ABSTRACT
This essay is both a personal tribute and an attempt to engage with the life work of Ramchandra Gandhi (9 June 1937-13 June 2007), one of India’s outstanding contemporary philosophers and public intellectuals. e grandson of Mahatma Gandhi from his father’s side and of C. Rajagopalachari from his mother’s, he was the descendant of two of the most distinguished Indians of recent times. Yet, he submitted himself to the rigours of academic studies as any ordinary citizen would, studying linguistics with H. P. Grice and philosophy with Peter Strawson. In India, he taught philosophy at famous universities such as University of Hyderabad, Viswa-Bharati and Panjab University, but never lasted in one place for more than a few years. In the end, as he jocularly said of himself, he held the Chair in Philosophy at Nathu Sweets, a popular eatery at Bengali Market, New Delhi, where he lived in a tiny room in a back lane. He also held forth every evening at the bar of the India International Centre (IIC), a place he loved very much, and where he passed away, having checked into the Hostel for a few days to escape the terrible June heat of Delhi.
