Mahatma Gandhi's great-grandson dies of coronavirus in South Africa

New Delhi: Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi's great-grandson Satish Dhupelia succumbed to COVID-19 in South Africa on Sunday, it was learnt on Monday.

He is survived by two sisters, two daughters and a son."My beloved brother has passed on after a month of illness with pneumonia, a superbug contacted in hospital and then Covid-19 also contracted while he was being treated.  He suffered a major cardiac arrest this evening," Dhupelia's sister Uma Dhupelia-Mesthrie confirmed on social media.

The 66-year-old Dhupelia had been suffering from pulmonary fibrosis for many years but three weeks ago he contracted pneumonia. While in hospital, he picked up a superbug which led to a second admission. During this second visit, he was infected with novel coronavirus. 

"He was being treated for Covid-19 and died of a massive heart attack on 22 November 2020", Ms Uma said.

Satish was a trustee of Phoenix Settlement, the farm started by his great-grandfather Mahatma Gandhi. He also served on the management committee of the Gandhi Development Trust which was started by his aunt Ela Gandhi. He took the lead in running the Gandhi Development Outreach Programme by supplying hampers to many informal settlements and the poor. 

"While others talk and write about Gandhi's teachings, Satish lived his great-grandfather's message", Ms Uma said.

His funeral will be performed today and will also be streamed on the Gandhi Development Trust Facebook page at 5.30 pm.(UNI)