The great-granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, Nilamben Parikh, passed away peacefully at her home in Gujarat’s Navsari on April 1, 2025. She was 92 years old. Apart from being known as Mahatma Gandhi’s great-granddaughter, Nilamben Parikh helped many tribal women through her organisation and was also an author. She was known for her famous book about the complicated relationship between Mahatma Gandhi and his eldest son, Harilal, who was also her grandfather.
Speaking of her death, her son, Dr. Sameer Parikh, who is an eye doctor in Navsari, told The Indian Express, “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.”
All about Nilamben Parikh: A life dedicated to service
Throughout her life, Nilamben Parikh followed the Gandhian principles and she extensively worked for the betterment of tribal women through Dakshinapatha- an organisation she started. She worked to educate them and teach them skills so they could become financially independent. She continued this work until she retired roughly 30 years ago.
Despite her frail health, Nilamben Parikh was known for her inner strength and her deep commitment to wearing Khadi. Remembering her, her cousin and historian Tushar Gandhi told the Indian Express, “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 shared that they had a big age-gap because of which he considered her more of an elder in the family, and not just a cousin.
Her work as a writer
Nilamben Parikh was the daughter of Ramiben, the eldest of Harilal Gandhi and Gulab’s five children. Harilal Gandhi was Mahatma Gandhi’s eldest son, and the two had a troubled father-son relationship. It was after she watched a Marathi play titled ‘Gandhi Virudh Gandhi’, which focused on the difficult relationship between Mahatma Gandhi and Harilal, that Nilamben Parikh decided to tell the full story and share her perspective about them. And so, she wrote her book, ‘Gandhi’s Lost Jewel: Harilal Gandhi‘, whic was later made into a Hindi film titled ‘Gandhi My Father‘ in 2007.
She also wrote another book about Mahatma Gandhi’s letters to his daughters-in-law, called ‘Jyan Raho Tyan Mehekta Raho’ (which is roughly translated to ‘Spread Your Fragrance Wherever You Live’)– a message Gandhi had once given them.
Nilamben Parikh’s death is a huge loss to Indian’s rich history.
