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Harilal Mohandas Gandhi (Devanagari: हरीलाल गांधी), (1888 – 18 June 1948) was the first son of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to survive childhood.

Harilal Gandhi, pictured sometime between 1915 and 1932.

[edit] Early life

Harilal wanted to go to England for higher studies, including becoming a barrister as his father had been. His father firmly opposed this. The elder Gandhi believed that receiving a Western style education would not be helpful in the struggle against British rule over India.^{[note 1] [reference 1]} Eventually rebelling against his father's decision, in 1911 Harilal renounced all family ties and embarked upon a tragic, lifelong path of self-destruction.

He became an alcoholic, and an embezzler; accounts of his arrests, public drunkenness, and prostitution became commonplace.^{[citation needed]} He converted to Islam, adopting the name "Abdullah Gandhi", but later reverted back to Hinduism. This decision did not bother his father, who believed that all religions were as one. His mother felt he should not be publicly displaying this back-and-forth type of behavior.^{[reference 1]}

"I was a slave of my passions when Harilal was conceived," said his father.

Harilal was married to Gulab Gandhi. They had five children, two of whom died at an early age. Nilam Parikh, the daughter of Ramibehn, who was the eldest of Harilal's children has written a biography on him Gandhiji's Lost Jewel: Harilal Gandhi

Harilal spent the latter part of his life as an alcoholic and depressed.^{[citation needed]} He appeared at his father's funeral in such derelict condition that few recognized him. He died from liver disease on 18 June 1948 in a municipal hospital in Bombay.

[edit] Gandhi, My Father

The film adaptation of Gandhi, My Father, was released on 3 August 2007 and directed by Feroz Abbas Khan and produced by Anil Kapoor. The troubled relationship between Harilal and his father is the subject of the film and play Gandhi, My Father. It centers on their stormy relationship. Harilal is portrayed by Akshaye Khanna. Khan's play, Mahatma vs. Gandhi,^{[reference 2]} while different from this film, had a similar theme. There is also a Marathi play named Gandhi virudh Gandhi, in which Atul Kulkarni features.

[edit] Further reading

• Harilal Gandhi: A Life ^{[reference 3]} by Chandulal Bhagubhai Dalal.
• Gandhiji's Lost Jewel: Harilal Gandhi by Nilam Parikh, grand daughter of Harilal Gandhi
• Mahatma Vs Gandhi by Dinkar Joshi

[edit] References

1. ^ Hearing enough of his father's talk about British rule, Harilal turned against him. He claimed that he did not get any direction from his father who opposed many ideas of his. All his business ventures ended in failure and he lost his wife and two of his children.

1. ^ ^{a b} The Hindu : Magazine / Cinema : The Mahatma and his son
2. ^ http://www.ferozkhan.com/fz_mahatmasynopsis.htm
3. ^ https://www.vedamsbooks.com/no49306.htm

[edit] External links

• Chatterji, Shoma A. In the name of the father. Deccan Herald, 22 July 2007.
• Gandhi Family Tree