AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY (ABRIDGED) : Abridged by Bharatan Kumarappa

Published by : Navajivan Publishing House, Ahmedabad, India

Pages : 232

Price : Rs. 15/-

ISBN-81-7229-094-2.

About the Book:

The abridged autobiography of Gandhi, is a condensed version of originally published two books namely, ‘Gandhiji’s Autobiography’ and ‘History of Satyagraha in South Africa’ together running into almost 1000 printed pages. It is to meet the need of young people in schools and colleges. The editor of this book Bharatan Kumarappa hoped that it will at least stimulate the reader to undertake a ‘study at leisure of the more detailed original accounts.’

This book covers all the events including Gandhi’s childhood and youth, his experiences in England as a student and as a barrister in India and South Africa, foundation of Sabarmati Ashram, Champaran Satyagraha and the birth of Khadi.

Sarojini Naidu used to call him “our Mickey Mouse”. Gandhi inherited a profoundly religious temper from his mother. Narrated in a simple, direct and lucid style, the editor has sought to include all the important events in Gandhi’s life, to keep in mind the spiritual purpose for which Gandhji wrote the originals.

In the autobiography Gandhi has narrated his experiments in the spiritual field, from which he had derived power for working in the political field. Writing these experiments, he has gone through deep self-introspection, searched himself through and through and  examined and  analyzed every psychological situation.

Gandhi narrates in this book how “SHRAVANA PITRIBHAKTI NATAK” (a book on the play about Shravana’s devotion to his parents), left an indelible impression on his mind and a play-Harishchandra-which captured his heart. To follow truth the ordeals Harishchardra went through was one ideal which inspired Gandhi.