Raised in South Africa on one of his father's ashram-farms, Ramdas would, as an adult, tend to deprecate the idealistic poverty imposed by his father on all his associates.

He had no taste for asceticism and considered that his father's lifestyle was nothing more than a personal fetish which caused inconvenience to others, including the Gandhi family.

Nevertheless, he was a passionate nationalist and freedom fighter, and an active participant in the grueling civil protests of the 1930s which his father led.

He was imprisoned numerous times by the British, and these prolonged stints in jail had serious effects on his health.

[4] He was joined by his younger brother Devdas Gandhi at the funeral.