3 Review(s)

The original title of this work, when it was first compiled in Gujarati, gave primacy to Gandhi's 'experiments with truth' over 'autobiography'. In An Autobiography, which went on to become one of the most widely read and translated Indian books of all time, Gandhi emerged as an exemplary protagonist not by hiding his faults, but by laying bare his fumbling, evolving self for all to see. The candid account allowed the world to glimpse his transformation from a well-meaning lawyer into a Satyagrahi and an ashramite. In this first-ever Critical Edition of the classic text, eminent scholar Tridip Suhrud attempts to bring the reader closer to Gandhi. With alternative translations, he captures the flavour, cadence and quirkiness of the Gujarati as well as Gandhi's transparent writing style. Through the deeply researched notes, he elucidates the contexts and characters in the book, providing a comprehensive historical background. And in the insightful introduction Suhrud shines new light on Gandhi's thought and life, tracing his evolution into a seeker of Truth as God. This special edition of the Autobiography, published on the occasion of Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary, is an absorbing, illuminating text about the life-affirming journey of an extraordinary Indian and a universal icon for non-violent struggle.