Satish Dhupelia, Mahatma Gandhi’s South African great-grandson, succumbed to Covid-19 complications here on Sunday, three days after his 66th birthday, a relative said.
Dhupelia’s sister, Uma Dhupelia-Mesthrie, confirmed that her brother had died from complications related to Covid-19 after contracting the disease at the hospital where he had been under treatment for a month due to pneumonia.
“My beloved brother passed away after a month of illness with pneumonia, a superbug that he contracted in the hospital and then also contracted Covid-19 while he was being treated. He suffered a major cardiac arrest tonight, ”Uma said in a post on social media. In addition to Uma, Dhupelia leaves behind another sister, Kirti Menon, who lives in Johannesburg, where she is actively involved in various projects in honor of Gandhi’s memory.
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All three brothers are descendants of Manilal Gandhi, whom Mahatma Gandhi left in South Africa to continue his work after returning to India after spending two decades.
Dhupelia, who spent most of his life in the media, especially as a cameraman and photographer, was also very active in helping the Gandhi Development Trust continue the work started by the Mahatma in the Phoenix settlement near Durban.
He was known for helping those in need in all communities and was active in various social welfare organizations.
The tributes came from their friends and loved ones. “I am in shock. Satish was a great activist and humanitarian,” said Politican analyst Lubna Nadvi.
“He was also a great friend to the Abused Women’s Advisory Board and always helped the organization in any way he could,” added Nadvi.
Dhupelia was also a member of the board of directors of the 1860 Heritage Foundation, which on Monday, November 16, commemorated the arrival of the first contract laborers from India to work in the sugarcane fields of Durban.
That day, in one of his last Facebook posts for which Dhupelia was recognized, especially for his humor, he wrote: “Let’s also not forget that we still have to come together to achieve our ultimate goals of equality for all and an eradication of poverty.” Dhupella’s funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.
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