Phadke received a Bachelor"s deree from Pune University and a Master"s degree and doctorate in economics and political science from Mumbai University. His doctoral thesis was titled Sanyukta Maharashtra Chalwal Ani Congress Paksha (Struggle for United Maharashtra and the Congress Party).
Foreign some time, Phadke served as the director of Maharashtra state government"s Administrative Institute before starting his long teaching career as a professor of political science at Pune and Mumbai Universities. In 1984, Phadke was awarded the Fulbright scholarship to complete his research at Temple University’s Center for Study of Federalism. During 1985-1991, he taught sociology at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences.
The Asiatic Society in Mumbai conferred on him an honorary membership.
(During the 1815-1995 180-year period, the Asiatic Society has awarded this honor only on 122 persons)
Phadke served for a while as the president of Maharashtra State Board for Culture and Literature. He was the president of the 73rd Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, which was held in Belgaum in year 2000.
He headed the Marathi advisory committee at Indian Dnyanpeeth. Phadke wrote in English and Marathi on a wide range of historical events and personalities of Maharashtra belonging to the last two centuries.
In English:
The Constitution of India (Coauthored with R Sririvasan)
Senapati Bapat: Portrait of a Revolutionary
Maharashtra in the 20th Century
Social Reformers of Maharashtra
Politics and Language
Women in Maharashtra
V. K. Chiploonkar
In Marathi:
(Most of his Marathi work remains untranslated into English)
Sanshodhak Yashavant Dinkar Phadke (Coauthored with Nilā Upādhye)
Sansada: Tevha Ani Ata
Dharma Ani Rajakaran
Ajakalache Rajakarani
Bharatiya Nagarikatva
Nahi Chira, Nahi Panati
Jammu-Kashmir: Svayattvata Ki Svatantya? Adhunikata Ani Parampara: Ekonisavya Shatakatil Maharashtra (Coauthored with Rajendra Vhora)
Visavya Shatakatil Maharashtra
Shivachhatrapati: Itihas Ani Charitra
Mahatma Phule Gaurava Grantha (Coauthored with Hari Narake)
Shahu Chatrapati Ani Lokamanya
Agarkar
Ketkar Lekh Sangraha (Compilation of Shridhar Venkatesh Ketkar"s essays)
Doctor Ambedakaranche Marekari Arun Sauri
Ra.
Dho.n Karve
Nathu-Ramayan
Nyayalayat Madhū Limaye
Annasaheb Laththe
Drushtadrushta
Svatantryavir Savarakaranchi Shastrastranchya Waparabaddalachi Bhoomika
Rakhiwa jJaga Wastusthiti
Akshar Divali
Lokamanya Tilak Ani Krantikarak
Kalindichya Tīravarati
Ambeḍkari Chalaval
Kahani Subhashachandranchi
Shdhata Shodhata
Svatantrya Andolanatil Musalman
Svatantrya Chalavalitil Shikh
Lokasabha Nivadnuka: 1952 Te 1999
Smaranarekha
Brahmanetar Chalavalitil Dhadadiche Karyakarte Dinakararav Javalakar Samagra Wangmay
Mahatma Phule Samagra Wangmay
Lokmanya Tilak
Keshavrao Jedhe
Shodh Savarkarancha
Shodh Bal Gopalancha
Vyakti Ani Vichar
Krantikarak Virginia Ambedkari Chalwal.
Phadke received a Bachelor"s deree from Pune University and a Master"s degree and doctorate in economics and political science from Mumbai University. His doctoral thesis was titled Sanyukta Maharashtra Chalwal Ani Congress Paksha (Struggle for United Maharashtra and the Congress Party).
He was a member of the advisory committee to the Central Government’s Ministry for Information and Broadcasting.