Mahatma Gandhi’s Great-Granddaughter, Nilamben Parikh, Dies at 92
A Life of Service and Devotion
On April 1, 2025, Nilamben Parikh, the great-granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, passed away peacefully at her Navsari, Gujarat home. She was 92. Besides being Mahatma Gandhi’s great-granddaughter, Nilamben Parikh was known for her work with tribal women through her organization and for authoring a book about Mahatma Gandhi and his eldest son, Harilal, who was also her grandfather.
A Peaceful Farewell
Dr. Sameer Parikh, Nilamben’s son and a Navsari eye doctor, shared her passing details with The Indian Express. He said, “My mother wasn’t sick, but in her last days, she ate less due to her age. She had severe osteoporosis and was weakening. This morning, I stayed with her instead of going to the hospital. I held her hand and felt her pulse fade… she passed away painlessly.”
A Life for Others
- Nilamben Parikh followed Gandhian principles throughout her life.
- She worked for tribal women’s welfare through Dakshinapatha, an organization she founded.
- She educated and skilled them for financial independence.
- She worked until retiring about 30 years ago.
Despite her frailty, Nilamben Parikh was known for her inner strength and commitment to Khadi. Her cousin and historian Tushar Gandhi told the Indian Express, “She spent her life teaching in tribal areas. Though physically weak, her moral strength shone through. She was gentle yet firm in her beliefs and always kind.”
Her Writing
Nilamben Parikh, Ramiben’s daughter and Harilal Gandhi’s eldest grandchild, decided to tell their full story after watching a Marathi play about Mahatma Gandhi and Harilal’s troubled relationship. She wrote ‘Gandhi’s Lost Jewel: Harilal Gandhi’, which became the 2007 Hindi film ‘Gandhi My Father’.
She also wrote ‘Jyan Raho Tyan Mehekta Raho’ about Mahatma Gandhi’s letters to his daughters-in-law, meaning ‘Spread Your Fragrance Wherever You Live’.
Nilamben Parikh’s death is a significant loss to India’s history.
