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The Essential Gandhi
His Life, Work and Ideas: An Anthology
Fischer, Louis (ed.) Publisher: Vintage Books, New York, USA
Year Published: 1962
Pages: 377pp
Resource Type: Book
A selection of Gandhi's writing.
Abstract: The Essential Gandhi is a collection of Gandhi's writings. Excerpts are from his books, newspapers and statements, including: An Autobiography of My Experiments with Truth; Sataygrapha in South Africa; Indian Opinion; Young India; Hind Swaraj or Indian Home Rule; and From Yeravda Mandir, as well as political letters, public addresses, and speeches. The editor,
Louis Fischer, takes pieces of Gandhi's work and binds them together to tell the story of his life.
Gandhi's autobiography did not seek to tell of his life, but of his path to self-actualization and his experiments in self-realization. He searches for truth and believes that he cannot know himself unless he reveals himself. Even his most private confessions are present in his writings, accompanied by his own narration of his political movements. His method and political principles are described with commentary by Fischer. Fischer also provides background information and explanations that make the book more readable from a Western perspective.
The book begins with Gandhi as a boy and his transformation into the Mahatma. In the first section, The Man, he endures failures and develops his method of non-resistance. The section ends with his victory in South Africa. Part 2: The Mahatma includes Gandhi's writings on issues such as freedom, independence, equality, socialism, and the future of humanity. It ends with his untimely death as the last victory.
"Every man has an equal right to the necessaries of life even as birds and beasts have... I hate privilege and monopoly. Whatever cannot be shared with the masses is taboo to me." Gandhi's goals of peace, equality and non-violent discourse permeate his writing.
[Abstract by Mia Manns]
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