Gandhi 1914-1948: The Years That Changed the World by Ramachandra GuhaMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Guha’s book serves as a magisterial and highly readable account of Gandhi’s years in India and will likely remain the definitive Gandhi biography for many years to come. Guha offers readers a nuanced portrait of Gandhi’s personal and social life, contextualizing the latter’s achievements in ways that bring out the important contributions made by others, both allies and adversaries, to India’s revolutionary struggle for Independence. We learn of the multiple influences on Gandhi’s social and political philosophy and the ways in which Gandhi was willing to develop his position on certain matters in light of changing social conditions. Previous biographical accounts of Gandhi have been criticized for their overly hagiographical treatment of their subject; Guha doesn’t shy away from legitimate criticism and probes some of Gandhi’s more controversial experiments and commitments. This warts-and-all approach provides us with a fuller, more human portrait of Gandhi. Guha’s epilogue reflects on Gandhi’s contemporary relevance and suggests that the latter’s commitment to religious pluralism, eradication of caste oppression, and environmental sustainability means that he has as much to contribute today as he did during India’s freedom struggle.
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