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India of My Dreams
Profound wisdom comes through reflection on dreams. Every presentation has a meaning. In this work an attempt has been made, by assembling together passages from writings and speeches of Mahatma Gandhi, to give the reader an idea of the dream Gandhi had of a completely free and independent India of his conception in which she has control of her own domestic affairs as well as her relations with the rest of the world.
- GenresNonfictionIndia
280 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 1947
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About the author
Mahatma Gandhi
1,261 books6,447 followersMohandas 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 26, 2013
When rating this book, I am not sure what I am rating. The book was not actually written by Gandhi, but was compiled from his other writings (in some places, there as third person writing about Gandhi's views on a certain subject). When I rate the book, I could be rating how well it represents Gandhi's views. But I am not familiar enough with his writings to judge a book on that basis.
I disagreed with most of Gandhi's luddite views, so this rating isn't for his thoughts either. I think I am simply rating the book on how much it adds to my knowledge of our history. And boy, does it do quite a job there.
Even though a lot of what I read was on expected lines, I was surprised quite a bit at how extreme a luddite Gandhi was. Gandhi was against industrialization, English, modern medicine, contraception (?!!!) and if my reading is correct, even women working in finance and industry. He wanted children to be taught how to work with their hands before they were taught how to read or write. The most shocking thing I read in this book, however, is Gandhi's assertion that a woman could not be raped against her will. He sites the example of Sita, explaining how a pure woman would die of her own accord if she was unable to fend off a rapist.
Gandhi's weird brand of socialism seems laughable naive to me. Who would really give up all their wealth for the sake of the poor? And why is that the only morally correct choice? And his views on population control just freaked me out. He asserted that India was not overpopulated, and that properly managed, India's landmass could support twice the population it was supporting (it was around 300 million when Gandhi made this remark). Of course, he was right, but not in the way he imagined. He further went on to remark that the only morally correct method of population control was self-control, giving us the old procreation-not-recreation line.
There are places here and there where Gandhi makes sense (for example, his views on our slavish imitation of European clothing, or his views on the separation of religion and state), but I have to say I largely disagreed with him. I suppose he may have been a man for his times, and his moral courage helped free us from colonialism, but we would be living in some weird semi-socialist hell today if we had followed his teachings to the letter.
I suppose the only worthwhile thing one gets out of this book is a useful disillusionment with the over-deified and understudied father of the nation. But maybe I am not the first to make that remark.
I disagreed with most of Gandhi's luddite views, so this rating isn't for his thoughts either. I think I am simply rating the book on how much it adds to my knowledge of our history. And boy, does it do quite a job there.
Even though a lot of what I read was on expected lines, I was surprised quite a bit at how extreme a luddite Gandhi was. Gandhi was against industrialization, English, modern medicine, contraception (?!!!) and if my reading is correct, even women working in finance and industry. He wanted children to be taught how to work with their hands before they were taught how to read or write. The most shocking thing I read in this book, however, is Gandhi's assertion that a woman could not be raped against her will. He sites the example of Sita, explaining how a pure woman would die of her own accord if she was unable to fend off a rapist.
Gandhi's weird brand of socialism seems laughable naive to me. Who would really give up all their wealth for the sake of the poor? And why is that the only morally correct choice? And his views on population control just freaked me out. He asserted that India was not overpopulated, and that properly managed, India's landmass could support twice the population it was supporting (it was around 300 million when Gandhi made this remark). Of course, he was right, but not in the way he imagined. He further went on to remark that the only morally correct method of population control was self-control, giving us the old procreation-not-recreation line.
There are places here and there where Gandhi makes sense (for example, his views on our slavish imitation of European clothing, or his views on the separation of religion and state), but I have to say I largely disagreed with him. I suppose he may have been a man for his times, and his moral courage helped free us from colonialism, but we would be living in some weird semi-socialist hell today if we had followed his teachings to the letter.
I suppose the only worthwhile thing one gets out of this book is a useful disillusionment with the over-deified and understudied father of the nation. But maybe I am not the first to make that remark.
October 9, 2013
It is a good read if you are a huge Gandhi follower or if you can accept others point of view and respect it. There are some of his views which are not in sync with modern India's scenarios especially after the post economical liberalization era's India.
November 3, 2012
What a great man Gandhi was!
Wish we as Indians could implement 10% of his dreams
Wish we as Indians could implement 10% of his dreams
April 19, 2020
I thought this book will be on the life of Gandhi ji, its not. It is a collection of his views he stated about several topics on several occasions.
It was good to read. The book shows how deep rooted Gandhi ji known his beloved Country. I am impressed by his thoughts and ideas and I think if they would have been followed we would have been much more good economically.
Love Gandhi ji
It was good to read. The book shows how deep rooted Gandhi ji known his beloved Country. I am impressed by his thoughts and ideas and I think if they would have been followed we would have been much more good economically.
Love Gandhi ji
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews