my experiment with truth book review

My experiment with truth book by. M.K.gandhi

review

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 Year:-2015-2016

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 Humanities & Science Department
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 Pubblication Details:-
GANDHI BOOK CENTRE
Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal 299,
Tardeo Raod,
Nana Chowk Bombay - 7
INDIA 3872061
email: [email protected]
www:mkgandhi-sarvodaya.org
NAVAJIVAN PUBLISHING HOUSE AHMEDABAD-380014

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PRICE:-RS. 199/-
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.

Character:-
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was the preeminent leader of the Indian
independence movement in British-ruled India. Employing nonviolent civil
disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for civil
rights and freedom across the world. The honorific Mahatma (Sanskrit: "high-
souled", "venerable") applied to him first in 1914 in South Africa is now used
worldwide. He is also called Bapu in India.
About the book:-
An immortal book and a legacy for ages to come. This book is an autobiography
of Gandhi.

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It is a detailed account of Gandhi’s consisting of Gandhi’s self penned essays
(105 essays in all) on his experiments and covers all aspects of the Mahatma’s
spiritual life.
This Autobiography is divided in five parts starting from his childhood days, his
experience in South Africa where he experimented with the powerful weapon of
Satyagraha and his transformation from Mohan to Mahatma, his various
experiments on fundamental principles of Truth and God, till the year 1921,
after which his life was so public that he felt there was hardly anything to
write about.
Gandhi’s Non-violent struggle in South Africa and India had already brought
him to such a level of notoriety, adulation and controversy that when asked to
write an autobiography mid way through his career, he took it as an
opportunity to explain himself.
Accepting his status as a great innovator in the struggle against racism,
violence and colonialism, Gandhi felt that his ideas needed deeper
understanding. Gandhi explains that he was after truth rooted in devotion to
God and attributed the turning point, success and challenges in his life to the
will of God.
Gandhi says that his attempt to get closer to this divine power led him seek
purity through simple living, dietary practices (he called himself a fruitarian),
celibacy and ahimsa- a life without violence. It is in this sense that he calls his

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book “The Story of My Ex periments with Truth”, offering it also as a
reference for those who would follow his footsteps.
Gandhi’s Autobiography is one of the best sellers and is translated in nearly all
languages of the world. Perhaps never before on so grand scale has any man
succeeded in shaping the course of history while using the weapon of Peace –
Ahimsa (Non-violence).
To many it will have the value of a new Bible or a new Gita; for here are
words that have come out from the depth of truth, here is tireless striving
that stretches its arms towards perfection. “Autobiography” in a way is a
“confession of Gandhi’s faith, a very basic document for the study of his
thought”
What first strikes you about Gandhi's autobiography is the strange wording of the title:-
If it had been a mere political life story, the title would have read
something like 'An Autobiography: How I Liberated India from British
Rule'. But right from the beginning of the book, Gandhi is at pains to
point out that it is not simply a description of events (although it does
provide this), but the recording of his efforts to isolate 'truth' amid the
chaos of normal existence.
What makes the book doubly interesting is that it was written before he
became a famous world figure. He did not, after all, return to live in India
until 1915, when he in his mid-40s, and he was not then the white-robed
figure we think of today but a lawyer in a suit with a family. The
salutary term 'Mahatama' (great soul) had yet to stick, and he was still
able to travel around India without getting mobbed. Whereas biographical

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dictionaries devote most of their entries to Gandhi's political work in
India, three quarters of the Autobiography is devoted to his youth and
the 21 years of his adult life that he spent working for the rights of
Indians in South Africa.
Wherever he was, though, the constants in Gandhi's life were his various
experiments, the main ones being vegetarianism, celibacy, non-violence and
simple living. Each of these were expressions of larger philosophical/spiritual
concepts that he drew from Hinduism: brahmacharya; ahimsa; and
aparigraha. No understanding of Gandhi is possible without at least having
some awareness of these terms and what they meant to him.
Written originally in his native Gurjarati, the book did not appear in
English until 1957. Though rather long, it is broken up into short, clearly
titled chapters on the essential episodes in his life, and is one of the more
gripping life stories you are likely to read.
Final word:-
Gandhi never liked the title Mahatma, as he did not think of himself as a great
man. Far from being a trumpet-blowing exercise, his autobiography was designed
to objectively detail his discoveries and his failures in relation to right principles
and spiritual truth, and he never claims to have been perfect.
AHINSA & SATYAGRAH:-
The other concept to guide Gandhi's life was ahimsa. In Hindi, himsa
means the perpetual destruction and pain of normal existence; the way of
the world. We can, however, adopt an outlook of compassion - ahimsa -
which requires us to do all we can to avoid the recurrence of suffering and
aggression.

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Gandhi believed ahimsa had to be central to a quest for truth, because
any effort to achieve an aim would ultimately be self-defeating if it
involved mental or physical injury to our fellow sentient beings. To attack
another person, for instance, was like attacking our own selves, since we
were all simply representations of the Creator.
But how exactly was this concept translated into Gandhi's famous political
activism?
He discovered the principle of satyagraha - non cooperation or non-violent
struggle - which represents the way of getting things done in the world
within the understanding of ahimsa. Unlike normal conflict, in which we
get inflamed by emotion, the action of satyagraha is based on a detached
stubbornness that gains strength from the quality of its principles. Gandhi
first practiced it in his various battles for the rights of Indians living in
South Africa, and his success inspired a young African freedom-fighter by
the name of Nelson Mandela. Later, the principle was used in the civil
disobedience and non-cooperation campaigns against British rule of India,
when military might gave way to unstoppable moral force.
One chapter of book:-
CHILD MARRIAGE:Much as I wish that I had not to write this chapter,
I know that I shall have to swallow many such bitter draughts in the
course of this narrative. And I cannot do otherwise, if I claim to be a
worshipper of Truth. It is my painful duty to have to record h ere my
marriage at the age of thirteen. As I see the youngsters of the same age
about me who are under my care, and think of my own marriage, I am
inclined to pity myself and to congratulate them on having escaped my
lot. I can see no moral argument in support of such a preposterously early
marriage.

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Let the reader make no mistake. I was married, not betrothed. For in
Kathiawad there are two distinct rites, betrothal and marriage. Betrothal
is a preliminary promise on the part of the parents of the boy and the
girl to join them in marriage, and it is not inviolable. The death of the
boy entails no widowhood on the girl. It is an agreement purely between
the parents, and the children have no concern with it. Often they are not
even informed of it. It appears that I was betrothed thrice, though
without my knowledge. I was told that two girls chosen for me had died
in turn, and therefore I infer that I was betrothed three times. I have a
faint recollection, however, that the third betrothal took place in my
seventh year. But I do not recollect having been informed about it. In the
present chapter I am talking about my marriage, of which I have the
clearest recollection.
It will be remembered that we were three brothers. The first was already
married. The elders decided to marry my second brother, who was two or
three years my senior,a cousin, possibly a
year older, and me, all at the same time. In doing so there was no
thought of our welfare, much less our wishes. It was purely a question of
their own convenience and economy.
Marriage among Hindus is no simple matter. The parents of the bride and
the bridegroom often bring themselves to ruin over it. They waste their
substance, they waste their time. Months are taken up over the
preparations in making clothes and ornaments and in preparing budgets for
dinners. Each tries to outdo the other in the number and variety of
courses to be prepared. Women, whether they have a voice or no, sing
themselves hoarse, even get ill, and disturb the peace of their neighbours.
these in their turn quietly put up with all the turmoil and bustle all the
dirt and filth, representing the remains of the feasts, because they know

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that a time will come when they also will be behaving in the same
manner.
It would be better, thought my elders, to have all this bother over at
one and the same time. Less expense and greater eclat. For money could
be freely spent if it had only to be spent once instead of thrice. My
father and my uncle were both old, and we were the last children they
had to marry. it is likely that they wanted to have the last best time of
their lives. In view of all these considerations, a triple wedding was decided
upon, and as I have said before, months were taken up in preparation for
it.
It was only through these preparations that we got warning of the coming
event. I do not think it meant to me anything more than the prospect of
good clothes to wear, drum beating, marriage processions, rich dinners and
a strange girl to play with. The carnal desire came later. I propose to
draw the curtain over my shame, except for a few details worth
recording. To these I shall come later. But even they have little to do
with the central idea I have kept before me in writing this story.
So my brother and I were both taken to Porb andar from Rajkot. There
are some amusing details of the preliminaries to the final drama e.g.
smearing our bodies all over with turmeric paste but I must omit them.
My father was a Diwan, but nevertheless a servant, and all the more so
because he was in favour with the Thakore Saheb. The latter would not
let him go until the last moment. And when he did so, he ordered for my
father special stage coaches, reducing the journey by two days. But the
fates had willed otherwise. Porbandar is 120 miles from Rajkot, a cart
journey of five days. My father did the distance in three, but the coach
toppled over in the third stage, and he sustained severe injuries. He
arrived bandaged all over. Both his and our interest in the coming event
was half destroyed, but the ceremony had to be gone through. For how

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could the marriage dates be changed? However, I forgot my grief over my
father's injuries in the childish amusement of the wedding.
I was devoted to my parents. but no less was I devoted to the passions
that flesh is heir to. I had yet to learn that all happiness and pleasure
should be sacrificed in devoted service to my parents. And yet, as though
by way of punishment for my desire for pleasures, an incident happened,
which has ever since rankled in my mind and wh ich I will relate later.
Nishkulanand sings: 'Renunciation of objects, without the renunciation of
desires, is short-lived, however hard you may try.' Whenever I sing this
song or hear it sung, this bitter untoward incident, rushes to my memory
and fills me with shame.
My father put on a brave face in spite of his injuries, and took full part
in the wedding. As I think of it, I can even today call before my mind's
eye the places where he sat as he went through the different details of
the ceremony. Little did I dream then that one day I should severely
criticize my father for having married me as a child. Everything on that
day seemed to me own right and proper and pleasing. There was also my
own eagerness to get married. And as everything that my father did then
struck me as beyond reproach, the recollection of those things is fresh in
my
memory. I can picture to myself, even today, how we sat on our wedding
dais, how we performed the Saptapadi how we, the newly wedded husband
and wife, put the sweet Kansar into each other's mouth, and how we
began to live together. And oh! that first night.Two innocent children all
unwittingly hurled themselves into the ocean of life. My brother's wife
had thoroughly coached me about my behaviour on the first night. I do
not know who had coached my wife. I have never asked her about it, nor
am I inclined to do so now. The reader may be sure that we were too
nervous to face each other. We were certainly too shy. How was I to talk

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to her, and what was I to say? The coaching could not carry me far. But
no coaching is really necessary in such matters. The impressions of the
former birth are potent enough to make all coaching superfluous. We
gradually began to know each other, and to speak freely together. We
were the same age. but I took no time in assuming the authority of a
husband.
REVIEW :-
In his book, Mr. Gandhi has described his life as a series of experiments,
he performed, on truth, non -violence, brahmacharya , dietetics,
hydropathy, naturopathy etc.

He completed his law from England, and after that spent most of his life
in South Africa. Its there he did lots of experiments with his life. And,
these were which made the changes in him. It’s worth studying the
adversaries he faced in there, but he never compromised with his ideologies
and believes.

I gave such an odd subject to my review, because it was Mahatma Gandhi's
''arrogance'' which influenced me the most. It’s easy to make ideologies and
beliefs for one self, but it’s very difficult to follow them to the extreme,
and this is what makes difference between a common man and a Legend.
As you'll read this book, there'll be several places where your 'common'
mind won't agree with his thinking. The difference is that you're
susceptible to change your thinking with time, situation, or reasoning. But
Mr. Gandhi didn't, this is what made all the difference.

When he believed that non-vegetarian (including milk and its products) is
not for humans, then he followed his ideology to his death bed, while all
the doctors around him kept on shouting.

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I call this arrogance. One may see it as a very haughty attitude, but
there's a glimpse of 'positive arrogance' in it. He lived, and subsequently
died, believing in his ideologies. Every legend (be it Hitler, Mao Ts Tung,
Winston Churchill, Benjamin Franklin etc.) had some arrogance in him/her
(whether good or bad, positive or negative), and that's why history (and
we) remembers him/her.

I would suggest everyone to read this book, as it’s a live example of how
modesty, wisdom, and humiliation adapt themselves in making of a
MAHATMA.

Gandhiji (the respectful way to refer to him) is a very strange figure in
Indian history. He is both more Indian and less Indian than anyone you will
ever meet or read about. Indians love to celebrate him and love to
distance themselves from him. His name lives on in a legacy of political
leaders that he would likely not endorse.
Gandhiji’s influence on India is a topic for another post. This book is his
autobiography and his views of what was going on around him during the
beginnings of the movement for a free and independent India. It is a
classic, however don’t expect it to prepare you for Indian culture like
other books might.
Aside from being challenged by his faith and life, the biggest takeaway I
got from this book was how common of an Indian Gandhiji was. He talks in
detail about his family. He obsesses over food and vegetarianism. He is
consumed both with very noble thoughts and very common, ordinary
thoughts. After reading this, Gandhiji comes across as the true “common
man” to emulate.

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The book covers his life up until 1921, about the time his international
fame was starting to spread. Despite not covering the later part of his
life, you get a great perspective into his character, values, and travels,
which stay consistent throughout his life.
I was really benefited by the book and I believe its really helpful for
others too. Talking about the merits it goes so long like getting many
benefits and helpful tips for living life with the help of truth and non-
violence.
Well talking about demerits of the book I didn’t found any of it but
frankly saying its fonts are small to read. Orelse it’s a very good book and
I request all others too to read it.
1) Understanding oneself:
To learn a potentially valuable insight into a life and thought process of a
one in millions man. and motivations and struggles in the minds of human
beings.
2) Gandhi vs. Other Activists :
There are other people with similar thinking but they are rarely
known outside friend/local circles. The impact they have is also
normally considerably less. So what made Gandhi the kind of man he was
(as opposed to the Saint-like general perception of him in
school textbooks).

3) Gandhi-the-seeker vs. Gandhi-the-Saint/Mahatma :
He didn't spring forth fully-formed assured of victory or any such
guarantee of "success". That is more of a politically convenient myth
propagated by Congis.

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4) How to respond (and how not to) real life situations :
He was responding and NOT reacting to the situation around him. HOW
did he choose his responses and more importantly WHY did he NOT choose
other responses. What option would you or I have chosen? Things to think
about.
OPINIONS:-
Gandhi's autobiography, which he had titled 'My experiments with Truth'
can be rated as one of the most popular and the most influential books in
the recent history. It was written at the instance of Swami Anand. It
appeared in the Weekly 'Navjivan' during 1925-28. It covers Gandhi's life
up to 1920. He did not cover the period after that as it was well known
to the people and most of the concerned persons were alive. Besides he
felt that his experiments in that period were yet to yield definite
conclusions.Gandhi's autobiography is very different from oth er
autobiographies. The autobiographies normally contain self-praise by the
authors. They want to criticize their opponents and boost their own
image in the people's eyes. Gandhi's autobiography is completely free from
all this. It is marked with humility and truthfulness. He had not hidden
anything. In fact, he is rather too harsh on himself. He did not want to
show to the world how good he was. He only wanted to tell the people
the story of his experiments with Truth, for Gandhi, was the supreme
principle, which includes many other principles. Realization of the Truth is
the purpose of human life. Gandhi always strove to realize the Truth. He
continuously tried to remove impurities in himself. He always tried to
stick to the Truth as he knew and to apply the knowledge of the Truth
to everyday life. He tried to apply the spiritual principles to the practical
situations. He did it in the scientific spirit. Sticking to the truth means

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Satyagraha. Gandhi therefore called his experiments as 'Experiments with
Truth' or 'Experiments in the science of Satyagraha.' Gandhi also requested
the readers to treat those experiments as illustrative and to carry out
their own experiments in that light
Recommendation:-
It’s recommended to read it once in your life and to swallow the morals
of the chapters and always to walk on the path of truth and non -
violence.