Tributes have been paid to an equality pioneer who dedicated his life to community cohesion and supporting victims of racial harassment.

Dev Sharma, who had worked tirelessly in Gravesend and Dartford since the 1970s, has died aged 84 following a short illness.

Kent Equality Cohesion Council, of which he sat as chairman, says before the publication of the 1999 Stephen Lawrence inquiry, work around equality and diversity was incredibly rare with limited funding and visibility in the charity sector.

But Dev’s vision for fairness and justice led to the establishment of Dartford and District Racial Equality Council, and later the North West Kent Equality Council in 1999.

It was there that he began working and guiding Gurvinder Sandher who would later found arts charity Cohesion Plus.

Gurvinder said: “I am deeply saddened by the passing of not just a friend and colleague but also my mentor.

“I have had the great pleasure of working closely with Dev since 1999 and learnt so much from him over the years. He was an inspirational leader, someone who was always willing to help others.”

Dev continued to lead the organisation, which actively worked to eliminate racial discrimination until his retirement in 2010.

In the same year, he took on his role at the newly formed Kent Equality Cohesion Council.

The organisation, which still exists today, has hailed him, “a trailblazer” for bringing communities together to celebrate what unites rather than divides.

By 2006, his contributions saw him awarded an MBE by the Queen.

Gurvinder added: “Dev leaves behind a profound legacy of compassion, advocacy, and service.

“He will be deeply missed, but his contributions will continue to shape the communities he so passionately served in North Kent and the Kent Equality Cohesion Council that he led for so many years.”

Leader of Gravesham council Cllr John Burden added: “Dev Sharma is one of the main reasons the Gravesham community of today is such a tolerant and multi-cultural one.

“He worked tirelessly to promote community cohesion, trust and understanding, and the foundations he laid continue to support the efforts of those who followed him in this field.

“We are deeply saddened to hear of his passing and extend our thoughts and sympathies to his family and friends.

“He will be missed, but his legacy lives on.”

Dev leaves behind his wife Pramila Sharma, two sons and four grandchildren.