New Delhi, May 1: Veteran Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande passed away in national capital. She was 79.

Deshpande, a Rajya Sabha member, was not keeping well for the past two-three days, and she died in her sleep early Thursday morning, Rajshree, one of her close associates said.

A noted Gandhian and a Rajya Sabha member, Nirmala Deshpande, is best known for her efforts to promote Gandhian ideology, eschew communal violence and usher in peace between India and Pakistan.

Having taken a vow not to get married, Deshpande dedicated her entire life to the promotion of the work and principles of Gandhi and served the deprived and the downtrodden.

Her tryst with destiny began in 1952 when she joined the Bhoodan Movement and stayed at Acharya Vinoba Bhave's Paunar Ashram at Wardha near Nagpur. She undertook 40,000 kilometers of padyatras along with Bhave to carry the message of Gram Swarajya from state to state.

She was conferred the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award for promoting peace and communal harmony.

Leaders mourn death

Cutting across party lines, the leaders of various political parties condoled the death of veteran Gandhian leader.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on condoled the demise of Nirmala Deshpande, describing her as a "living Gandhian".

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressing sorrow over the demise of the great Gandhia and former Rajya Sabha member, Nirmala Deshpandey, said that in her death, the country has lost a dedicated Gandhia and social worker. Through her inspiring personality, late Deshpandey had disseminated ideals and principles of Father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi to a large number of people.

Mourning death of Deshpandey, former Rajya Sabha member, Prafulla Kumar Maheshwari said in her death, the country has lost a noted Gandhian thinker and a harbinger of peace and non-violence. She dedicated her entire life in the propagation of teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave, Maheshwari said adding that as a Rajya Sabha member she always raised issues concerning women, students, farmers and the poor.