Gandhi's Passion: The Life and Legacy of Mahatma Gandhi - Hardcover

"Although the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi may be immortal, the reality in India in the twenty-first century does reflect that. Material greed, corruption, abuse of power, and communal violence are ever present in Indian society. Wolpert's fifty-year passion for the study of Gandhi is not, however, negated by this current history. Wolpert's study is of great value."-- Histroy "The fruit of more than 50 years of reflection by a distinguished Asian scholar, Wolpert's biography cuts through the misconceptions surrounding the father of modern India, untangling the complex relationship between his personal spirituality and his public influence."--Booklist "There have been many books about Gandhi, including those by the subject himself. What has always been needed is a full, literate account by someone closely familiar with India and Indian history who is also an accomplished writer and historian. This, we now have. Henceforth no one can claim knowledge of one of the greatest and most enigmatic figures of the last century who hasn't read it. And, I might add, no one will read it without interest and approval."--John Kenneth Galbraith "Although the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi may be immortal, the reality in India in the twenty-first century does reflect that. Material greed, corruption, abuse of power, and communal violence are ever present in Indian society. Wolpert's fifty-year passion for the study of Gandhi is not, however, negated by this current history. Wolpert's study is of great value."-- Histroy "The fruit of more than 50 years of reflection by a distinguished Asian scholar, Wolpert's biography cuts through the misconceptions surrounding the father of modern India, untangling the complex relationship between his personal spirituality and his public influence."--Booklist "There have been many books about Gandhi, including those by the subject himself. What has always been needed is a full, literate account by someone closely familiar with India and Indian history who is also an accomplished writer and historian. This, we now have. Henceforth no one can claim knowledge of one of the greatest and most enigmatic figures of the last century who hasn't read it. And, I might add, no one will read it without interest and approval."--John Kenneth Galbraith "Although the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi may be immortal, the reality in India in the twenty-first century does reflect that. Material greed, corruption, abuse of power, and communal violence are ever present in Indian society. Wolpert's fifty-year passion for the study of Gandhi is not, however, negated by this current history. Wolpert's study is of great value."-- Histroy "The fruit of more than 50 years of reflection by a distinguished Asian scholar, Wolpert's biography cuts through the misconceptions surrounding the father of modern India, untangling the complex relationship between his personal spirituality and his public influence."--Booklist "There have been many books about Gandhi, including those by the subject himself. What has always been needed is a full, literate account by someone closely familiar with India and Indian history who is also an accomplished writer and historian. This, we now have. Henceforth no one can claim knowledge of one of the greatest and most enigmatic figures of the last century who hasn't read it. And, I might add, no one will read it without interest and approval."--John Kenneth Galbraith "Although the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi may be immortal, the reality in India in the twenty-first century does reflect that. Material greed, corruption, abuse of power, and communal violence are ever present in Indian society. Wolpert's fifty-year passion for the study of Gandhi is not, however, negated by this current history. Wolpert's study is of great value."-- Histroy "The fruit of more than 50 years of reflection by a distinguished Asian scholar, Wolpert's biography cuts through the misconceptions surrounding the father of modern India, untangling the complex relationship between his personal spirituality and his public influence."--Booklist "There have been many books about Gandhi, including those by the subject himself. What has always been needed is a full, literate account by someone closely familiar with India and Indian history who is also an accomplished writer and historian. This, we now have. Henceforth no one can claim knowledge of one of the greatest and most enigmatic figures of the last century who hasn't read it. And, I might add, no one will read it without interest and approval."--John Kenneth Galbraith

This title looks at Mahatma Gandhi: his life, his work and his legacy. It follows his early influences from Jainism to Buddhism, and focuses on his unique philosophy of non-violence in the face of brutality, as well as providing a biography of the man within. His yogic resolve to dedicate himself to the nationalist struggle for liberating India from British imperial rule inspired millions to follow his passionate lead on the road to freedom. Gandhi taught his followers to set aside fear of prison, physical punishment or death, while at the same time insisting that violence had no place in the Satyagraha campaign, arguing that non-violence or love was the essence of God. Early influenced by the non-violence teachings of Jainism, Jesus Christ, and Buddha, Gandhi insisted on the primacy of love for one's adversary in any conflict, convinced that this mighty power would ultimately disarm the cruellest enemy.