Truth Be Told
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I am yet to finish reading this book and I have to say it is an amazing book to read. The man is what he says he is and the truth he does tell. He has so far told us things I would expect the normal person who was in his position not to say a word about a few things, however he is very open with what he is about and why. He's an open book. I have read his Bio before and this is hands down much better as it's 1st hand information.
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a different view of Gandhi - from himself
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This is a fantastic book. Like most everyone I knew the basic facts of the great man, mostly based I guess on the Ben Kingsley film.
This book is autobiographical articles that MK Gandhi wrote in the 1920s to be published as installments in newspaper publications. The beauty of that for me was the fact that although the book is quite long it was broken into 170 chapters of a few pages each. This also allowed time for reflection.
It is the story of his personal walk from childhood and married at 13, through studies in the UK, difficulties as he started work in India and his movement to South Africa to find work, his time in South Africa and his return to India and his early years back in India. It misses most of the famous things about his life and focuses more on his personal and spiritual search for Truth. I liked that it that way.
It gave a very different perspective on his life. Although some parts were hard to understand without a more detailed knowledge of his life, India and Hindu religious belief I did not find that detracted very much at all from my enjoyment or reflection on this book.
It also shows his struggles as he is trying to perfect his search for Truth/God and where he feels disappointed with his efforts. There is a lot of information on his experiments with dietetics.
Gave me a very different view on some cores of his belief in Hinduism, without being a treatise for any particular religion.
It probably wasn't easy being his wife!
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Everyone should read this book
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In his own words, Gandhi takes us through some of the experiences in his life, with each chapter forming at least one important learning lesson to him. All experiences, whether good or bad, had a positive learning lesson on him and contributed to his goal of seeking the truth. One of his main beliefs was using non-violence as a means of protesting against acts of oppression and using international law to seek justice. This meant he never raised his fists or lowered himself to barbarism however much he was provoked, violated or attacked. In fact this seems to be the opposite attitude demonstrated by all terrorists and most countries (West, Middle East and East) where the belief is that violence and war works. It never has and never will. As Gandhi says "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind". As we have now entered the third of the world wars, where the weapons are horrific and the consequences unimaginable, Gandhi's words have never been more important. All politicians and world leaders should read this book. In fact everyone should read this book.
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