Who Was Karsandas Gandhi? Meet Mahatma Gandhi’s Elder Brother

Last updated on: February 20, 2026

Karsandas Gandhi was the elder brother of Mahatma Gandhi. He was part of a respected family in Porbandar, Gujarat. The Gandhi household was known for public service, discipline, and strong values. While Mohandas later became world famous, Karsandas lived a quieter life. Still, he played an important role inside the family.

Karsandas grew up in a home where duty came first. The family served princely states as administrators. Their reputation was built on honesty and loyalty. These values shaped all the children, including the youngest son, Mohandas.

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Quick Facts About Karsandas Gandhi


Full Name	Karsandas Gandhi
Birthdate	N/A
Age	Unknown
Birthplace	Porbandar, Gujarat, India
Occupation	N/A
Education	N/A
Husband/Wife	Not known
Children	N/A
Parents	Karamchand “Kaba” Gandhi and Putlibai Gandhi
Siblings	Laxmidas, Raliatbehn, Mohandas K. Gandhi
Known For	Elder brother of Mahatma Gandhi
Role in Family	Supported Gandhi’s early education
Residence	Rajkot (Kaba Gandhi No Delo)
Net Worth	<$1 million

Family Roots and Parents

Karsandas was the son of Karamchand Uttamchand Gandhi, also called Kaba Gandhi. His father worked as a Diwan, or chief minister, in Porbandar and later in Rajkot and Wankaner. He had little formal schooling, yet he was respected as a smart and fair leader. People knew him as generous, but also quick-tempered.

Karsandas’s mother, Putlibai, was deeply religious. She followed the Vaishnava tradition and lived a life of prayer and fasting. She often took vows for the health of her family. Her devotion filled the home with spiritual discipline. Young Mohandas later said her faith shaped his thinking about truth, self-control, and non-violence.

The children grew up in a house where religion and duty walked side by side.

Gandhi’s Siblings

Karsandas was one of four siblings. The children were:

Laxmidas, the eldest brother

Karsandas

Raliatbehn, their sister

Mohandas, the youngest

Each sibling had a role in the family. Laxmidas worked as a government servant. Raliatbehn helped raise the younger children. Karsandas stood between the older and younger worlds. He supported the household and looked after Mohandas during his early years.

The siblings shared a close bond. They lived in a traditional Gujarati setting. Respect for elders and family honor mattered greatly.

Support for Young Mohandas

As an elder brother, Karsandas helped guide Mohandas during childhood. The family moved to Rajkot around 1881 and lived in Kaba Gandhi No Delo. This period was important for Gandhi’s early education. After their father died in 1885, the family faced emotional strain. Elder siblings like Karsandas helped keep the home stable.

Records about Karsandas’s career are limited. Historians know he supported Gandhi’s schooling. He represented the steady support system behind the future leader. His life shows how family effort often stands behind public success.

He did not chase fame. He lived within the duties expected of him.

The Culture of the Gandhi Household

The Gandhi home shaped every child deeply. Three strong influences guided their upbringing.

First was administrative culture. Watching their father serve as Diwan taught them about justice and power. They saw how leadership worked from inside the system.

Second was religious devotion. Putlibai’s daily prayers and fasts created a spiritual atmosphere. Moral vows were part of daily life.

Third was Gujarati Hindu tradition. The family valued simplicity, discipline, and honor. These ideas were not taught in speeches. They were lived every day.

Karsandas grew up in this same environment. He carried those traditions quietly.

A Life with Few Records, but Real Impact

Very little is written about Karsandas Gandhi’s personal life. Sources do not give many details about his work, marriage, or descendants. He appears in family trees as an elder brother, but without long stories attached to his name.

Yet his importance is not erased by silence. History often remembers famous figures and forgets the people who supported them. Karsandas belonged to that unseen circle. He helped create the family world that shaped Mahatma Gandhi.

His life reminds us that great leaders rarely rise alone. Behind them stands a household filled with sacrifice, discipline, and care.

Karsandas Gandhi may not be widely known, but he remains an important part of the story that formed one of history’s greatest figures.