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Words of Freedom: Ideas of a Nation #7
Words Of Freedom Ideas Of A Nation: C. Rajagopalachari
98 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
2 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
C. Rajagopalachari
74 books165 followersChakravarti Rajagopalachari, informally called Rajaji or C.R., was an Indian lawyer, independence activist, politician, writer, and statesman. Rajagopalachari was the last Governor-General of India. He also served as leader of the Indian National Congress, Premier of the Madras Presidency, Governor of West Bengal, Minister for Home Affairs of the Indian Union, and Chief Minister of Madras state, and as such, he rendered yeomen service to the nation.
Rajagopalachari founded the Swatantra Party and was one of the first recipients of India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. He vehemently opposed the use of nuclear weapons and was a proponent of world peace and disarmament. During his lifetime, he also acquired the nickname 'Mango of Salem'.
Rajaji was a great patriot, astute politician, incisive thinker, great visionary, and one of the greatest statesmen of all time. He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, hailed as conscious-keeper of the Mahatma.
Rajaji was closely associated with Kulapati Munshiji and he was among the distinguished founder-members of the Bhavan (Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan). The Bhavan has published 18 books by him so far, the copyright of which he gifted to the Bhavan.
Rajaji wrote not only in English but also in chaste Tamil, his mother-tongue. He was at his best as a short-story writer.
Rajaji passed away in 1972 at the age of 94.
Rajagopalachari founded the Swatantra Party and was one of the first recipients of India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. He vehemently opposed the use of nuclear weapons and was a proponent of world peace and disarmament. During his lifetime, he also acquired the nickname 'Mango of Salem'.
Rajaji was a great patriot, astute politician, incisive thinker, great visionary, and one of the greatest statesmen of all time. He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, hailed as conscious-keeper of the Mahatma.
Rajaji was closely associated with Kulapati Munshiji and he was among the distinguished founder-members of the Bhavan (Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan). The Bhavan has published 18 books by him so far, the copyright of which he gifted to the Bhavan.
Rajaji wrote not only in English but also in chaste Tamil, his mother-tongue. He was at his best as a short-story writer.
Rajaji passed away in 1972 at the age of 94.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 13, 2014
Interesting book. I consider it to be more of a window into Rajaji's mind than a series of instructive essays.
Some opinions of his are controversial, especially in today's context of caste based politics.
When these speeches were made or essays written, they must have excited a reasonable amount of controversy. Even today, I cannot imagine anyone accusing Dr. Ambedkar of having acted from selfish motives without stirring up a storm. I would love to read Ambedkar's replies (if any) to some of the accusations that were flung against him by Rajaji.
Sadly, the politics of today offers no such exciting contest of words. Even the most promising clashes of will soon devolve into a flurry of abuse and chest banging. We Indians have lost our erudition, politeness and the ability to put our thoughts into words without the liberal use of invective.
A quick, breezy read with thoughts well elucidated.
Some opinions of his are controversial, especially in today's context of caste based politics.
When these speeches were made or essays written, they must have excited a reasonable amount of controversy. Even today, I cannot imagine anyone accusing Dr. Ambedkar of having acted from selfish motives without stirring up a storm. I would love to read Ambedkar's replies (if any) to some of the accusations that were flung against him by Rajaji.
Sadly, the politics of today offers no such exciting contest of words. Even the most promising clashes of will soon devolve into a flurry of abuse and chest banging. We Indians have lost our erudition, politeness and the ability to put our thoughts into words without the liberal use of invective.
A quick, breezy read with thoughts well elucidated.
June 5, 2025
it's a good book it has a good view
June 13, 2020
It is a compendium of selected speeches of Rajaji on ideas of a nation. I should mention this. Although I don't agree on certain points or rather the basis on which he projects his points, I couldn't outright ignore this as irrelevant given the ideas are quite notable considering the time period in which he spoke. I respect his argument even though I disagreed with it it in a lot of places.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews