Eight Lives: A Study of the Hindu-Muslim Encounter

by Rajmohan Gandhi

This book was written by a Hindu, the grandson of Mohandas K. Gandhi. His intent, in writing on eight Muslims and their influence on India in the twentieth century, is to reduce the gulf between Hindu and Muslims. Focusing on figures viewed as heroes by sub-continent Muslims, he shows that they can be admired by Hindus as well—that they need not be frozen in Hindu minds as foes.

Here is a fascinating account of twentieth-century India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh told through biographical sketches of eight Sayyid Ahmed Khan (1817-1898), Fazlul Huq (1873-1962), Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948), Muhammad Iqbal (1876-1938), Muhammad Ali (1878-1931), Abul Kalam Azad (1888-1958), Liaqat Ali Khan (1895-1951), and Zakir Husain (1897-1969).

Genres: History

369 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1986

About the author

Rajmohan Gandhi (born 1935)is a biographer and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, and a research professor at the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.

Until end-December 2012 he taught political science and history at the University of Illinois and divided his time between India and the United States.

Reviews

[Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reading it in small parts since 2nd week of may. Because I don't have copy of the book and I simply can't afford it. Thank you Crossword for your kind support while reading this book.
This is one the best work in the field of modern history. The Title is misleading but book will change your mind and you feel fresh and enlighten after every chapter. The best thing about the book is its neutrality and intensive analysis. All eight persons were highest in there respective field and earn respect and regard from whole lot of people. The author have done remarkable job while writing about Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Abul Kalam Azad. Every Indian who feels that Jinnah alone was responsible for partition should read this book first. The analysis on Jinnah in this book will lead you to the real story behind 'The Partition of India'. And the role played by Azad and Liaqat Ali Khan. The stories behind good relations and struggle between Hindus and Muslims are well analysed and organised in proper manner. I was totally unaware about the guy called Sayyid Ahmed Khan and Muhammad Iqbal and their tales. But very happy after reading and knowing about them. Every Indian know about Zakir Husain in India with respect and after reading this book you will certainly feel good about that feeling. Others parts are also good. The episode of assassination of Ali Khan sahad was heart breaking and turning point of the Pakistan. People pf the Pakistan lost there most loyal servant by assassination was heart breaking.Just like assassination of the great soul Mahatma Gandhi. My personal favorite chapters are Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Abul Kalam Azad. After reading Jinnah's part every thing is clear in my mind. Mr. Jinnah was not wholly responsible for Partition of India. Even he was least responsible among Gandhi, Nehru, Patel and himself. The author is a grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, but he didn't hesitated while writing this honest book on Gandhi's most trusted and reviles. This book in future harmed Gandhi's and Nehru's prestige and respect and critical analysis by H.M.Seervai established ther liability for the great partition. Don't wait just go for it.

[Manish Pawar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of Gandhi ji and a renowned historian at center for south Asian and middle eastern studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has impressively written a very tempting, informative and secularised account of eight prominent Muslim leaders of British-Raj. Dr. Gandhi has successfully evaded character assassination or building.
Through their lives, Dr. Gandhi has tried to reset the stage for the larger discourse of Hindu-Muslim entente cordiale that led to the partition of British India, Its up to the reader to decide which side they are. However, Painting Sir Sayyed Ahmed, Jinnah and hard core Islamist like Mohammad Ali on ultra-secular canvas was unsatisfactory. Even, Dr. Gandhi didn't find it appropriate to mention the most absurd accusations that Muhammad Ali made against Gandhi ji after the debacle of Khilafat movement. I personally find ‘the life and times’ of the real and the only Bengali Tiger ‘Fazal-ul-Haq’ really interesting, i never heard his name before. I think, Indian universities and boards have been unfair in skipping ‘Fazal-ul-Haq’ in history courses taught across the country. He was someone very parallel to Bose and Dr. S.P. Mukherjee in Bengal politics, yet he is unknown to the masses of India. In the conclusion Dr. Gandhi talks about a strange love for Muslims that he had emerged and he expect readers to have taste of it, that's something i find unreasonable (I mean, there no need for that, let us all be law abiding citizens).