Gandhi Before India - Hardcover
In 1893, when Mohandas Gandhi set sail for South Africa, he was a 23-year-old briefless lawyer who had failed to establish himself in India. The two decades that he spent in South Africa were to be the making of the Mahatma. In this remarkable biography, Ramachandra Guha argues that Gandhis ideas were fundamentally shaped before his return to India in 1915. It was during his years in England and South Africa that he came to understand the nature of imperialism and racism; and it was in South Africa that he forged the philosophy and techniques that would undermine and ultimately destroy the British Empire. Based on a wealth of new material, and archival research in four continents, Gandhi Before India presents a vivid portrait of Gandhi and the world he lived in, a world of sharp contrasts between the coastal culture of Gujarat, High Victorian London, and colonial South Africa. It explores in rich detail his experiments with dissident cults such as Tolstoyans and vegetarians; his friendships with radical Jews, heterodox Christians, and devout Muslims; his enmities and rivalries; and his failures as a husband and father. It tells the dramatic, profoundly moving story of how he inspired the devotion of thousands of followers as he mobilized a crossclass and inter-religious coalition, pledged to non-violence in their battle against a brutally racist regime. This deeply researched and beautifully written book will radically alter our understanding and appreciation of Indias greatest man.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review:
"Remarkable. . . . [A] moving portrait." --"The New York Times Book Review"
"Guha is a brilliant historian who combines the gift of a storyteller, the discipline of an academic and the critical ability of seeing Gandhi as a fascinating human being, by not placing him on a pedestal. . . . [He] has re-created the past by connecting scattered dots . . . to weave a rich tapestry." --"San Francisco Chronicle"
"Striking. . . . Guha ably shows, for all that Gandhi influenced events in South Africa, it was he who experienced the greater change." --"The Economist
"
"Deeply contextualized, dexterously researched, and judiciously written, this deserves to become the landmark biography of the early Gandhi." --Maya Jasanoff, "New Republic"
"Fascinating. . . . A biography with a remarkable ear for the resonances of Gandhi's work and time--for the fan-mail and hate-mail; for overheard disagreements with family and colleagues; for his exchanges with political acquaintances, including his enemies. . . . As exhaustively researched a biography of the African Gandhi as we will have for some time." --"The Independent "(London)
"[A] magisterial study. . . . Guha summarizes the traits of Gandhi's character and the stages during the first half of his life that prepared him for the much more difficult journey he would undertake once he returned to India. . . . I was rewarded beyond all of my expectations [by "Gandhi Before India"]." --Charles R. Larson, "Counterpunch
"
"Substantial enough to be comprehensive, yet concise enough to be approachable by the general reader. . . . Sharp, insightful, balanced and impeccably researched." --Alex von Tunzelmann, "The Times" (London)
"A work of vivid social history as well as biography. . . . One of the surprises in "Gandhi Before India" is just how much fresh material it contains. Guha has a gift for tracking down obscure letters and newspaper reports and patching them together to make history come alive." --Patrick French, "The Guardian" (London)
"Fascinating. . . . ["Gandhi Before India"] reveals how an impossibly shy young man, who donned top hat and tails as a student at Inner Temple, transformed himself into Churchill's 'half-naked fakir, ' dedicated to his spinning wheel while simultaneously challenging the might of the Empire." --"The Sunday Times "(London)
"The portrait offered in historian Ramachandra Guha's biography is of Gandhi as a human being, not just a hero." --"Financial Times
"
""Gandhi Before India" should be required reading for the student of contemporary affairs. . . . Guha's carefully rendered observations about class, religion, and ethnicity--how they divide people and how they can be bridged by common concerns and simple decency--are the heart of this book. . . . Remarkable." --"The""Christian Science Monitor
"
"A magisterial history. . . . In Ramachandra Guha, a great man has found a great biographer, a wise, persistent and elegant historian who has done justice to perhaps his nation's greatest story. . . . One senses, in the author's approach, something of Gandhi's own intensity and rigour. . . . [The] book never ceases to inform and intrigue." --"Sydney Morning Herald
"
"What sets ["Gandhi Before India"] apart from other recent biographies . . . is Guha's resolutely non-scurrilous perspective. . . . What emerges in the end, with the slow magic of a film being developed in an old fashioned dark room, is a sharp picture of the intellectual growth of a remarkable man." --"The Hindustan Times" (India)
"Many will come to this biography wanting to know more about Gandhi himself. . . . Guha relates all this wonderfully. His book is clearly a labour of love, though not of uncritical infatuation. What distinguishes it is the breadth of the context--Indian, British and South African. Guha marshals his material sensitively and empathetically in order to give shape, colour and depth to the life of this saint-like figure." --Bernard Porter, "The Literary Review
"
"Excellent and exhaustive. . . . Guha has done heroic work in reconstructing this period of Gandhi's life ... Gandhi emerges here as a fascinatingly complicated and contradictory figure . . . rich and absorbing, it will doubtless serve as the fundamental portrait of Gandhi for many years to come." --"The Sunday Business Post "(Ireland)
"Guha is India's best-known historian, who marshals his wide scholarship in contemporary and modern history with a raconteur's lucid felicity." --"DNA Mumbai"
Remarkable. . . . [A] moving portrait. The New York Times Book Review
Guha is a brilliant historian who combines the gift of a storyteller, the discipline of an academic and the critical ability of seeing Gandhi as a fascinating human being, by not placing him on a pedestal. . . . [He] has re-created the past by connecting scattered dots . . . to weave a rich tapestry. San Francisco Chronicle
Striking. . . . Guha ably shows, for all that Gandhi influenced events in South Africa, it was he who experienced the greater change. The Economist
Deeply contextualized, dexterously researched, and judiciously written, this deserves to become the landmark biography of the early Gandhi. Maya Jasanoff, New Republic
Fascinating. . . . A biography with a remarkable ear for the resonances of Gandhi s work and time for the fan-mail and hate-mail; for overheard disagreements with family and colleagues; for his exchanges with political acquaintances, including his enemies. . . . As exhaustively researched a biography of the African Gandhi as we will have for some time. The Independent (London)
[A] magisterial study. . . . Guha summarizes the traits of Gandhi s character and the stages during the first half of his life that prepared him for the much more difficult journey he would undertake once he returned to India. . . . I was rewarded beyond all of my expectations [by Gandhi Before India]. Charles R. Larson, Counterpunch
Substantial enough to be comprehensive, yet concise enough to be approachable by the general reader. . . . Sharp, insightful, balanced and impeccably researched. Alex von Tunzelmann, The Times (London)
A work of vivid social history as well as biography. . . . One of the surprises in Gandhi Before India is just how much fresh material it contains. Guha has a gift for tracking down obscure letters and newspaper reports and patching them together to make history come alive. Patrick French, The Guardian (London)
Fascinating. . . . [Gandhi Before India] reveals how an impossibly shy young man, who donned top hat and tails as a student at Inner Temple, transformed himself into Churchill s half-naked fakir, dedicated to his spinning wheel while simultaneously challenging the might of the Empire. The Sunday Times (London)
The portrait offered in historian Ramachandra Guha s biography is of Gandhi as a human being, not just a hero. Financial Times
Gandhi Before India should be required reading for the student of contemporary affairs. . . . Guha s carefully rendered observations about class, religion, and ethnicity how they divide people and how they can be bridged by common concerns and simple decency are the heart of this book. . . . Remarkable. The Christian Science Monitor
A magisterial history. . . . In Ramachandra Guha, a great man has found a great biographer, a wise, persistent and elegant historian who has done justice to perhaps his nation s greatest story. . . . One senses, in the author s approach, something of Gandhi s own intensity and rigour. . . . [The] book never ceases to inform and intrigue. Sydney Morning Herald
What sets [Gandhi Before India] apart from other recent biographies . . . is Guha s resolutely non-scurrilous perspective. . . . What emerges in the end, with the slow magic of a film being developed in an old fashioned dark room, is a sharp picture of the intellectual growth of a remarkable man. The Hindustan Times (India)
Many will come to this biography wanting to know more about Gandhi himself. . . . Guha relates all this wonderfully. His book is clearly a labour of love, though not of uncritical infatuation. What distinguishes it is the breadth of the context Indian, British and South African. Guha marshals his material sensitively and empathetically in order to give shape, colour and depth to the life of this saint-like figure. Bernard Porter, The Literary Review
Excellent and exhaustive. . . . Guha has done heroic work in reconstructing this period of Gandhi s life ... Gandhi emerges here as a fascinatingly complicated and contradictory figure . . . rich and absorbing, it will doubtless serve as the fundamental portrait of Gandhi for many years to come. The Sunday Business Post (Ireland)
Guha is India s best-known historian, who marshals his wide scholarship in contemporary and modern history with a raconteur s lucid felicity. DNA Mumbai"
About the Author:
"Guha is a brilliant historian who combines the gift of a storyteller, the discipline of an academic and the critical ability of seeing Gandhi as a fascinating human being, by not placing him on a pedestal. . . . [He] has re-created the past by connecting scattered dots . . . to weave a rich tapestry." --"San Francisco Chronicle"
"Striking. . . . Guha ably shows, for all that Gandhi influenced events in South Africa, it was he who experienced the greater change." --"The Economist
"
"Deeply contextualized, dexterously researched, and judiciously written, this deserves to become the landmark biography of the early Gandhi." --Maya Jasanoff, "New Republic"
"Fascinating. . . . A biography with a remarkable ear for the resonances of Gandhi's work and time--for the fan-mail and hate-mail; for overheard disagreements with family and colleagues; for his exchanges with political acquaintances, including his enemies. . . . As exhaustively researched a biography of the African Gandhi as we will have for some time." --"The Independent "(London)
"[A] magisterial study. . . . Guha summarizes the traits of Gandhi's character and the stages during the first half of his life that prepared him for the much more difficult journey he would undertake once he returned to India. . . . I was rewarded beyond all of my expectations [by "Gandhi Before India"]." --Charles R. Larson, "Counterpunch
"
"Substantial enough to be comprehensive, yet concise enough to be approachable by the general reader. . . . Sharp, insightful, balanced and impeccably researched." --Alex von Tunzelmann, "The Times" (London)
"A work of vivid social history as well as biography. . . . One of the surprises in "Gandhi Before India" is just how much fresh material it contains. Guha has a gift for tracking down obscure letters and newspaper reports and patching them together to make history come alive." --Patrick French, "The Guardian" (London)
"Fascinating. . . . ["Gandhi Before India"] reveals how an impossibly shy young man, who donned top hat and tails as a student at Inner Temple, transformed himself into Churchill's 'half-naked fakir, ' dedicated to his spinning wheel while simultaneously challenging the might of the Empire." --"The Sunday Times "(London)
"The portrait offered in historian Ramachandra Guha's biography is of Gandhi as a human being, not just a hero." --"Financial Times
"
""Gandhi Before India" should be required reading for the student of contemporary affairs. . . . Guha's carefully rendered observations about class, religion, and ethnicity--how they divide people and how they can be bridged by common concerns and simple decency--are the heart of this book. . . . Remarkable." --"The""Christian Science Monitor
"
"A magisterial history. . . . In Ramachandra Guha, a great man has found a great biographer, a wise, persistent and elegant historian who has done justice to perhaps his nation's greatest story. . . . One senses, in the author's approach, something of Gandhi's own intensity and rigour. . . . [The] book never ceases to inform and intrigue." --"Sydney Morning Herald
"
"What sets ["Gandhi Before India"] apart from other recent biographies . . . is Guha's resolutely non-scurrilous perspective. . . . What emerges in the end, with the slow magic of a film being developed in an old fashioned dark room, is a sharp picture of the intellectual growth of a remarkable man." --"The Hindustan Times" (India)
"Many will come to this biography wanting to know more about Gandhi himself. . . . Guha relates all this wonderfully. His book is clearly a labour of love, though not of uncritical infatuation. What distinguishes it is the breadth of the context--Indian, British and South African. Guha marshals his material sensitively and empathetically in order to give shape, colour and depth to the life of this saint-like figure." --Bernard Porter, "The Literary Review
"
"Excellent and exhaustive. . . . Guha has done heroic work in reconstructing this period of Gandhi's life ... Gandhi emerges here as a fascinatingly complicated and contradictory figure . . . rich and absorbing, it will doubtless serve as the fundamental portrait of Gandhi for many years to come." --"The Sunday Business Post "(Ireland)
"Guha is India's best-known historian, who marshals his wide scholarship in contemporary and modern history with a raconteur's lucid felicity." --"DNA Mumbai"
Remarkable. . . . [A] moving portrait. The New York Times Book Review
Guha is a brilliant historian who combines the gift of a storyteller, the discipline of an academic and the critical ability of seeing Gandhi as a fascinating human being, by not placing him on a pedestal. . . . [He] has re-created the past by connecting scattered dots . . . to weave a rich tapestry. San Francisco Chronicle
Striking. . . . Guha ably shows, for all that Gandhi influenced events in South Africa, it was he who experienced the greater change. The Economist
Deeply contextualized, dexterously researched, and judiciously written, this deserves to become the landmark biography of the early Gandhi. Maya Jasanoff, New Republic
Fascinating. . . . A biography with a remarkable ear for the resonances of Gandhi s work and time for the fan-mail and hate-mail; for overheard disagreements with family and colleagues; for his exchanges with political acquaintances, including his enemies. . . . As exhaustively researched a biography of the African Gandhi as we will have for some time. The Independent (London)
[A] magisterial study. . . . Guha summarizes the traits of Gandhi s character and the stages during the first half of his life that prepared him for the much more difficult journey he would undertake once he returned to India. . . . I was rewarded beyond all of my expectations [by Gandhi Before India]. Charles R. Larson, Counterpunch
Substantial enough to be comprehensive, yet concise enough to be approachable by the general reader. . . . Sharp, insightful, balanced and impeccably researched. Alex von Tunzelmann, The Times (London)
A work of vivid social history as well as biography. . . . One of the surprises in Gandhi Before India is just how much fresh material it contains. Guha has a gift for tracking down obscure letters and newspaper reports and patching them together to make history come alive. Patrick French, The Guardian (London)
Fascinating. . . . [Gandhi Before India] reveals how an impossibly shy young man, who donned top hat and tails as a student at Inner Temple, transformed himself into Churchill s half-naked fakir, dedicated to his spinning wheel while simultaneously challenging the might of the Empire. The Sunday Times (London)
The portrait offered in historian Ramachandra Guha s biography is of Gandhi as a human being, not just a hero. Financial Times
Gandhi Before India should be required reading for the student of contemporary affairs. . . . Guha s carefully rendered observations about class, religion, and ethnicity how they divide people and how they can be bridged by common concerns and simple decency are the heart of this book. . . . Remarkable. The Christian Science Monitor
A magisterial history. . . . In Ramachandra Guha, a great man has found a great biographer, a wise, persistent and elegant historian who has done justice to perhaps his nation s greatest story. . . . One senses, in the author s approach, something of Gandhi s own intensity and rigour. . . . [The] book never ceases to inform and intrigue. Sydney Morning Herald
What sets [Gandhi Before India] apart from other recent biographies . . . is Guha s resolutely non-scurrilous perspective. . . . What emerges in the end, with the slow magic of a film being developed in an old fashioned dark room, is a sharp picture of the intellectual growth of a remarkable man. The Hindustan Times (India)
Many will come to this biography wanting to know more about Gandhi himself. . . . Guha relates all this wonderfully. His book is clearly a labour of love, though not of uncritical infatuation. What distinguishes it is the breadth of the context Indian, British and South African. Guha marshals his material sensitively and empathetically in order to give shape, colour and depth to the life of this saint-like figure. Bernard Porter, The Literary Review
Excellent and exhaustive. . . . Guha has done heroic work in reconstructing this period of Gandhi s life ... Gandhi emerges here as a fascinatingly complicated and contradictory figure . . . rich and absorbing, it will doubtless serve as the fundamental portrait of Gandhi for many years to come. The Sunday Business Post (Ireland)
Guha is India s best-known historian, who marshals his wide scholarship in contemporary and modern history with a raconteur s lucid felicity. DNA Mumbai"
Ramachandra Guha has taught at Yale and Stanford universities, the University of Oslo, the Indian Institute of Science and the London School of Economics. His books include a pioneering environmental history, an award-winning social history of cricket and the award-winning India After Gandhi. He writes regularly on social and political issues for the British and Indian press, including columns inThe Telegraph and the Hindustan Times, and his work has also appeared inThe New York Times. He lives in Bangalore.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherViking ,India
- Publication date2012
- ISBN 10 0670083879
- ISBN 13 9780670083879
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages442
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