M.K Gandhi: An autobiography - My experiments with truth

Gandhi’s pacifist ideals are clear throughout the book, although perhaps most noticeable in the political arena, where violence and extortion was rife. Throughout his struggle for equal rights for Indians in South Africa, to his efforts to unite Indians across the country in order to achieve independence, Gandhi is tireless in his quest to bring about equality for every class, religion and race. This book shows his quest to solve internal unrest, such as the communal violence between Muslims and Hindus and also the position of the untouchables. It also describes his efforts to make India a self-reliant country, such as when Gandhi lead the making of Indian salt from saltwater or was pictured spinning cotton. The one thing that this book very clearly describes is the struggle which Gandhi went through in order for his views to be heard and his ideas to be heeded. Despite many setbacks and lack of co-operation, Gandhi puts every effort into making sure his political ideas are instilled, even travelling across the vast country of India by train and taking on self-starvation. These events provide an insight to how Indians were treated inside their own country during British rule and their own internal struggle of religion and caste. Westerners were treated as first class citizens and their customs considered civilised and a sign of sophistication, whereas Indians were considered to be uncivilised, almost like ‘animals’ and their traditions/religion backward and ‘nonsense’. What is remarkable is that throughout the discrimination, violence and humiliation that Gandhi suffered, he retains his sense of integrity and holds no bitterness towards Westerners or those who have committed acts of violence towards him.

Although an insightful and introspective book in terms of events and issues, it is not a literary masterpiece. Perhaps it is because of the translation, but the language itself did not strike me as particularly gripping. On occasion my mind wandered after reading over two pages devoted entirely on the ethics of drinking milk on a vegetarian diet. Some descriptions are rather mundane and could possibly benefit from editing. I also found that reading a brief biography beforehand was extremely helpful, as Gandhi has a tendency to assume that the reader has extensive historical, geographical and political knowledge of the time. He also mentions some characters without any prior introduction and some parts of the book are told through conversations, which can be hard to follow. However, the book leaves you with the impression that these are Gandhi’s true, unembellished thoughts; he is not pre-occupied with a beautiful prose, nor is he trying to project a certain image of himself.

Ghandi says that he would rather be remembered for his actions than for what he said or what he wrote. If this book is judged on the issues it raises rather than the prose it is written in, it has to be one of the more challenging yet profound books that I have read. It provides a great insight into philosophy, human nature and politics. In addition to this, it explores the rich culture of India; traditions, religions and history. Although in the end Gandhi returns to his roots, of Hinduism, Indian culture and vegetarianism, he does not insinuate that this is the only ‘path to truth’, but rather that it is through exploring and understanding different cultures and traditions that we can find our own path in life. This book reflects how Gandhi was a true ‘Mahatama’ – a great soul.