Hear Ela speak at our 65th Anniversary Celebration & Symposium, “Envisioning the Future of the Interfaith Movement” on November 8 in New York City. Get tickets here.
Ela Gandhi: Peace Activist, Social Worker, Former Parliamentarian
Ela Gandhi is a South African peace activist, social worker, former parliamentarian, and granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi. She has devoted her life to promoting nonviolence, social justice, and the values of her grandfather.
Ela Gandhi is a renowned South African peace activist, social worker, and former politician who is widely respected for her lifelong dedication to nonviolence, social justice, and interfaith harmony. Born in 1940 in the Phoenix Settlement in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa—established by her grandfather, Mahatma Gandhi—Ela Gandhi has continued his legacy, deeply committed to community upliftment and nonviolent activism.
During the apartheid era, Gandhi emerged as a prominent voice against injustice. She was banned from political activism and placed under house arrest for nine years due to her commitment to equality and human rights. Undeterred, she worked underground to end apartheid, co-founding the Natal Organisation of Women, which unified women of all backgrounds around issues like maternity rights, the cost of living, and childcare.
After the end of apartheid, Ela Gandhi was elected as a Member of Parliament (1994–2004), where she contributed to welfare, public enterprise, and legal system reforms. She also served on the Transitional Executive Council, helping South Africa make a peaceful transition to democracy.
Beyond politics, Ela Gandhi has devoted herself to multiple humanitarian and interfaith initiatives. She established the Gandhi Development Trust to promote nonviolence and founded a 24-hour domestic violence program. Gandhi chairs the Mahatma Gandhi Salt March Committee and is an active member of the Religious Affairs Committee. Her efforts span not only South Africa but also international arenas, where she has championed interreligious cooperation for peace and justice.
For her outstanding service, Ela Gandhi has received numerous awards, including the Community of Christ International Peace Award and the Padma Bhushan from the Government of India. In 2023, she was recognized as a Spiritual Exemplar for her engaged spirituality benefiting humanitarian causes worldwide. Ela is also a Hollister Award recipient.
Ela Gandhi’s life work exemplifies the principles of nonviolence, justice, and compassion across faiths, making her a profoundly inspiring figure for our interfaith gathering.
Primary Sources & Speeches
- https://www.kaiciid.org/who-we-are/advisory-forum/honourable-ela-gandhi
- https://www.templeton.org/news/do-what-you-can-where-you-are-with-what-you-have
- https://www.rfp.org/leadership_member/hon-ela-gandhi/
- https://fresnostatecah.com/2019/10/04/ela-gandhi-to-give-personal-perspective-on-mahatma-gandhis-legacy/
- https://sahistory.org.za/people/ela-gandhi
- https://theinsidersa.co.za/ela-gandhi-on-how-the-ideas-her-grandfather-formed-went-on-to-change-the-world/
- https://www.huffpost.com/entry/meeting-with-ela-gandhi-a_b_3174968
- https://www.niallmcnulty.com/?p=65758
- https://crcc.usc.edu/ela-gandhi-new-book-shares-the-life-and-lessons-of-anti-apartheid-activist/
- https://aii.unimelb.edu.au/ela-gandhi-a-legacy-of-democracy-and-social-justice-in-south-africa/
- https://apeaceofmymind.org/2018/09/27/ela-gandhi/
- https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCcbrt1t3Wt/?hl=en
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/lets-resist-the-forces-of-division-and-hatred-mahatma-gandhis-s-african-granddaughter-ela/articleshow/109127375.cms
- https://www.instagram.com/p/DOK3c40kX8w/
- https://www.arungandhi.net/ela-gandhi-gandhi-mideast-south-africa/
- https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft4p3006kc%3Bquery%3Dindia%3Bbrand%3Ducpress
- https://iol.co.za/thepost/2025-07-04-celebrating-85-years-of-ela-gandhi/
- https://overcomingapartheid.msu.edu/people.php?kid=163-574-568
- https://templeofunderstanding.org/violence-against-women-in-politics/