Harilal wanted to go to England for higher studies and hoped to become a barrister as his father had once been. His father firmly opposed this, believing that a Western-style education would not be helpful in the struggle against British rule over India. Eventually rebelling against his father"s decision, in 1911 Harilal renounced all family ties.
Harilal was married to Gulab Gandhi and they had five children, two of whom died at an early age. Nilam Parikh, the daughter of Ramibehn, the eldest of Harilal"s children, wrote a biography of him, entitled Gandhiji"s Lost Jewel: Harilal Gandhi. He appeared at his father"s funeral in such derelict condition that few recognized him.
He died from liver disease on 18 June 1948 in a municipal hospital in Bombay, Union of India.
In June 1935, Mahatma Gandhi wrote a letter to Harilal, accusing him of raping Harilals deceased wife"s sister who is a child widow. He also urged him to give up "alcohol and debauchery".
In the letter, Mahatma Gandhi stated that Harilal"s problems were more difficult for him to deal with than the struggle for Indian republic. The troubled relationship between Harilal and his father is the subject of the film and play The film adaptation was released on 3 August 2007 and directed by Feroz Abbas Khan and produced by Anil Kapoor.
Harilal is portrayed by Akshaye Khanna.
Khan"s play, Mahatma versus Gandhi, while different from this film, had a similar theme. There is also a Marathi play named Gandhi virudh Gandhi.
