An exponent of poet-saints' literature and Maratha history, Dandekar had suffered a brain hemorrhage followed by an attack of paralysis in September last year. Following this he had slipped into coma for quite some time, his family sources said. The avid trekker who had trekked down almost all the forts in Maharashtra was bedridden for about eight months and was staying with his daughter, Dr Veena. The very mention of GoNiDa is enough to ring a bell to a range of about 130-odd novels, dramas and short-stories which are credited to this tenacious writer.

Born on July 8, 1916 at Paratwada in Amravati district of Maharashtra, this "drifter for all his life" began his "excursion" at the age of 13, responding to Gandhiji's clarion call for freedom movement. Yet, young Gopal couldn't really join the bandwagon for being under aged. From13 to 30, seventeen influential years of Dandekar's life encompassed his association with men like Gadge Baba and Sonopant Dandekar and with RSS and his Narmada parikrama. These years speak volumes of his pragmatic philosophy, often reflected in his writings.

Dandekar always found roots of his inspiration as a writer in saint-poets Dnyaneshwar and Meerabai. Bengali literature, mainly the writings of Sharat Chandra, impressed him most. This literature depicting a woman as a strong force, not necessarily rebellious, also caught his imagination. His book Sheetu is an example of this eastern influence, his critics feel.

Sheetu accorded him his most successful narrative form that in future became a distinct feature of his writings based on lifestyles from different regions of Maharashtra.

His autobiography "Smarangatha" won him Sahitya Akademi Award in 1976. He later chaired the All India Literary Meet held at Akole in 1981 and also won many other awards and honours.