Vithal Balkrishna Gandhi

Vithal Balkrishna Gandhi (11 November 1896 – 3 November 1969), popularly known as "American Gandhi", was an Indian social reformer, political leader and businessman. The Dr. V.B. Gandhi Marg in Mumbai (Bombay) was named in his honour.

V.B. Gandhi was born on 11 November 1896 to the family of a vegetable vendor. The Gandhi family belonged to a community called "Konkanastha Sangameshwari Vaishya Wani Samaj", a group of traders from the Konkan. Vithal’s father Balkrishna Gandhi was a humble vegetable vendor from Ratnagiri. V.B. Gandhi was nicknamed "American Gandhi" because he returned to India to serve the masses after receiving education abroad.

V.B.Gandhi received his early education at Nago School based in Ratnagiri, while his family shifted to Pimpalwadi. V.B. Gandhi arrived in Mumbai in 1910 after being unable to continue his education at Nago Public school due to lack of funds. Later, he got admission to Wilson High School with sponsorship from philanthropic community elders. In 1913, Vithal completed his matriculation and secured a seat in Wilson College located on Marine Drive. Since the sponsorship did not cover college expenses, Vithal funded his college fees by tutoring other students. Later, V.B. Gandhi enrolled himself in Columbia University in 1919 for a Master’s degree in Economics, and completed his course in 1921.

During his student days V.B.Gandhi undertook and editorial role for Young India, a journal founded by Lajpat Rai. He also wrote for "The Willsonian" his college magazine.

Vithal was married to Dr. Susheela, who was his friend Dada Korgaonkar’s sister. The two were introduced to each other by Dada Korgaonkar himself, and though Vithal was rejected by Susheela at first; they subsequently decided to marry each other in December 1929. Vithal and Susheela were parents to two children, son Arvind who was born in 1930 and daughter Leela who was born in 1933. Arvind Gandhi married Dr. Pamila and were parents of three daughters Leena, Sheela and Sunita. Leela Gandhi, Vithal’s daughter married Vijay Gad, and they had a daughter, Beena.

In subsequent years, the Gandhi family’s grandchildren married into different families; Leena Gandhi married Prashant Tewari, Sheela Gandhi married Keshav Rao and Sunita married Kartik Mani. The only daughter of Leela Gandhi and her husband Vijay Gad, Beena tied the knot with Ulhas Yargop.

V.B. Gandhi was a huge admirer of the pipe and was well versed on the subject. Vithal developed a great liking for the pipe as he saw it as a symbol of "democracy". He opined that the pipe was not only for the affluent but for all, as the pipe would pass from hand to hand without discriminating on any basis.

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