The Selected Works of Mahatma Gandhi

by Mahatma Gandhi, Shriman Narayan (-Editor), Mahadev Desai (-Translator)

The Navajivan Trust decided to publish The Selected Works of Mahatma Gandhi so that the message of truth and compassion could be conveyed once again to millions of people in India and abroad. As the General Editor of these Volumes, I have tried to make a representative selection of all the writings of the Mahatma which are of permanent value and have a universal appeal. The first Volume covers his Autobiography, which he called The Story of My Experiments with Truth. The second Volume of the series is Satyagraha in South Africa. In the third Volume I have collected most of the ‘basic works’ of Gandhiji, including Ethical Religion, Unto This Last, Hind Swaraj, From Yeravda Mandir, Constructive Programme and Key to Health. The fourth Volume contains a rich selection of letters which are either of historical interest or contain notable ideas on a variety of important subjects. The fifth Volume incorporates all the essential ideas of Mahatma Gandhi on philosophy, religion, culture, economics, politics, sociology and education. I earnestly hope that these Selected Works will be found useful by all those who are keenly interested in the study of Gandhian thought on different aspects of life.
- Shriman Narayan, General Editor, The Selected Works of Mahatma Gandhi,
From the Foreword of Vol. 1, August 15, 1968

Genres: India

2267 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1968

About the author

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, commonly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was the preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India. Employing non-violent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for non-violence, civil rights and freedom across the world.

The son of a senior government official, Gandhi was born and raised in a Hindu Bania community in coastal Gujarat, and trained in law in London. Gandhi became famous by fighting for the civil rights of Muslim and Hindu Indians in South Africa, using new techniques of non-violent civil disobedience that he developed. Returning to India in 1915, he set about organizing peasants to protest excessive land-taxes. A lifelong opponent of "communalism" (i.e. basing politics on religion) he reached out widely to all religious groups. He became a leader of Muslims protesting the declining status of the Caliphate. Assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns for easing poverty, expanding women's rights, building religious and ethnic amity, ending untouchability, increasing economic self-reliance, and above all for achieving Swaraj—the independence of India from British domination. His spiritual teacher was the Jain philosopher/poet Shrimad Rajchandra.

Reviews

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading original sources about people and things that everyone references and talks about. I find that they are almost always very different from their popular depiction. It turns out Gandhi was involved in two wars. His practice of non-violence is also quite different--much more militant--than that of many who act in his name.

[Vijayaraghavan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have completed the first volume containing the "An Autobiography" or "The Story of My experiments with Truth." M K Gandhi records his observations in a precise and concise manner. The simplicity of language and length of each chapter (observation/experiment) might fool the reader. This is Gandhi's style. He gives his observations with least complexity so that the reader may devote energy in ruminating the cud which is the more essential part of reading. This is for the discerning reader.

I still have the other 4 volumes to read.

I finally finished reading all 5 volumes.