McDonald’s french fries with family and friends.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 77 years, Dr. Saroj Sharma; his children, Rajiv Sharma (Renu), Madhu Sharma (Bharat), Sanjiv Sharma (Alka), and Shachi Gawande (Mohan); and his daughter-in-law, Subhashini Sharma. He was predeceased by his son, Alok Sharma. He leaves behind a legacy of faith, love and education through his children, 10 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, countless students, devotees, and friends whose lives he touched across a remarkable century.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Hindu Society of North Carolina: https://hsnctemple.org

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh is serving the Sharma family.