The Story Of My Experiments With Truth Review.docx

NAME OF THE BOOK - The Story of My Experiments with Truth

Name of the publisher - Farsight Publisher and Distributer

About Author The author of this book is the most popular legendary person of the twentieth century, Father of our Nation, Mahatma in the eyes of people, the person who sacrificed his whole life for the cause of independence to the country, the person who advocated principles of Truth, Satyagraha, Non-violence and spiritual thoughts of Self-realization to the people, who is none other than Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. M.K. Gandhi is a very strange figure in Indian history. He is both more Indian and less Indian than anyone you will ever meet or read about. Indians love to celebrate him and love to distance themselves from him. His name lives on in a legacy of political leaders that he would likely not endorse. Gandhi ji influence on India is a topic for another post. This book is his autobiography and his views of what was going on around him during the beginnings of the movement for a free and independent India. It is a classic; however don’t expect it to prepare you for Indian culture like other books might. 1

Aside from being inspired by his faith and life, the biggest takeaway I got from this book was how common of an Indian Gandhi ji was. He talks in detail about his family. He is consumed both with very noble thoughts and very common, ordinary thoughts. After reading this, Gandhi ji comes across as the true “common man” to emulate.

About book History of book The Story of My Experiments with Truth is the autobiography of Mohandas K. Gandhi, covering his life from early childhood through to 1921. It was written in weekly instalments and published in his journal Navjivan from 1925 to 1929. Its English translation also appeared in instalments in his other journal Young India. It was initiated at the insistence of Swami Anand and other close coworkers of Gandhi, who encouraged him to explain the background of his public campaigns.

Page number and language:

In this book 364 pages are given and

language is English.

Purpose of book: At around year 1920, some of his co-workers insisted him to write his autobiography. He was unable to carry out this work at that time because he was deeply involved in independence movement. Later on the insistence of one of his co-worker Swami Anand, Gandhi agreed to write his autobiography little by little in the form of small chapters to a magazine Navajivan to which Gandhi usually write his articles. But one of his close friend advised him that the principles what he advocate today in his autobiography, for any reason, if he changes in future there may not be any value for his words in people. This advice affected Gandhi very much and so he changed his mind regarding this autobiography. Finally Gandhi decided to write his personal experiences of the experiments what he has conducted on truth during his life time. The reason for this Gandhi made it clear in his introductory words of this book that he never want to boast himself as a hero in the minds of the people but he wants to transfer some good thoughts to the reader that he experienced during his life time.

2

Book Review: Part one The first part narrates incidents of Gandhi's childhood, his experiments with eating meat, smoking, drinking, stealing and subsequent atonement. There are two texts that had a lasting influence on Gandhi, both of which he read in childhood. He records the profound impact of the play Harishchandra and says, "I read it with intense interest...It haunted me and I must have acted Harishchandra to myself times without number." Another text he mentions reading that deeply affected him was Shravana Pitrabhakti Nataka, a play about Shravana's devotion to his parents. Gandhi got married at the age of 13. In his words, "It is my painful duty to have to record here my marriage at the age of thirteen...I can see no moral argument in support of such a preposterously early marriage." Another important event documented in this part is the demise of Gandhi's father Karamchand Gandhi. Gandhi wrote the book to deal with his experiment for truth. His disdain for physical training at school, particularly gymnastics has also been written about in this part. In this part Gandhi ji introduced his family members and the details about his birth to the readers. He narrated about his childhood days in this part in an interesting way. He rated himself as an average student with a shy character to intermingle with others. At the same time Gandhi's rejection to copying incident at school, an anecdote one has to know through Gandhi's words only. Two things which literally helped in his character building at this age are a play let Shravana Pitribhakti Nataka and the other is Satyaharischandra play. His child marriage with Kasturba, death of his father, his journey to England to earn law degree, the problems he faced there with their culture as well as his strict adherence to vegetarianism, religious foundation he got through Gita and Bible are the interesting things that the reader can get first-hand information from this part.

Part Two To deal with a case Gandhi ji went to South Africa and there he was humiliated by racial discrimination incident in a first class coach. Gandhi ji was very much moved by the oppressive and racial discrimination methods shown by South 3

African rulers over the Indians who are living there. This heart throbbing situation of local Indians in South Africa made him a confident and strong leader. Gandhi's personal quest to define his own philosophy with respect to religion did not rely solely on sacred texts. At the time, he also engaged in active correspondence with a highly educated and spiritual Jain from Bombay, his friend Raychandra, who was deeply religious, yet well versed in a number of topics, from Hinduism to Christianity. The more Gandhi communicated with Raychandra, the more deeply he began to appreciate Hinduism as a nonviolent faith and its related scriptures. Yet, such deep appreciation also gave birth to a desire to seek inner purity and illumination, without solely relying on external sources, or on the dogma within every faith. Thus, although Gandhi sought God within his own tradition, he espoused the idea that other faiths remained worthy of study and contained their own truths. Not surprisingly, even after his work assignment concluded, Gandhi soon found a reason to remain in South Africa. This pivotal reason involved the "Indian Franchise Bill", with which the Natal legislature intended to deprive Indians of the right to vote. No opposition existed against this bill, except among some of Gandhi's friends who asked him to stay in South Africa and work with them against this new injustice against Indians, who white South Africans disparagingly called "coolies." He found that racist attitudes had become deeply entrenched, especially in the Dutch-ruled regions, where they lived in the worst urban slums and could not own property or manage agricultural land. Even in Natal, where Indians had more influence, they were not allowed to go out after 9 p.m. without a pass, while in Cape Colony, another British territory, they were not allowed to walk on the sidewalk. The new bill which prohibited Indians from voting in Natal only codified existing injustice in writing. Although a last-minute petition drive failed to the Indian Franchise Bill from passing, Gandhi remained active and organized a much larger petition, which he sent to the Secretary of State for the Colonies in London, and distributed to the press in South Africa, Britain and India. The petition raised awareness of the plight of Indians and generating discussions in all three continents to the point where both the Times of London and the Times of India published editorials in support of the Indian right to the vote. Gandhi also formed a new political organization called the Natal Indian Congress (a clear reference to the Indian National Congress), which held regular meetings and soon, after some struggles with financing, started its own library and debating society. They also issued two major pamphlets, An Appeal to Every Briton in South Africa, and The Indian Franchise–An Appeal, which offered a logical argument against racial discrimination. He was also thrown of the Train when he didn't agree to move from his first class seat which he paid for. 4

Though, at first, Gandhi intended to remain in South Africa for a month or a year at most, he ended up working in South Africa for about twenty years. After his initial assignment was over, he succeeded in growing his own practice to about twenty Indian merchants who contracted manage their affairs. This work allowed him to both earn a living while also finding time to devote to his mission as a public figure. During his struggle against inequality and racial discrimination in South Africa, Gandhi became known among Indians all around the world as "Mahatma," or "Great Soul."

Part three In 1896, Gandhi made a brief return to India and returned with his wife and children. In India, he published another pamphlet, known as the Green Pamphlet, on the plight of Indians in South Africa. For the first time, Gandhi realized that Indians had come to admire his work greatly and experienced a taste of his own popularity among the people, when he visited Madras, an Indian province, where most manual labourers had originated. Although his fellow-Indians greeted him in large crowds with applause and adulation, he sailed back to South Africa with his family in December 1896. Along with his family Gandhi went to South Africa to work with local Indians. He decided to completely dedicate his life to human service. He used to attend hospitals daily for two hours to clean the wounds of the patients and even clean toilets. At this time he developed the concepts of Brahmacharya, Non-violence and Satyagraha which later helped in the battle against British rulers in India. Finally the mission lead by Gandhi in South Africa has tasted success and that is the first win for Gandhi as a leader. Gandhi began to organize a fast response to this new South African political configuration. Instead of working in Natal, he now established a camp in the newly conquered Transvaal region and began helping Indians who had escaped from the war in that region, and now had to purchase overly expensive re-entry passes. He also represented poor Indians whose dwellings in a shantytown the authorities had dispossessed. Gandhi also started a new magazine, Indian Opinion that advocated for political liberty and equal rights in South Africa. The magazine, which initially included several young women from Europe, expanded its staff around the country, increasing both Gandhi's popularity and the public support for his ideas. Gandhi did not waiver when a South African General by the name of Jan Christiaan Smuts promised to eliminate the registration law, but broke his word. 5

Gandhi went all the way to London in 1909 and gathered enough support among the British to convince Smuts to eliminate the law in 1913. Yet, the Transvaal Prime Minister continued to regard Indians as second-class citizens while the Cape Colony government passed another discriminatory law making all non-Christian marriages illegal, which meant that all Indian children would be considered born out of wedlock. In addition, the government in Natal continued to impose crippling poll tax for entering Natal only upon Indians. In response to these strikingly unjust rules, Gandhi organized a large-scale satyagraha, which involved women crossing the Natal-Transvaal border illegally. When they were arrested, five thousand Indian coal miners also went on strike and Gandhi himself led them across the Natalese border, where they expected arrest. Although Smuts and Gandhi did not agree on many points, they had respect for each other. In 1913, Smuts relented due to the sheer number of Indians involved in protest and negotiated a settlement which provided for the legality of Indian marriages and abolished the poll tax. Further, the import of indentured labourers from India was to be phased out by 1920. In July 1914, Gandhi sailed for Britain, now admired as "Mahatma," and known throughout the world for the success of Satyagraha.

Part Four Gandhi's increased interest in practicing vegetarianism, experiments of truth in court cases, experiments with Satyagraha, experimenting Naturopathy in treating diseases, fasting method to self-restraining, training of the spirit, meeting with Gokhalae are the interesting things found in this part. The British remained determined to put an end to the Muslim Caliphate, they enforced the Rowlatt Act resolutely. Even Gandhi became less tolerant towards British practices and in April 1920, he urged all Indians, Muslim and Hindu, to begin a "non-cooperation" protest against the British rule by giving up their Western clothing and British jobs. As a personal example, on August 1, he returned the medals for valour that he had received in the Boer War in South Africa. He also became the first president of the Home Rule League, a largely symbolic position which confirmed his position as an advocate for Indian Independence. In September 1920, Gandhi also passed an official constitution for the Congress, which created a system of two national committees and numerous local units, all working to mobilize a spirit of non-cooperation across India. Gandhi and other volunteers travelled around India further establishing this new 6

grass roots organization, which achieved great success. The new British Viceroy in India, Lord Reading, did not dare to interfere because of Gandhi's immense popularity. By 1922, Gandhi decided that the initiative of non-cooperation had to transform into open civil disobedience, but in March 1922, Lord Reading finally ordered Gandhi's arrest after a crowd in the city of Chauri Chaura attacked and killed the local representatives of British authority. Gandhi, who had never encouraged or sanctioned this type of conduct, condemned the actions of the violent crowds and retreated into a period of fasting and prayer as a response to this violent outburst. However, the British saw the event as a trigger point and a reason for his arrest.

Part Five People treated Gandhiji as hero after his successful mission at South Africa. On the request of his political guru Gokhale, Gandhiji traveled throughout India and that made him realize the poor condition of Indians at the hasty rule of British. Champran Satyagraha, Ahamedabad Satyagraha, Kheda Satyagraha, Satyagraha against Rowalat's act are important events we can know from this part. However, in Gandhi's absence, Indians returned to their British jobs and their everyday routines. Even worse, the unity between Muslims and Hindu, which Gandhi advocated so passionately, had already begun to fall apart to the point where the threat of violence loomed large over many communities with mixed population. The fight for Indian independence could not continue while Indians themselves suffered disunity and conflict, all the more difficult to overcome in a huge country like India, which had always suffered religious divisions, as well as divisions by language, and even caste. Gandhi realized that Independence and that the British had lost the will and power to sustain their empire, but he always acknowledged that Indians could not rely simply on the weakening of Britain in order to achieve independence. He believed that Indians had to become morally ready for Independence. He planned to contribute to such readiness through his speeches and writing, advocating humility, restraint, good sanitation, as well as an end to child marriages. He acknowledged that he had changed his position on many issues, like child marriages, and that he had not always managed to discern the most moral course of action in his life. After his imprisonment ended, he resumed his personal quest for purification and truth. He ends his autobiography by admitting that he continues to 7

experience and fight with "the dormant passion" that lie within his own soul. He felt ready to continue the long and difficult path of taming those passions and putting himself last among his fellow human beings, the only way to achieve salvation, according to him.

Book summary: 'The story of my experiments with truth' is in five parts which begins with Gandhi's birth and his experiences in his personal life till 1921. The original script was written in Gujarati language by M.K. Gandhi to Navajivan magazine and it was later translated into English by Mahadev Desai. According to Mahadev Desai the sub-tittle Autobiography was given by Gandhi himself for his 'The story of my experiments with Truth'. In this book, Gandhiji mainly emphasized his experiments on his principles of truth, non-violence, spiritualism, celibacy, self-realization, vegetarianism etc. Gandhi requested the readers to conduct similar such experiments in their life in their own way in quest of truth. A brief summary of the five parts found in this autobiography was given below for the interest of the readers.

Conclusion Without doubt this is one of the most popular and famous book of this century. Gandhi gave utmost importance to principals, values and humanity rather than his life itself. Gandhiji lived his whole life as an example to others rather than simply preaching values to others. The great scientist, Albert Einsteen rightly remarked, the generation to come may not believe such a person like Gandhi with blood and flesh has walked on this earth. People have realized the importance of the principals and values of Gandhiji at present than before. Big people like Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and American President Oboma became ardent admirers of Gandhi. Without any doubt the centuries to come Gandhiji will be remembered by people of any generation for the nonviolent way he got independence to India.

What makes this book worth reading? 1. A legendary and most popular person like Gandhi in his own words giving about the experiences of his personal life and an account of various events which occurred during independence struggle at that time will create a lot of interest among the people to read this book. Those who want to know history of 8

Indian independence struggle; by reading this book they get first-hand information from a person who actually lead the struggle from front. 2. In writing this book Gandhi hide nothing the information that can reach the people whether it is good or bad. He was harsh on himself in admitting his mistakes as well as the ways he used to correct his mistakes. This sincerity or honesty of this great person had an influence on increasing the value of this book. 3. An average ordinary person who is shy even to mingle with others how he became 'Mahatma (great soul)' in the eyes of the people? How this simple person with his magnificent power of attraction able to bring millions of people together to fight against British? To know the answers for these questions one has to read the autobiography of M.K. Gandhi. 4. The simple and lucid style of his writing will help the readers to understand things easily. The various events and incidents which he experienced during his life time he put forth in this book in a very interesting way. These experiences enrich the reader with the values and principals followed by Gandhiji during his life time. Gandhiji used to practice anything before he actually preach to anybody. This principle that Gandhiji followed throughout his life brought millions of admirers to him to unite and fight against British. 5. Readers can experience the values of spiritualism, truthfulness, non-violence, self-realization etc. from the illustrations he made in this book. From Tolstoy form experience in South Africa, Gandhiji realized that the young can be trained only through spiritual training. Spiritual training helps to mold the character of an individual. Without character building there is no value for education in young. Similarly in Gandhiji's opinion Truth is God. Through truth only selfrealization occurs in a person.The experiments on truth that Gandhi ji carried throughout his life for the purpose of this self-realization only. During independence struggle Gandhiji preached non-violence to people which became a weapon in achieving independence to India.

My opinion about this book 'An autobiography or the story of my experiments with truth' written by M.K. 9

Gandhi is highly inspiring book and in my opinion it ought to be read by every Indian. After reading this book, definitely every reader will appraise Gandhi's honesty and sincerity in presenting every minute details of his personal life without hiding anything to the reader, even though such incidents presented by him may derogate his value. I really appreciated this nature of Gandhi in my mind after reading this book. Gandhi put to practice the things before he actually preach them to others. I really appreciate this attitude of Gandhi and sincerely believe that this is the reason why millions of people throughout the World whether supporters or opponents admired him and like to have a glimpse of him at least once in their life time. One more thing I realized about Gandhiji after reading this book and I really appreciate is the modest way he lead his life. The autobiography that Gandhi wrote is simply superb, especially he narrated all the events which occurred in his life very interestingly as well as the language used for this narration is very simple even to the understanding level of a common man.

10