Bapu wanted me to take pain, spread happiness: Gandhi's grandson

New Delhi: "Bapu always wanted me to serve people. He wanted me to take pain of all the people and spread happiness," says Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Kanubhai Gandhi.

Having returned from the US in 2014, Kanubhai, the eldest son of Mahatma Gandhi's third son Ramdas, has since been living in ashrams and old-age homes.

He, and his wife, Shiva Lakshmi, are currently at the Guru Vishram Vridh Ashram in Gautampuri in South Delhi.

"I always remember Bapu and his teachings. I know that I am living at the blessing of these people and I know he (Bapu) would not be too pleased by this fact. Bapu always wanted me to serve people, he wanted me to take all the pain of people and spread happiness. But I am not able to do this.I want to serve Bapu," Kanubhai says.

The 87-year-old with his tired eyes staring out from behind gold-rimmed glasses recalled his childhood memories and the time he spent with Bapu.

"There are a lot of memories. I used to sit in Bapu's lap and pull his hair, but he would still smile at me and wrap me in his arms. In the last letter he wrote to me, he wanted me to serve the people. He said he wanted to live for 125 years and serve the nation and its people. But as he was not able to do so, he wanted me to do the same," he says.

He also says it is but obvious that the people would use Bapu's name for politics because of his great and pure personality.

Kanubhai left India at the age of 17 and studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology after which he worked at NASA's Langley Research Centre. His wife, a doctorate in biochemistry, too held a job in the US.

Ever since the news about the presence of Gandhi's grandson at the ashram spread, the press and curious visitors have flocked the otherwise largely ignored institution.