Harilal Mohandas Gandhi (1888 - 1948)

Born 1888 in New Delhi, Delhi, India

Ancestors

Died 18 Jun 1948 at about age 60 in Bombay, India

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Biography

Harilal Gandhi is Notable.

Harilal Mohandas Gandhi (Devanagari: हरीलाल गांधी), 1888 – 18 June 1948) was the eldest son of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He had three younger brothers Manilal Gandhi, Ramdas Gandhi and Devdas Gandhi.

Education

Harilal wanted to go to England for higher studies and hoped to become a barrister as his father had once been. His father firmly opposed this, believing that a Western-style education would not be helpful in the struggle against British rule over India.Eventually rebelling against his father's decision, in 1911 Harilal renounced all family ties.

Marriage and Children

Harilal was married to Gulab Gandhi and they had five children, two daughters, Rani and Manu, and three sons, Kanti, Rasik and Shanti. Rasik and Shanti died at an early age. He had four grandchildren (Anushrya, Prabodh, Neelam and Navmalika.) via Rani, two (Shanti and Pradeep) via Kanti, and one (Urmi) via Manu. He became detached from his children after Gulab’s death in a flu epidemic. Nilam Parikh, the daughter of Ranibehn, the eldest of Harilal's children, wrote a biography of him, entitled Gandhiji's Lost Jewel: Harilal Gandhi.

Appearence at his Father's funeral

He appeared at his father's funeral in such derelict condition that few recognized him. He died of tuberculosis on 18 June 1948 in a municipal hospital (now known as Sewri TB Hospital) in Bombay, Union of India.

Death

Harilal died of TB four months after Gandhi’s death on the night of June 18 at the age of 60. Being alcoholic he was racked by liver disease, and possibly syphilis. But records at the Sewri Hospital suggest that he died a lonely death. Harilal’s death certificate is preserved at the BMC’s archives in Vakola. It mentions 8 pm on June 18, 1948, as the time of death. There is no mention of any family members on the document, but it reveals that he was admitted to the hospital after being found unconscious in Kamathipura.

Sources

• Gandhi, My Father by Rajmohan Gandhi, published by Haus Books,

• Wikipedia Harilal Gandhi