Arun Gandhi, social activist, writer and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, dies at 89

Arun Gandhi spent his last days at the campus of Avani, an organisation he had been associated with, which is notable for its work towards the empowerment of the marginalized children, child labourers, migrant brickyard and sugar cane workers and the women in the labour force. Arun Gandhi was associated with Avani for the last three decades.

Bereaved. Lost my father this morning🙏🏽

— Tushar बेदखल (@TusharG) May 2, 2023

Arun Gandhi was born on April 14, 1934 at Durban in South Africa to Sushila Mashruwala and Manilal Gandhi, second of the four sons of Mahatma Gandhi.

A biographical note on Arun Gandhi website reads, “Growing up under the discriminatory apartheid laws of South Africa, he was beaten by white South Africans for being too black and black South Africans for being too white. So, Arun sought eye-for-an-eye justice. However, he learned from his parents and grandparents that justice does not mean revenge, it means transforming the opponent through love and suffering.”

A post shared by Avani’s President Anuradha Bhosale reads, “At the age of 12, Arunbhai came to India to live with Mahatma Gandhi at Sevagram Ashram. In 1948 he returned to South Africa and was active in various social movements.” Arun Gandhi married Sunanda in 1957. The biographical note on Arun Gandhi website says, “Shortly after Arun married his wife Sunanda, they were informed that the South African government would not allow her to accompany him there. Sunanda and Arun decided to live in India, and Arun worked for 30 years as a journalist for The Times of India.”

In 1987 Sunanda and Arun came to the US and in 1991 they started the M. K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence at the Christian Brothers University in Memphis Tennessee. The note states that, in India, Arun and Sunanda started projects for the social and economic uplifting of the oppressed using constructive programs, the backbone of Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence. “The programs changed the lives of more than half a million people in over 300 villages and they still continue to grow.” the note states. Sunanda passed away in 2007.

Arun Gandhi was closely associated with Avani through its founder Arun Chavan. Speaking to Express, Bhosale said, “Arunbhai has contributed immensely to Avani’s cause and has been a father figure for us. In February this year, when Arunbhai was visiting Avani, his health deteriorated and he could not return. He had been staying with us at Hanbarwadi campus since then. He breathed his last on Tuesday morning. His last rites were performed at the premises of Gandhi Foundation at Vashi, Nandwal Road in Kolhapur on Tuesday evening. Avani will continue to build on his work on non-violence, peace and service to the poor.”

Arun Gandhi penned several books including ‘The Gift of Anger: And Other Lessons from My Grandfather Mahatma Gandhi’ and ‘A Patch of White’ about life in prejudiced South Africa. He also edited a book of essays on World Without Violence: Can Gandhi’s Vision Become Reality? The Forgotten Woman: The Untold Story of Kastur, the Wife of Mahatma Gandhi, jointly with his late wife Sunanda, Legacy of Love: My education in the path of nonviolence.