"My purpose," Mahatma Gandhi writes of this book, "is to describe experiments in the science of Satyagraha, not to say how good I am." Satyagraha, Gandhi's nonviolent protest movement (satya = true, agraha = firmness), came to stand, like its creator, as a moral principle and a rallying cry; the principle was truth and the cry freedom. The life of Gandhi has given fire and fiber to freedom fighters and to the untouchables of the world: hagiographers and patriots have capitalized on Mahatma myths. Yet Gandhi writes: "Often the title [Mahatma, Great Soul] has deeply pained me. . . . But I should certainly like to narrate my experiments in the spiritual field which are known only to myself, and from which I have derived such power as I possess for working in the political field." Clearly, Gandhi never renounced the world; he was neither pacifist nor cult guru. Who was Gandhi? In the midst of resurging interest in the man who freed India, inspired the American Civil Rights Movement, and is revered, respected, and misunderstood all over the world, the time is proper to listen to Gandhi himself -- in his own words, his own "confessions," his autobiography. Gandhi made scrupulous truth-telling a religion and his Autobiography inevitably reminds one of other saints who have suffered and burned for their lapses. His simply narrated account of boyhood in Gujarat, marriage at age 13, legal studies in England, and growing desire for purity and reform has the force of a man extreme in all things. He details his gradual conversion to vegetarianism and ahimsa (non-violence) and the state of celibacy (brahmacharya, self-restraint) that became one of his more arduous spiritual trials. In the political realm he outlines the beginning of Satyagraha in South Africa and India, with accounts of the first Indian fasts and protests, his initial errors and misgivings, his jailings, and continued cordial dealings with the British overlords. Gandhi was a fascinating, complex man, a brilliant leader and guide, a seeker of truth who died for his beliefs but had no use for martyrdom or sainthood. His story, the path to his vision of Satyagraha and human dignity, is a critical work of the twentieth century, and timeless in its courage and inspiration.

M.K. Gandhi: An Autobiography is the story of Gandhiji's, covering his life from early childhood through to 1920. It gives an authentic account of the personal life of a man who led millions into independence. Gandhiji wrote in his autobiography that the three most important modern influences in his life were Leo Tolstoy's The Kingdom of God Is Within You, John Ruskin's Unto This Last and the poet Shrimad Rajchandra. In the last chapter, he notes that his life from this point onward became so public that there was hardly anything about it that people did not know. Being a proponent of Ahimsa or nonviolence, Gandhi diligently stuck to a set of practices from early on in life. The book gives us a better understanding of the habits that Gandhi rigorously inculcated into his daily routine. His childhood, his journey to England, his life in South Africa and the non-cooperation movement in India are all discussed at length in this mind-opening book.

Mohandas K. Gandhi, called Mahatma (“great soul”), was the father of modern India, but his influence has spread well beyond the subcontinent and is as important today as it was in the first part of the twentieth century and during this nation’s own civil rights movement. Taken from Gandhi’s writings throughout his life, The Essential Gandhi introduces us to his thoughts on politics, spirituality, poverty, suffering, love, non-violence, civil disobedience, and his own life. The pieces collected here, with explanatory head notes by Gandhi biographer Louis Fischer, offer the clearest, most thorough portrait of one of the greatest spiritual leaders the world has known. “Gandhi was inevitable. If humanity is to progress, Gandhi is inescapable. . . . We may ignore him at our own risk.” –Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. With a new Preface drawn from the writings of Eknath Easwaran In the annals of spirituality certain books stand out both for their historical importance and for their continued relevance. The Vintage Spiritual Classics series offers the greatest of these works in authoritative new editions, with specially commissioned essays by noted contemporary commentators. Filled with eloquence and fresh insight, encouragement and solace, Vintage Spiritual Classics are incomparable resources for all readers who seek a more substantive understanding of mankind's relation to the divine.

Gandhi's Life In His Own Words by Krishna Kripalani: Gain a deeper understanding of Mahatma M. K. Gandhi and his life's journey through his own words in "Gandhi's Life In His Own Words." This collection of Gandhi's writings and speeches offers personal insights into his beliefs, struggles, and vision for a better world. Key Aspects of the Book "Gandhi's Life In His Own Words": Autobiographical Insights: The book provides autobiographical accounts, letters, and speeches by Gandhi, allowing readers to explore his life experiences and personal philosophy. Struggles and Transformations: "Gandhi's Life In His Own Words" chronicles Gandhi's evolving beliefs, from his early life to his role as a leader of non-violent resistance. Legacy of Peace: This collection reflects Gandhi's enduring legacy as a champion of peace, justice, and social reform. Krishna Kripalani, the editor of this collection, was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and a prominent writer. The book offers a valuable glimpse into Gandhi's inner world and his commitment to truth and non-violence.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is among the most enigmatic, charismatic, deeply revered and equally reviled figures of the twentieth century. His Autobiography, one of the most widely read and translated Indian books of all time, is a classic that allows us to glimpse the transformation of a well-meaning lawyer into a Satyagrahi and an ashramite. In this first-ever critical edition, eminent scholar Tridip Suhrud shines new light on Gandhi's life and thought. The deeply researched notes elucidate the contexts and characters of the Autobiography, while alternative translations capture the flavour, cadence and quirkiness of the Gujarati. In the highly original and insightful introduction, Suhrud traces Gandhi's transformation into a Satyagrahi, a seeker of Truth as God, and explores possible modes of reading the Autobiography. This edition is an absorbing, illuminating text about the life-affirming journey of the most public yet most complex figure of Indian history.