The great-granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, Nilamben Parikh, passed away peacefully at her home in Navsari, Gujarat, on April 1, 2025. She was 92 years old. Known for being Mahatma Gandhi’s great-granddaughter, Nilamben Parikh was much more than her lineage. She dedicated her life to the service of tribal women and was also an author.
As per a TOI report, throughout her life, Nilamben Parikh was a strong advocate for the Gandhian principles. She was deeply involved in social work, particularly for the betterment of tribal women. She founded Dakshinapatha, an organisation aimed at educating and empowering tribal women, teaching them valuable skills to help them achieve financial independence. She continued this work for several decades before retiring about 30 years ago.
Despite her frail health in later years, Nilamben Parikh was admired for her inner strength and commitment. She was also known for her dedication to wearing Khadi. Tushar Gandhi, her cousin and a historian, remembered her fondly. Speaking to The Indian Express, he said, "She spent her entire life teaching in tribal areas. Even though she was physically weak, her moral strength shined through her personality. She was gentle but firm in her beliefs, and she was always kind." He added that their significant age gap led him to view her more as an elder in the family than just a cousin.
Nilamben Parikh also made her mark as an author. She was the daughter of Ramiben, the eldest of Harilal Gandhi’s five children. Harilal was Mahatma Gandhi’s eldest son, and their relationship was famously strained. Nilamben Parikh was inspired to write a book after watching the Marathi play Gandhi Virudh Gandhi, which explored the complex father-son relationship between Mahatma Gandhi and Harilal. In her book Gandhi’s Lost Jewel: Harilal Gandhi, she shared her perspective on their troubled relationship, a work that was later adapted into the 2007 Hindi film Gandhi My Father.
Nilamben Parikh also wrote another book, Jyan Raho Tyan Mehekta Raho ("Spread Your Fragrance Wherever You Live"), which focused on Mahatma Gandhi’s letters to his daughters-in-law, sharing a message he once gave them.
As per a TOI report, Nilamben Parikh's son, Dr. Sameer Parikh, who is an eye doctor in Navsari, said, "My mother was not sick, but in the last few days, she had stopped eating much because of her age. She had severe osteoporosis and was slowly becoming weaker. This morning, I decided to stay with her instead of going to my hospital. I sat beside her, held her hand, and slowly felt her pulse fade… she passed away without pain or suffering."
Inputs from TOI
As per a TOI report, throughout her life, Nilamben Parikh was a strong advocate for the Gandhian principles. She was deeply involved in social work, particularly for the betterment of tribal women. She founded Dakshinapatha, an organisation aimed at educating and empowering tribal women, teaching them valuable skills to help them achieve financial independence. She continued this work for several decades before retiring about 30 years ago.
Despite her frail health in later years, Nilamben Parikh was admired for her inner strength and commitment. She was also known for her dedication to wearing Khadi. Tushar Gandhi, her cousin and a historian, remembered her fondly. Speaking to The Indian Express, he said, "She spent her entire life teaching in tribal areas. Even though she was physically weak, her moral strength shined through her personality. She was gentle but firm in her beliefs, and she was always kind." He added that their significant age gap led him to view her more as an elder in the family than just a cousin.
Nilamben Parikh also made her mark as an author. She was the daughter of Ramiben, the eldest of Harilal Gandhi’s five children. Harilal was Mahatma Gandhi’s eldest son, and their relationship was famously strained. Nilamben Parikh was inspired to write a book after watching the Marathi play Gandhi Virudh Gandhi, which explored the complex father-son relationship between Mahatma Gandhi and Harilal. In her book Gandhi’s Lost Jewel: Harilal Gandhi, she shared her perspective on their troubled relationship, a work that was later adapted into the 2007 Hindi film Gandhi My Father.
Nilamben Parikh also wrote another book, Jyan Raho Tyan Mehekta Raho ("Spread Your Fragrance Wherever You Live"), which focused on Mahatma Gandhi’s letters to his daughters-in-law, sharing a message he once gave them.
As per a TOI report, Nilamben Parikh's son, Dr. Sameer Parikh, who is an eye doctor in Navsari, said, "My mother was not sick, but in the last few days, she had stopped eating much because of her age. She had severe osteoporosis and was slowly becoming weaker. This morning, I decided to stay with her instead of going to my hospital. I sat beside her, held her hand, and slowly felt her pulse fade… she passed away without pain or suffering."
Inputs from TOI
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