20 Best Books On Gandhi (2023 Update)

Advocate for peace and nonviolent revolutionary gandhi is the 12th hero in the new york times bestselling picture book biography series for ages 5 to 8. (cover may vary) as a young man in india, gandhi saw firsthand how people were treated unfairly. refusing to accept injustice, he came up with a brilliant way to fight back through quiet, peaceful protest. he took his methods with him from south africa back to india, where he led a nonviolent revolution that freed his country from british rule. this friendly, fun biography series inspired the pbs kids tv show xavier riddle and the secret museum. one great role model at a time, these books encourage kids to dream big. included in each book are: – a timeline of key events in the hero’s history – photos that bring the story more fully to life – comic-book-style illustrations that are irresistibly adorable – childhood moments that influenced the hero – facts that make great conversation-starters – a virtue this person embodies: gandhi's commitment to peace is celebrated in this biography you’ll want to collect each book in this dynamic, informative series!

Godse approached gandhi on january 30, 1948. at the time of the evening prayer at 5:15 pm. when godse bowed, one of the girls flanking and advocating for gandhi, said to godse, "brother, bapu is already late" and endeavoured to put him off. but he drove her aside and shot gandhi in the chest three times at point-blank range with a semi-automatic pistol. gandhi was taken to birla-house, where he later parted. this is the autobiography of gandhi's killer. the untold account of the other side of gandhiji is apprehended in this book. the crisp and clear narrative of what exactly transpired naturam godse to take this step. this book incorporates the original statement given by nathuram godse. "the final address of nathuram godse".

In this fascinating and meticulously researched book, bestselling historian arthur herman sheds new light on two of the most universally recognizable icons of the twentieth century, and reveals how their forty-year rivalry sealed the fate of india and the british empire. – they were born worlds apart: winston churchill to britain's most glamorous aristocratic family, mohandas gandhi to a pious middle-class household in a provincial town in india. yet arthur herman reveals how their lives and careers became intertwined as the twentieth century unfolded. both men would go on to lead their nations through harrowing trials and two world wars—and become locked in a fierce contest of wills that would decide the fate of countries, continents, and ultimately an empire. gandhi & churchill reveals how both men were more alike than different, and yet became bitter enemies over the future of india, a land of 250 million people with 147 languages and dialects and 15 distinct religions—the jewel in the crown of britain's overseas empire for 200 years. – over the course of a long career, churchill would do whatever was necessary to ensure that india remain british—including a fateful redrawing of the entire map of the middle east and even risking his alliance with the united states during world war two. – mohandas gandhi, by contrast, would dedicate his life to india's liberation, defy death and imprisonment, and create an entirely new kind of political movement: satyagraha, or civil disobedience. his campaigns of nonviolence in defiance of churchill and the british, including his famous salt march, would become the blueprint not only for the independence of india but for the civil rights movement in the u.s. and struggles for freedom across the world. – now master storyteller arthur herman cuts through the legends and myths about these two powerful, charismatic figures and reveals their flaws as well as their strengths. the result is a sweeping epic of empire and insurrection, war and political intrigue, with a fascinating supporting cast, including general kitchener, rabindranath tagore, franklin roosevelt, lord mountbatten, and mohammed ali jinnah, the founder of pakistan. it is also a brilliant narrative parable of two men whose great successes were always haunted by personal failure, and whose final moments of triumph were overshadowed by the loss of what they held most dear.

The first collection of gandhi's writings to be based on the complete edition of his works, this new volume presents gandhi's most important political writings arranged around the two central themes of his political teachings: satyagraha (the power of nonviolence) and swaraj (freedom). dennis dalton's general introduction and headnotes highlight the life of gandhi, set the readings in historical context, and provide insight into the conceptual framework of gandhi's political theory. complete with bibliography, glossary, and index.

From one of the subcontinent's most important and controversial writers comes this definitive history of post-partition india, published on the 60th anniversary of independence told in lucid and beautiful prose, the story of india's wild ride toward and since independence is a riveting one. taking full advantage of the dramatic details of the protests and conflicts that helped shape the nation, politically, socially, and economically, guha writes of the factors and processes that have kept the country together, and kept it democratic, defying the numerous prophets of doom. moving between history and biography, this story provides fresh insights into the lives and public careers of those legendary and long-serving prime ministers, jawaharlal nehru and his daughter, indira gandhi. guha includes vivid sketches of the major "provincial" leaders, but also writes with feeling and sensitivity about lesser-known indians–peasants, tribals, women, workers, and untouchables. massively researched and elegantly written, this is the work of a major scholar at the height of his powers, a brilliant and definitive history of what is possibly the most important, occasionally the most exasperating, and certainly the most interesting country in the world.

About the book translation of: satyanåa prayogo athavåa åatmakathåa. book synopsis mohandas k. gandhi is one of the most inspiring figures of our time. in his classic autobiography he recounts the story of his life and how he developed his concept of active nonviolent resistance, which propelled the indian struggle for independence and countless other nonviolent struggles of the twentieth century. in a new foreword, noted peace expert and teacher sissela bok urges us to adopt gandhi's attitude of experimenting, of tesing what will and will not bear close scrutiny, what can and cannot be adapted to new circumstances, in order to bring about change in our own lives and communities. all royalties earned on this book are paid to the navajivan trust, founded by gandhi, for use in carrying on his work. review quotes "here is an autobiography more captivating than fiction and more stimulating than romantic adventure. it is the most revealing study of the human soul that i have ever read." –the christian century "an absorbing book that stands alone in frankness and plain honesty… its place among the classics of autobiography cannot be in doubt." –the new statesman "an amazingly frank self-revelation of the greatest and humblest modern man." –the annals "it is…only by reading the whole long and detailed day-by-day record that readers can sense the magic of gandhi's being and discover him fully." –saturday review "(gandhi's) autobiography remains invaluable for its account of the shaping of a new path to collective resistance to injustice." –from the foreword by sissela bok about the author mohandas k. gandhi (1869-1948) was a lawyer and the prominent figure behind india's push for independence from british rule. he followed the philosophies of pacifism, believing in the importance of the nonviolent approach to protesting. he documented his influential life in an autobiography: the story of my experiments with truth. born and raised in western india to a hindu family, gandhi received barrister training in london. he first experienced institutional racial discrimination in south africa, which spurred him to his first actions in leading group-based nonviolent civil disobedience. he later returned to india and led protests against british colonialism, excessive taxation, and racial discrimination. known as 'the father of the nation, gandhi was instrumental in the fight for religious pluralism and indian independence. he was assassinated in 1948.

Mohandas k. gandhi, called mahatma (great soul), was the father of modem india, his efforts having led to its political independence from the british empire. 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 own writings throughout his life, the essential gandhi introduces us to his thoughts on politics, spirituality, poverty, suffering, love, nonviolence, civil disobedience, and his own life. the pieces collected here, with explanatory head notes by gandhi biographer louis fischer and a new preface drawn from the writings of gandhi devotee eknath easwaran, offer the clearest, most thorough portrait of one of the greatest spiritual leaders the world has known.

This is the extended edition of mahatma gandhi's original and unabridged autobiography titledthe story of my experiments with truth, completed with a foreword from the gandhi research foundation. gandhi, covering his life from early childhood through to 1921. it was written and published in his journal, navjivan from 1925 to 1929. it was initiated at the insistence of swami anand and other close co-workers of gandhi, who encouraged him to explain the background of his public campaigns. the story of my experiments with truth is the personal account of the life of the man who freed india from colonization through the satyagraha – nonviolent protest – movement. his early boyhood life, legal studies, purification, and ultimate salvation of his homeland is carefully recounted in this inspiring and critical work of insurmountable importance. in 1999, the book was designated as one of the "100 best spiritual books of the 20th century" by a committee of global spiritual and religious authorities.

Affectionately known as 'bacha' khan or 'badshah' khan amongst his people, khan abdul ghaffar's life was dedicated to the social reform of the pukhtuns, who traditionally adhere to a strict code of life called 'pukhtunwali', which is governed by rather rigid tribal norms. bacha khan is an acknowledged leader in the hearts of the pukhtuns across the world, due to his life long struggle to modernize pukhtun society and his teachings of non-violence, adopted by his khudai khidmatgar (servants of god) party, during the struggle for independence against the british. he stands tall in the pantheon of leaders of the movement for independence. a close associate of mahatma gandhi, his success in mobilizing the pukhtuns of the north-west frontier province and the tribal areas through a non-violent struggle, had significant bearing on this movement, in which the khudai khidmatgar allied with the indian national congress. the pushto edition of bacha khan's autobiography was first published in 1983 in afghanistan, when he was 93 years old. nearly four decades later the book has been translated and published for the first time in english. this translation was painstakingly done by sahibzada at the request of shandana humayun khan, to whom he has dedicated the book. shandana's maternal great-grandfather was qazi ataullah, a close lieutenant of bacha khan's and a key figure in the khudai khidmatgar movement. before the translation process started, sahibzada and shandana visited several members of bacha khan's family including his grandsons nasir ali khan, asfandayar wali khan and saleem jan. the translator shared a close friendship with bacha khan's son, abdul ghani khan, the greatest pukhtun poet of the century. the book is a result of the participation of several members of his family and those who have spent their lives studying bacha khan's philosophy. for the first time bacha khan's thoughts on pukhtun society, his vision for a more equitable world achieved along the lines of non-violence have been researched, translated and made available for the world in his own words.

Easwaran's moving account of the turning points and choices in gandhi's life that made him not just a great political leader but also a timeless icon of nonviolence.gandhi inspired people of all races, backgrounds, and religions to turn anger into compassion and hatred into love. how had gandhi done this? how had he transformed himself from an ineffective young lawyer into the mahatma, the “great soul” who led 400 million indians in their struggle for independence from the british empire? to find out, easwaran went to gandhi’s ashram and watched the mahatma absorbed in meditation on the bhagavad gita, the wellspring of his spiritual strength. in this book easwaran, author of the best-selling translations of the bhagavad gita, the upanishads, and the dhammapada, explores "gandhi: then & now"; gandhi's early years in india, london and south africa; nonviolence in south africa and india; the bhagavad gita as the source of gandhi's spiritual strength; and nonviolence in the affairs of life. quotations highlight gandhi’s teachings in his own words, and 70 digitally restored photographs from the gandhiserve archive, sidebar notes and a chronology provide historical context.this book conveys the spirit and soul of gandhi – the only way he can be truly understood. "you and i can touch gandhi's person and heart through this compelling creation." – rajmohan gandhi, research professor, university of illinois, and author of gandhi: the man, his people, and the empire

Gandhi's most famous written work "this pioneering critical edition subtly and invaluably expands our understanding of one of gandhi's key texts–and our sense of the man himself."–sunil khilnani in the mid-1920s, prompted by a "small, still voice" that encouraged him to lay bare what was known only to him and his god, m. gandhi began writing and publishing his autobiography. drafted during a period of intensive fasting and "in-dwelling" at his ashram in ahmedabad, his story of the soul portrayed the deeper, more inward experiences that made him externally an innovator in the struggles against violence, racism, and colonialism. the book, written in gujarati and translated into english by mahadev desai, would become an international classic, hailed as one of the "100 best spiritual books of the 20th century." this first critical edition of this seminal work by leading gandhi scholar tridip suhrud offers an unprecedented window into the original gujarati text. including both alternative english translations and illuminating notes, as well as a deeply researched introduction, it will bring renewed critical attention to one of the world's most widely read books.

Gandhi's ideas are as meaningful today as they were during his long and inspiring life. his enlightening thoughts and beliefs, especially on violence and the atomic bomb, reveal his eloquent foresight about our contemporary world. the words of one of the greatest men of the twentieth century, chosen by the award-winning director richard attenborough from gandhi's letters, speeches, and published writings, explore the prophet's timeless thoughts on daily life, cooperation, nonviolence, faith, and peace. this bestselling volume includes an introduction by attenborough and an afterword by time magazine senior foreign correspondent johanna mcgeary that places gandhi's life and work in the historical context of the twentieth century. this book and the film gandhi were the result of producer/director richard attenborough's long commitment to keeping alive the flame of gandhi's spiritual achievement and the wisdom of his actions and his words. they are the wisdom and words of peace. also included are twenty striking historical photographs, specially selected from the archives at the national gandhi museum in new delhi, that capture the important personal, political, and spiritual aspects of gandhi's career.

"'people describe me as a saint trying to be a politician, but the truth is the other way around," said this century's greatest apostle of nonviolence. gandhi's impact on history, his vision for peace, and the creative force of his moral teachings are powerfully conveyed in homer jack's superb anthology. here is the mahatma in his own words and those of his closest associates, from his early days in south africa to his great campaigns against british colonialism. gandhi's wide-ranging mind led him to consider subjects as varied as self-restraint, nonviolence in war and peace, hinduism, christian missions, diet and diet reform, village industry and sanitation, education, and the emancipation of women. whatever the topic, his words still bear their truth today." — back cover.

"on the day that mahatma gandhi was killed, i arrived in delhi just an hour and a quarter before the tragedy … the greatest tragedy since the son of god died on the cross." so begins this compelling account of gandhi by e. stanley jones, the world-renowned missionary evangelist to india during 40 seething years of struggle. based on an intimate knowledge and understanding, jones's revealing interpretation was written in gratitude to gandhi, who, although they often disagreed, showed jones "more of the spirit of christ than perhaps any other . . . in east or west." "martin luther king, jr., told me he owed a debt to my father for his book on mahatma gandhi. he had read many books on gandhi, read his writings, but it was that particular book of my father's that had triggered his decision to use the method of … nonviolence in his civil rights movement for his people." –eunice jones mathews "highly recommended."–library journal "to understand the meaning of this great leader … read this book of interpretation."–kirkus "jones … possesses a great gift of sympathetically interpreting the east to the west."–[london] times literary supplement

More than half a century after his death, mahatma gandhi continues to inspire millions throughout the world. yet modern india, most strikingly in its decision to join the nuclear arms race, seems to have abandoned much of his nonviolent vision. inspired by recent events in india, stanley wolpert offers this subtle and profound biography of india's "great soul." wolpert compellingly chronicles the life of mahatma gandhi from his early days as a child of privilege to his humble rise to power and his assassination at the hands of a man of his own faith. this trajectory, like that of christ, was the result of gandhi's passion: his conscious courting of suffering as the means to reach divine truth. from his early campaigns to stop discrimination in south africa to his leadership of a people's revolution to end the british imperial domination of india, gandhi emerges as a man of inner conflicts obscured by his political genius and moral vision. influenced early on by nonviolent teachings in hinduism, jainism, christianity, and buddhism, he came to insist on the primacy of love for one's adversary in any conflict as the invincible power for change. his unyielding opposition to intolerance and oppression would inspire india like no leader since the buddha–creating a legacy that would encourage martin luther king, jr., nelson mandela, and other global leaders to demand a better world through peaceful civil disobedience.by boldly considering gandhi the man, rather than the living god depicted by his disciples, wolpert provides an unprecedented representation of gandhi's personality and the profound complexities that compelled his actions and brought freedom to india.

More than half a century after his death, mahatma gandhi continues to inspire millions throughout the world. yet modern india, most strikingly in its decision to join the nuclear arms race, seems to have abandoned much of his nonviolent vision. inspired by recent events in india, stanley wolpert offers this subtle and profound biography of india's "great soul." wolpert compellingly chronicles the life of mahatma gandhi from his early days as a child of privilege to his humble rise to power and his assassination at the hands of a man of his own faith. this trajectory, like that of christ, was the result of gandhi's passion: his conscious courting of suffering as the means to reach divine truth. from his early campaigns to stop discrimination in south africa to his leadership of a people's revolution to end the british imperial domination of india, gandhi emerges as a man of inner conflicts obscured by his political genius and moral vision. influenced early on by nonviolent teachings in hinduism, jainism, christianity, and buddhism, he came to insist on the primacy of love for one's adversary in any conflict as the invincible power for change. his unyielding opposition to intolerance and oppression would inspire india like no leader since the buddha–creating a legacy that would encourage martin luther king, jr., nelson mandela, and other global leaders to demand a better world through peaceful civil disobedience.by boldly considering gandhi the man, rather than the living god depicted by his disciples, wolpert provides an unprecedented representation of gandhi's personality and the profound complexities that compelled his actions and brought freedom to india.

A shy, serious boy, mahatma gandhi would later lead india to nationhood and change the course of history. after studying law in london, he championed indian rights in south africa for two decades. he returned to india in 1914, leading a campaign of nonviolent protest and civil disobedience against british rule. philip wilkinson's lively narrative takes us through his remarkable life, up to india's independence in 1947, and the tragic conclusion; in 1948 gandhi was assassinated by a fanatic opposed to his program of tolerance for all creeds and religions.

Though gandhi is one of the most written-about figures of the twentieth century, this is the first book to apply lessons from his life to the practical tasks faced by contemporary leaders-from corporate managers and executives to government administrators, nonprofit professionals, educators, and others. in times shaped by colonialism, dictatorships, and two world wars, gandhi demonstrated that an idealist could also be a practical and effective leader. in a higher standard of leadership, he offers a pragmatic guide based on the concepts gandhi exemplified: o leadership is service, not a path to power and privilege; o effective goals, decisions, and strategies can be guided by moral principles; o a single standard of conduct, based on absolute values, should be maintained in both public and private life. a lifelong student of gandhi's teachings and a businessman with more than 25 years of experience in corporate and governmental leadership development, nair is uniquely positioned to bridge the two worlds. using illustrative examples from gandhi's life and writings, he identifies commitments-to conscience, openness, service, values, and reduced attachments-and describes the courage and determination necessary to work and lead by them. in simple and direct language, he explores the process of making decisions, setting goals, and implementing actions guided by the spirit of service and commitment to values that is essential to the realization of a higher standard of leadership in our workplaces and communities.

Though gandhi is one of the most written-about figures of the twentieth century, this is the first book to apply lessons from his life to the practical tasks faced by contemporary leaders-from corporate managers and executives to government administrators, nonprofit professionals, educators, and others. in times shaped by colonialism, dictatorships, and two world wars, gandhi demonstrated that an idealist could also be a practical and effective leader. in a higher standard of leadership, he offers a pragmatic guide based on the concepts gandhi exemplified: o leadership is service, not a path to power and privilege; o effective goals, decisions, and strategies can be guided by moral principles; o a single standard of conduct, based on absolute values, should be maintained in both public and private life. a lifelong student of gandhi's teachings and a businessman with more than 25 years of experience in corporate and governmental leadership development, nair is uniquely positioned to bridge the two worlds. using illustrative examples from gandhi's life and writings, he identifies commitments-to conscience, openness, service, values, and reduced attachments-and describes the courage and determination necessary to work and lead by them. in simple and direct language, he explores the process of making decisions, setting goals, and implementing actions guided by the spirit of service and commitment to values that is essential to the realization of a higher standard of leadership in our workplaces and communities.

In 1948, at the dawn of his country s independence, mohandas gandhi, father of the indian independence movement and a beloved prophet of nonviolence, was assassinated by hindu nationalists. in riveting detail, author james w. douglass shows as he previously did with the story of jfk how police and security forces were complicit in the assassination and how in killing one man, they hoped to destroy his vision of peace, nonviolence, and reconciliation. gandhi had long anticipated and prepared for this fate. in reviewing the little-known story of his early experiments in truth in south africa the laboratory for gandhi s philosophy of satyagraha, or truth force douglass shows how early he confronted and overcame the fear of death.