Kanu Ramdas Gandhi, Gandhiji’s grandson who famously led him as a little boy holding his stick during the historic Dandi march in 1930, today lies in a state of neglect.
The 87-year-old Kanu is admitted to a charitable hospitable in Surat in a critical condition with little financial support.
An old friend of Kanu Gandhi, Ahmedabad-based Dhimant Badhia volunteered to help and recently gave Rs.21,000.
"The Radhakrishna Temple is rendering great service. They got him admitted to the Shiv Jyoti Hospital nearby and are taking care of his 90-year old wife, Shivalaxmi Kanu Gandhi, who is practically deaf and suffers from other old age-related problems," Badhia told IANS.
The childless Gandhi couple returned to India in 2014 after staying in the US for four decades. Kanu served NASA for over 25 years.
"After returning to India, they kept moving from one place to another as they have no place of their own here. They lived for short spells in ashrams or inns, and at one point they were compelled to spend six months in New Delhi's Guru Vishram Vruddha Ashram," Badhia said.
Earlier this year on May 15, PM Modi had spoken to Kanu to enquire about his health. On his direction, Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma had even met Kanu and assured all possible help, according to a report by Sweta Goswami in The Hindu.
"The PM was most sympathetic and even assured help. But till date, we have not heard from either his office or the Gujarat government,” rued Badhia.
"Kanubhai is among the last few surviving links with Gandhiji's famous stick and the epoch-making Salt Satyagraha. This is the least the nation and its leaders can do for him" said Badhia.