This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

Mahatma Gandhi's Grandson Calls Himself A 'Modi Bhakt'

Mahatma Gandhi's Grandson Calls Himself A 'Modi Bhakt'
PMO India/Twitter

Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Kanubhai Gandhi on Sunday said that he has been a 'bhakt' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a long time.

Kanubhai who recently moved to an old age home in Delhi spoke to PM Modi over the phone and said that he had a very “pleasant discussion”. Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma had personally gone to visit him there, and had connected him with the Prime Minister.

'Bhakt', a Hindi word which literally means 'worshipper' — is a tongue-in-cheek term used in social media to describe the adoring and sometimes extreme followers of PM Modi.

Main bahut puraana PM ka bhakt hoon. Maine jo unko madat ki thi woh sab cheezein unko yaad thi: Kanubhai Gandhi pic.twitter.com/Wb3oaAz08F

— ANI (@ANI_news) May 15, 2016

"I am a very old follower of the Prime Minister, and he still remembers the help I had extended to him. Those days Congress president Sonia Gandhi was against [both of] us," Kanubhai told ANI.

After the conversation, PM directed the authorities to ensure that he and his wife have a comfortable stay in their new home.

PM @narendramodi has taken note of reports about Shri Kanubhai Gandhi. He asked Minister @dr_maheshsharma to meet Kanubhai.

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 15, 2016

PM @narendramodi and Kanubhai had a long conversation. They spoke in Gujarati and had a very pleasant discussion. pic.twitter.com/m93Gc3DXwK

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 15, 2016

Currently staying at the Guru Vishram Vridh Ashram at Gautampuri in South Delhi, Kanubhai expresses regret at not being able to help others, like his grandfather did. "I am sad that I have to rely on the government's help," he said in an interview.

Kanubhai is the eldest son of Mahatma Gandhi's third son Ramdas.

Kanubhai left India at the age of 17 and studied at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology and later worked at NASA's Langley Research Centre. His wife holds a doctorate in biochemistry.

After over four decades of stay in the United States, Kanubhai (87) and his wife Dr Shiva Lakshmi Gandhi (85) returned to India in 2014 and spent about a year-and-a-half in various ashrams in Gujarat before checking into the one in Delhi on 8 May.

Also On HuffPost:

Baer’s Pochard

10 Critically Endangered Birds In India

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.