A biography detailing Gandhi’s twenty-year stay in South Africa and his attitudes and behavior in the nation’s political context. In the pantheon of freedom fighters, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi has pride of place. His fame and influence extend far beyond India and are nowhere more significant than in South Africa. “India gave us a Mohandas, we gave them a Mahatma,” goes a popular South African refrain. Contemporary South African leaders, including Mandela, have consistently lauded him as being part of the epic battle to defeat the racist white regime. The South African Gandhi focuses on Gandhi’s first leadership experiences and the complicated man they reveal—a man who actually supported the British Empire. Ashwin Desai and Goolam Vahed unveil a man who, throughout his stay on African soil, stayed true to Empire while showing a disdain for Africans. For Gandhi, whites and Indians were bonded by an Aryan bloodline that had no place for the African. Gandhi’s racism was matched by his class prejudice towards the Indian indentured. He persistently claimed that they were ignorant and needed his leadership, and he wrote their resistances and compromises in surviving a brutal labor regime out of history. The South African Gandhi writes the indentured and working class back into history. The authors show that Gandhi never missed an opportunity to show his loyalty to Empire, with a particular penchant for war as a means to do so. He served as an Empire stretcher-bearer in the Boer War while the British occupied South Africa, he demanded guns in the aftermath of the Bhambatha Rebellion, and he toured the villages of India during the First World War as recruiter for the Imperial army. This meticulously researched book punctures the dominant narrative of Gandhi and uncovers an ambiguous figure whose time on African soil was marked by a desire to seek the integration of Indians, minus many basic rights, into the white body politic while simultaneously excluding Africans from his moral compass and political ideals. Praise for The South African Gandhi “In this impressively researched study, two South African scholars of Indian background bravely challenge political myth-making on both sides of the Indian Ocean that has sought to canonize Gandhi as a founding father of the struggle for equality there. They show that the Mahatma-to-be carefully refrained from calling on his followers to throw in their lot with the black majority. The mass struggle he finally led remained an Indian struggle.” —Joseph Lelyveld, author of Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India “This is a wonderful demonstration of meticulously researched, evocative, clear-eyed and fearless history writing. It uncovers a story, some might even call it a scandal, that has remained hidden in plain sight for far too long. The South African Gandhi is a big book. It is a serious challenge to the way we have been taught to think about Gandhi.” —Arundhati Roy, author of The God of Small Things

Here is the first volume of a magisterial biography of Mohandas Gandhi that gives us the most illuminating portrait we have had of the life, the work and the historical context of one of the most abidingly influential—and controversial—men in modern history. Ramachandra Guha—hailed by Time as “Indian democracy’s preeminent chronicler”—takes us from Gandhi’s birth in 1869 through his upbringing in Gujarat, his two years as a student in London and his two decades as a lawyer and community organizer in South Africa. Guha has uncovered myriad previously untapped documents, including private papers of Gandhi’s contemporaries and co-workers; contemporary newspapers and court documents; the writings of Gandhi’s children; and secret files kept by British Empire functionaries. Using this wealth of material in an exuberant, brilliantly nuanced and detailed narrative, Guha describes the social, political and personal worlds inside of which Gandhi began the journey that would earn him the honorific Mahatma: “Great Soul.” And, more clearly than ever before, he elucidates how Gandhi’s work in South Africa—far from being a mere prelude to his accomplishments in India—was profoundly influential in his evolution as a family man, political thinker, social reformer and, ultimately, beloved leader. In 1893, when Gandhi set sail for South Africa, he was a twenty-three-year-old lawyer who had failed to establish himself in India. In this remarkable biography, the author makes clear the fundamental ways in which Gandhi’s ideas were shaped before his return to India in 1915. It was during his years in England and South Africa, Guha shows us, that Gandhi came to understand the nature of imperialism and racism; and in South Africa that he forged the philosophy and techniques that would undermine and eventually overthrow the British Raj. Gandhi Before India gives us equally vivid portraits of the man and the world he lived in: a world of sharp contrasts among the coastal culture of his birthplace, High Victorian London, and colonial South Africa. It explores in abundant detail Gandhi’s experiments with dissident cults such as the Tolstoyans; his friendships with radical Jews, heterodox Christians and devout Muslims; his enmities and rivalries; and his often overlooked failures as a husband and father. It tells the dramatic, profoundly moving story of how Gandhi inspired the devotion of thousands of followers in South Africa as he mobilized a cross-class and inter-religious coalition, pledged to non-violence in their battle against a brutally racist regime. Researched with unequaled depth and breadth, and written with extraordinary grace and clarity, Gandhi Before India is, on every level, fully commensurate with its subject. It will radically alter our understanding and appreciation of twentieth-century India’s greatest man.

Explore the enduring relevance of Gandhi's doctrine of non-violence in 'Africa Needs Gandhi' and its impact on contemporary issues. Embark on a thought-provoking exploration of non-violence and social change with Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang, Cmf's insightful work, "Africa Needs Gandhi: The Relevance of Gandhi's Doctrine of Non-violence." Delve into a narrative that examines the enduring impact of Gandhi's principles on the African continent. As Basebang unfolds the relevance of Gandhi's doctrine, witness a narrative that resonates with the quest for justice, equality, and peaceful transformation. His exploration takes you through the corridors of history, inviting reflection on the potential of non-violence as a catalyst for social change. But here's the question that echoes through the pages: How can Gandhi's principles be applied to the unique challenges faced by Africa, and what lessons can be drawn from his philosophy in the pursuit of justice and liberation? Could this work be a guide for contemporary movements seeking transformative change? Explore the profound insights within Basebang's exploration, where each paragraph serves as a stepping stone into the world of non-violent resistance. This edition invites you to engage in a dialogue on the enduring legacy of Gandhi's principles in the context of African struggles for freedom. Are you ready to journey into the heart of social change with Gandhi's principles as your guide? Dive into the pages of "Africa Needs Gandhi" and let Basebang's thoughtful analysis be a source of inspiration for those advocating for justice and equality. Immerse yourself in short, impactful paragraphs that navigate the historical and philosophical landscapes surrounding Gandhi's doctrine. Basebang's work is not just an analysis; it's a call to action for those committed to the principles of non-violence. Here's your chance to own a piece of literature that explores the intersection of philosophy and social change. Acquire "Africa Needs Gandhi" now, and let the principles of non-violence guide your understanding of justice and liberation.

Africa Needs Gandhi! by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang: In this thought-provoking work, Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang explores the relevance and impact of Mahatma Gandhi's principles and philosophy in the context of Africa. "Africa Needs Gandhi!" advocates for nonviolent resistance, social justice, and the pursuit of truth, drawing parallels between Gandhi's struggle for Indian independence and the African quest for liberation. Key Aspects of the Book "Africa Needs Gandhi!": Gandhian Principles: The book delves into Mahatma Gandhi's principles of nonviolence, truth, and social change, and their potential application in Africa. Freedom and Independence Movements: "Africa Needs Gandhi!" discusses the historical context of African freedom struggles and the lessons that can be learned from Gandhi's leadership in India. Social Justice and Equality: The book emphasizes the importance of social justice, unity, and cooperation in Africa's path to progress. Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang is a Cameroonian writer and scholar known for his insightful works on African history, politics, and social issues. "Africa Needs Gandhi!" exemplifies his commitment to promoting dialogue and understanding between diverse cultures and advocating for social transformation in Africa.