The mortal remains of Ramchandra Gandhi, a grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, were on Thursday consigned to flames in New Delhi in the presence of his close friends and family members.
Gandhi's cremation took place at the Lodhi Road crematorium this morning. The 70-year-old philosopher and academician was found dead in a room at the India International Centre on Wednesday.
His last rites were performed by his daughter Leela Gandhi. His widow Indu, brothers Rajmohan and Gopal Krishna, sister Tara and niece Amrita and other close family members were present.
Noted historians Romila Thapar and Kapila Vatsyayan, actress Nandita Das, painter Jatin Das, journalist Mark Tully, noted Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande and Prime Minister's media advisor Sanjaya Baru were present at the funeral.
Gandhi was found dead in Room number 15 of the elite club in South Delhi where he had checked in on June ten to escape the gruelling heat. Police has said that his death was natural.
"It will be a long time before we fully realise the impact of this loss. He was such a genuine person," said Gandhi's sister Tara Gandhi Bhattacharya.
She recalled that he had told her just last week that he wanted to make at least one child happy a day.
"He was very spiritual and philosophical," she said.