Devdas Gandhi and Lakshmi Rajagopalachari: A Love That Defied Boundaries

Devdas Mohandas Gandhi (22 May 1900 – 3 August 1957), the youngest son of Mahatma Gandhi, was a prominent journalist and freedom fighter who played a crucial role in his father’s movement. Devdas was born in the Colony of Natal, South Africa, and spent his early years there before moving to India with his parents. He grew up immersed in the principles of his father’s struggle for Indian independence. But Devdas’s life took a dramatic turn when he fell in love with Lakshmi, the daughter of C. Rajagopalachari, a leading figure in the Indian National Congress and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. Their love story was not just a personal affair but a significant episode that tested and eventually reshaped Gandhiji’s views on marriage and inter-caste unions.

 

The Early Years:

Devdas was actively participating in his father’s independence movement which made him often put behind the bar for his actions. He started his profession as journalist in his young age and eventually become the editor of Hindustan Times which brought him to prominence of journalism. Devdas was also the first Pracharak of Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha which was started by Mahatma Gandhi in the year 1918 at Tamil Nadu especially for propagating Hindi in the southern region of India. Over these years, Devdas would be portrayed as a dutiful son, who follows his father’s principles, but his affairs, would complicate his relationships with Gandhiji’s philosophy.
From these early years of his public activities, Mahatma Gandhi was strictly against the inter caste and inter religion marriages. According to him such unions are detrimental to the society and religion and he often voiced his opposition to it. But those hard-line beliefs were not going to be tested when Devdas at the age of 28 was in love with Lakshmi Rajagopalachari who was of 15 years age. Lakshmi herself used to spends time at Wardha Ashram of Gandhiji and the young couple became intimate. The matter was further sensitive because Lakshmi’s father, C. Rajagopalachari was a great political personality and personal friend of Mahatma Gandhi.

The Unexpected Love: culture of disgust and disapproval helps the family overcome a shocking discovery

The shock of its kind Mahatma Gandhi received when Devdas told his father that he has feelings for Lakshmi, can only be compared to an earthquake. Gandhiji who had never in any way support inter-caste marriages, was in this position himself. Likewise C. Rajagopalachari was not averse to it Though they were already surprised with the results of reserving certain seats for the backward sections of the society. Despite the fact that Rajagopalachari apparently had a liking for Devdas and had a respect for him, he could not approve the marriage of a Brahmin girl with a Baniya boy in view of the standards of the days.

Gandhiji, at first, was not supportive of the move having seen it as a move in the wrong direction. It was quoted that he said, “How can a Baniya boy marry a Brahmin girl?” The prejudice that he held was typical of the many prejudices common in those times. However, such marriage proposal is disturbing even for Rajagopalachari who was a liberal in this or that way. He considered it as a disgrace for both families and own reputation in society that allowed his daughter to marry Devdas.

Devdas’s Struggle: A Conflict Between Love and Culture

This rejection for the second time both by Gandhiji and Rajagopalachari was a major setback for Devdas. He was deeply in love with Lakshmi ; now he had no hope in life to live without her. His emotions worsened; he became more reclusive and most of the time his mind was pondering over Lakshmi. Due to his health, Gandhiji became a source of worry for him although he was still reluctant to change his stands on inter-castle marriages.
Lakshmi, for her part, was also indecisive. This woman honored her father’s decision and was not ready to defy his ruling. She loved Devdas but she was tied up by the chains of being a good daughter. It became quite obvious that the two young hearts were in turmoil and this was pin pointing the situation to their families and friends.

The Turning Point: Letter from Gandhiji and Shift of Paradigm

Gandhiji was touched by the suffering of Devdas and decided to discuss the matter with family friends. He wrote an emotional letter to Surendra, who was a chum of both Devdas and Rajagopalachari. This letter is mentioned in Gopalkrishna Gandhi’s book “My Dear Bapu: Correspondence between C. Rajagopalachari and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi The words quoted are actually from the letter Gandhi wrote to Gandhiji in which he conveyed his dismay over his son’s health. He has written, “Lakshmi remains immune but Devdas is getting worse, worse specifically in saying the name of Lakshmi… His mind is full of lust… What he failed to see right now is sexual desires will kill him.”

Gandhiji’s concerns extended beyond Devdas’s immediate feelings. He feared that his son’s obsessive love could lead to deeper personal and spiritual conflicts. Despite his initial reservations, Gandhiji could not bear to see his son in such a state. He reached out to Rajagopalachari, and after much discussion, they agreed to impose a condition: Devdas would have to stay away from Lakshmi for five years with no contact. If after this period, they still felt the same way about each other, the families would reconsider their stance.

 

The Separation and a Gradual Change of Heart

 

The imposed separation was a difficult period for both Devdas and Lakshmi. Devdas honored the agreement and kept his distance from Lakshmi, even when she visited Gandhiji’s ashram. His commitment to this promise demonstrated the depth of his love and respect for his father’s wishes. During these five years, Gandhiji’s perspective on inter-caste marriages began to evolve. He started to see the social restrictions surrounding marriage as barriers that weakened Hindu society rather than strengthened it. Gandhiji began advocating for breaking these rigid boundaries, believing that love and mutual respect should be the foundation of marriage rather than caste or religion.

Rajagopalachari, influenced by Gandhiji’s changing stance, also softened his views. He recognized Devdas’s unwavering devotion and started to see him as a suitable match for his daughter. By 1933, both Gandhiji and Rajagopalachari had set aside their earlier objections and gave their blessings for the marriage.

A Simple, Yet Momentous Wedding

 

The marriage of Devdas and Lakshmi took place in June 1933 in Pune in a simple ceremony attended by close family members and a few senior Congress leaders. There were no grand celebrations, reflecting the values of both families who believed in simplicity and humility. For Devdas and Lakshmi, this was the culmination of years of longing, struggle, and perseverance.

Kasturba Gandhi, Gandhiji’s wife, who had initially shared her husband’s reservations, also set aside her old beliefs and blessed the union. She spent much of her later life at Devdas and Lakshmi’s home in Delhi, where she developed a close bond with her son and daughter-in-law.

 

Life After Marriage and Legacy

 

After their marriage, Devdas and Lakshmi lived a harmonious life. Devdas continued his work as the editor of Hindustan Times, where his contributions were widely respected. They had four children: Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Rajmohan Gandhi, Ramchandra Gandhi, and Tara Gandhi. Each of their children went on to achieve significant success in their respective fields. Gopalkrishna became the Governor of West Bengal and a vice-presidential candidate; Rajmohan was a noted writer and journalist; Ramchandra was a philosophy professor, and Tara became associated with Gandhi Smriti.

Their marriage, which began as a controversial and disapproved union, ultimately became a testament to the transformative power of love. It not only influenced the personal lives of Devdas and Lakshmi but also played a pivotal role in changing Mahatma Gandhi’s views on inter-caste and inter-religious marriages. Gandhiji’s evolution in thinking would go on to inspire many others, breaking down barriers that had long divided Indian society.

Devdas Gandhi’s legacy as a journalist, a freedom fighter, and a devoted husband continues to be remembered. His love story with Lakshmi stands as an inspiring chapter in the larger narrative of India’s struggle for independence and social reform, illustrating how love can challenge, change, and ultimately unite even the most steadfast beliefs.