Phadke was born in 1901 and educated in East Khandesh, India. His clinical medical training was received at University College Hospital. London, and he graduated in 1927. Returning to India he became surgeon at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Bombay, an appointment he held until his retire

He was educated at Guy's Hospital, and qualified first as a dentist. After serving as house surgeon, resident medical officer, and surgical registrar at Guy's he settled in general practice at Stamford, Lincolnshire, where he became surgeon to the Infirmary and also to the Holbeach Emergency Hospita