Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Kanubhai Gandhi yesterday passed away at a private hospital here, where he was admitted about two weeks back following a heart attack. He was 87
Kanubhai Gandhi. Pic/YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT
Surat: Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Kanubhai Gandhi yesterday passed away at a private hospital here, where he was admitted about two weeks back following a heart attack. He was 87.
Kanubhai, the son of Mahatma's third son Ramdas Gandhi, along with his wife Shivalaxmi, had been living at an accommodation at the Radha Krishna temple run by Punjabi Samaj here for the last three months. He was admitted to the hospital on October 22 after he suffered a heart attack. He was put on life support as he had also suffered a paralysis attack.
"Kanubhai died at 8.30 pm today at a Surat hospital," his close friend Dhimant Badhiya said. "Doctors had said that he had also suffered a lung failure in the last few days," Kanubhai's caretaker and a member of Punjabi Samaj, Kailash Chhabra, told PTI.
Kanubhai, a former NASA scientist who was famously captured in a photograph pulling Mahatma Gandhi's walking stick as he led the Salt Satyagraha at Dandi in Gujarat, had come back to India in 2014 after living in the US for over four decades.
A graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Kanubhai also worked with the US Defense Department on the wing structure of fighter aircraft. He had decided to spend the rest of his life in India, along with his wife.
"After staying in the US for over four decades, Kanubhai wanted to spend his last days in his own country, which is why he came here, along with his wife, as he had no child. He stayed at different places in Delhi, Wardha and Nagpur, before coming to Surat three months back," Badhiya said. He lived at various places in Gujarat, then moved to an old age home in New Delhi. He recently moved back to Surat where he was provided an accommodation by the Punjabi Samaj trust.
During Kanubhai's stay in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had interacted with him after reports of him staying in an old age home was published in the media in May. Modi had also sent Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Mahesh Sharma to pay a visit to Kanubhai.
Twitter tributes
Pained by the demise of Kanubhai Gandhi, the grandson of Gandhi Ji. Remembering my various interactions with him. May his soul rest in peace
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 7, 2016
Deep Condolences on the demise of Shri Kanubhai Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatama Gandhi Ji. May his soul rest in peace.
— Dr.GURMEET RAM RAHIM (@Gurmeetramrahim) November 7, 2016
Sad to learn about the sad demise of Kanubhai Gandhi, grandson of the Mahatma, my heartfelt condolences
— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) November 7, 2016
Saddened by the demise of Kanubhai Gandhi. Condolences to his family
— Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) November 7, 2016
Congress President Smt Sonia Gandhi has condoled the sad demise of Kanubhai Gandhi.
— INC India (@INCIndia) November 8, 2016
Shri Kanubhai Gandhi ( a boy ), Grandson of Mahatma Gandhiji is no more.... May his soul Rest in Peace. pic.twitter.com/0gD6oGk5hx
— Ashok Tanwar (@AshokTanwar_INC) November 8, 2016
Saddened to know Kanubhai Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhiji is No More. May his soul Rest In Peace.
— Shankersinh Vaghela (@ShankersinhBapu) November 7, 2016
Deeply saddened to know of demise of Kanubhai Gandhi ji. May his soul rest in peace. Deepest condolences to the bereaved family.
— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) November 7, 2016
Pained by the sad demise of Shri Kanubhai Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi ji.My thoughts & prayer are for the departed soul.Om Shanti
— Vijay Rupani (@vijayrupanibjp) November 7, 2016
Guj CM Shri @vijayrupanibjp expressed grief on the death of Kanubhai Gandhi, grandson of Gandhiji, and prayed peace for the departed soul
— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) November 7, 2016
Deeply saddened to know about passing away of Shri Kanubhai Gandhi,Mahatma Gandhi's grandson.Deep condolences to his family,may his soul RIP
— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) November 7, 2016
Just received the sad news that while Nehru's heir @OfficeOfRG was struggling for power, Gandhi's heir Kanubhai Gandhi passed away.
— Priti Gandhi (@MrsGandhi) November 7, 2016