Mahatma Gandhi's grandson found dead at IIC

New Delhi, June 13: Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and well known writer-philosopher Ramchandra Gandhi was found dead at the India International Centre on Lodhi Road this morning.

Son of Devdas Gandhi, Ramchandra (70) was found dead in room no 15, where he was staying, at the IIC this morning by the house-keeping staff, said IIC secretary Venugopal.

''After there was no response despite several calls the room was broken open and he was found lying on the ground. Perhaps he died of cardiac arrest,'' he said.

His family and relatives were informed and he was immediately rushed to the RML Hospital, he said.

''A regular here, Mr Ramchandra had checked in at the IIC on June 10.'' Police said it did not suspect any foul play and prima facie it seems to be a case of natural death as the room was locked from inside.

However, something definite would be available only after the postmortem report comes, they added.

Recepient of a doctorate in philosophy from Oxford University, Ramchandra had taught the subject at several universities in the United States, UK besides Shantiniketan, Punjab and Hyderabad in India. Besides teaching comparative religion at St Stephens (Delhi), he was also Professor of South Asian and Comparative Philosophy at the California Institute of Integral Studies.

Author of several books on philosophy, Ramchandra wrote and produced several plays and a film on his grandfather Mahatma Gandhi, besides six others on spiritual greats like Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekananda and others.

Best known for his Kathak-based dance-drama 'Sanmati', based on Mahatma Gandhi's 'My Experiments with Truth' which earned him widespread acclaim, Ramchandra made his impact through several books which include 'Sita's Kitchen', 'Swaraj: A Journey with Tyeb Mehta's Shantiniketan Tryptich', and his maiden fiction work 'Munniya's Light'.

Grandson of the father of nation Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and son of his youngest son Devdas Gandhi, Ramchandra Gandhi was the brother of Rajmohan and Gopalkrishna Gandhi who is at present the Governor of West Bengal.

UNI