Gandhi: A Life

by Yogesh Chadha

Overview

The Internationally Acclaimed Biography of One of History’s Monumental Figures Gandhi: A Life The first biography of this important figure in over twenty years, Gandhi: A Life rescues the man from the myth, revealing the transformation of an ordinary, timid young man into a leader whose stand against a mighty empire brought millions together. "Until another Gandhi scholar comes along who digs deeper and can write more movingly, Gandhi scholarship will be well served by Chadha’s effort." — The Washington Post Book World "It is well-balanced, even-handed, and, like its subject, inspiring." —Kirkus Reviews "An engaging work worthy of a wide audience." —Library Journal "A sober, sensible, and notably fair account of this most quicksilver of personalities … far from uncritical … But on the whole he is approving, even reverential. Usually he convinces one that this is justified." — Daily Telegraph (London) "The first major biography to appear for twenty years … [with] a depth and authority which others have lacked." —The Independent (London)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780470306918
Publisher:	Trade Paper Press
Publication date:	04/21/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	560
File size:	7 MB

About the Author

YOGESH CHADHA was born in Jammu, India, and educated in India and England. After working in London and Toronto, he gave up all other commitments to write this biography. Mr. Chadha currently lives in New Delhi.

Table of Contents

The Mahatma: Background and Boyhood.

Growing Pains.

Law Student in London.

Briefless Barrister.

Unwelcome Visitor.

Exposure to Christianity.

Emerging Leader.

The Green Pamphlet.

Self-Reliance and War.

Indian Interlude.

Phoenix.

Brahmacharya.

A Mission to London.

Birth of Satyagraha.

The Petitioner and the Terrorists.

The New Outlook.

Tolstoy Farm.

Glimmer of Hope.

Satyagraha: A Moral Victory.

The Moderates and the Extremists.

Return of the Native.

A Speech to Remember.

The Stain of Indigo.

Sabarmati.

Massacre.

Leader of the Nation.

The Great Trial.

The "Silent" Years.

A Pinch of Salt Rocks an Empire.

Truce.

Round Table Conference.

Crusade Against Untouchability.

In Turmoil.

The Rift Widens.

Subhas Chandra Bose.

Descent into War.

"Quit India" Movement.

Detention in the Aga Khan Palace.

India in Suspense.

The Cabinet Mission.

The Ordeal of Noakhali.

Vivisection.

Calcutta.

Anguished Refugees.

The Last Fast.

The Last Journey.

The Hatching of the Plot.

A Permissive Assassination.

The Judicial Verdict.

Glossary.

Bibliography.

Chapter Notes.

Acknowledgements.

Index.

Editorial Reviews

Chadha uncovers what Louis Fischer and Judith M. Brown--to take two of the major Western biographers--missed in their seemingly thorough works...Gandhi: A Life has other offerings not found in conventional biographies. Gandhi scholarship will be well served by Chadha's effort. --The Washington Post Book World

Washington Post Book

The first major biography in over 20 years of perhaps the most remarkable, and certainly one of the strangest men ever to exercise important political influence. Born in 1869, married, as was customary at that time, at the age of 13, sent over to London to become a barrister, Gandhi found his vocation when he went to South Africa to deal with a large case, and enlisted himself in the struggle against discrimination against Asians. There he learned many of the techniques he later used against the British, including satyagraha, þthe Force that is born of Truth and Love or non-violence.þ On his return to India in 1915, he criticized the þindescribable filthþ of the country, the conspicuous wealth of the maharajahs, and the continuing discrimination against the untouchables. His campaigns against the conditions of the Indian workers and against the hated salt tax attracted huge support, and his strategy of noncooperation with the British landed him in jail. And yet for all his efforts, his þfasts unto deathþ to reconcile Hindu and Muslim, his continuing emphasis on nonviolence, when independence came in 1947, the partition of the country was accompanied by an orgy of blood-lettingþand his own assassination at the hands of a Hindu extremist. Odd as he was, a small, unimposing man with no front teeth and spindly legs, a fanatical vegetarian who ceased marital relations with his wife at 36 and who believed that sex was only permissible for procreation, and whose knowledge of events outside India was limited, by the 1930s, as Nehru put it, þGandhi was India.þ It is perhaps the supreme example of the power of moral force in politics, andChadha, an Indian businessman who has spent the past eight years researching and writing this book, lets the record, so far as possible, speak for itself. It is balanced, even-handed, and, like its subject, inspiring.

Kirkus Reviews

Chadha uncovers what Louis Fischer and Judith M. Brown to take two of the major Western biographers missed in their seemingly thorough works...Gandhi: A Life has other offerings not found in conventional biographies. Gandhi scholarship will be well served by Chadha's effort.""—The Washington Post Book World

From the Publisher