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{{short description|Australian comedian and journalist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Sandy_Gandhi.png
| imagesize =
| caption = Sandy "Hatmama" Gandhi
| birth_name = Sandra Aranha
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1959|01|28|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[New Delhi]], India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|02|01|1959|01|28|df=yes}}
| death_place =
| othername =
| occupation = [[Stand-up comedian]], newspaper [[columnist]]
| yearsactive =
| spouse =
| website =
}}

'''Sandy Gandhi''' (born '''Sandra Aranha'''; 28 January 1959 – 1 February 2017)<ref name=":0">[http://www.echo.net.au/2017/02/northern-rivers-comedian-dies-suddenly/ Northern rivers comedian dies suddenly]</ref> was an Australian [[comedian]] and [[columnist]] based in [[Byron Bay, New South Wales]], Australia. Byron Bay is Australia's easternmost point, and accordingly Gandhi proclaimed herself to be "Australia's Most Easterly Indian".<ref>[http://www.farnorthcoaster.com.au/entertainment/1024/a-quick-chat-with-sandy-gandhi-our-most-easterly-indian-and-author/ Interview in ''The Far North Coaster'']</ref> She was one of two women who were the inspiration for the Little Heroes song, One Perfect Day, according to lead singer Roger Wells.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://m.northernstar.com.au/news/story-of-1980s-song-written-for-the-late-sandy-gha/3140947/|title=Story of 1980s song written for the late Sandy Gandhi|last=Encalada|first=Javier|work=Northern Star|access-date=2017-11-01|language=en}}</ref>

==Early life==
Sandy Aranha was born in [[New Delhi]], India. She spent most of her time there in [[Bangalore]] before relocating with her family to [[Melbourne]], Australia at the age of 12.

==Career==
At the age of 21, she went to [[London]], and her work there as a tour operator took her travelling all over the world. When not doing her stand-up comedy or writing her column, Gandhi was a [[carer]], working with people with [[dementia]] and people with acute [[schizophrenia]].<ref>[http://www.echo.net.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=296&Itemid=542 Interview with Mandy Nolan, ''Byron Shire Echo'']</ref>

===Stand up comedy===
Gandhi regularly performed [[Stand-up comedy|stand-up]] shows around Northern New South Wales. She also featured in the 2008 [[Melbourne Comedy Festival]].
Her brand of ethnic comedy combines observational humour with [[Indian stereotype]]s, drawing also on the fact that there is a large Indian-Australian population in Northern New South Wales.<ref>[http://www.sikh.com.au/inaus/arrival.html Indian Arrivals in Australia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201175541/http://sikh.com.au/inaus/arrival.html |date=1 February 2009 }}</ref> [[Ethnic humour]] is a popular form of comedy in Australia, which has a multicultural population.<ref>[http://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/19737.html An Essay on Ethnic Comedy]</ref>

In early 2008, she returned to India and performed there, including an appearance at her childhood home of [[Bangalore]]. Since she lived near [[Bangalow]], northern NSW, she referred to her Indian tour as "From Bangalow to Bangalore".<ref>[http://www.echo.net.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=296&Itemid=542 Sandy Gandhi shows us her Wits! ''Byron Shire Echo'']</ref>

===Writings===
Gandhi also wrote a humorous column titled "Enlighten Up" which appears in ''The Pulse'', the weekly entertainment supplement to the ''Lismore Northern Star''.

Her first book, also called ''Enlighten Up'' and containing a compilation of her columns was released (or as Gandhi put it "was given birth to")<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ErgT14D9Cw "Mayhem in the reading Womb" www.youtube.com]</ref> in August 2008. ''Enlighten Up'' is published by Melbourne Books, Australia.<ref>[http://www.farnorthcoaster.com.au/lifestyle/1022/enlighten-up-sandy-gandhis-first-book Book Review of "Enlighten Up" in ''The Far North Coaster'']</ref>

===TV and film===
On 4 February 2009, she appeared on the Australian Channel [[Seven Network]]'s ''[[Australia's Got Talent]]'' program.
<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuFIN_NGa2E View Sandy's "Australia's Got Talent" performance on YouTube]</ref>

She was selected to go through to the semi finals which was aired on 11 March 2009.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9_OToLT2uo Gandhi's "Australia's Got Talent" semi-final performance]</ref>

In 2016, she starred in a short film, ''Spice Sisters'', written and directed by Sheila Jadayev.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sandra Aranha|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm8114280/|access-date=2020-06-04|website=IMDb}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Spice Sisters|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5684714/|access-date=2020-06-04}}</ref>

==Death==
Gandhi died suddenly at her home on 1 February 2017, reportedly while talking to a friend on the telephone. She had celebrated both her 59th birthday and the screening of "Spice Sisters" at the [[Mullumbimby]] leg of [[Flickerfest]] 2017 only days before.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Encalada|first=Javier|title=Online tributes for local comedian|url=https://www.northernstar.com.au/news/online-tributes-for-local-comedian/3138582/|access-date=2020-06-04|website=Northern Star|language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gandhi, Sandy}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:2017 deaths]]
[[Category:Australian columnists]]
[[Category:Australian women comedians]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to Australia]]
[[Category:Women columnists]]

Sandy Gandhi - Revision history

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