Just put down a copy of the now-so-forgotten book written by a man so deeply mired in controversy,and yet regarded as a beacon of India's freedom struggle.Having understood thus, this book was long overdue to be read... Finally got a chance to do so while I was down with a flu.Anyway, here goes..
The book strikes you in its first few pages itself as promising something different from the conventional hype surrounding the man,the legend.And it does not fail to deliver.The brutally honest revelations in the first few chapters not only amplified my respect for Bapu, but also gave me an objective look at his life. His basic philosophy of a simple living and high thinking are so well illustrated in every episode of his life,its as if he knew what path he was to take.
But the most important learning them all was the admission of his fallacies, the dilemma in his ever so changing life and the choices he made to deal with these temptations.It also shows that every man becomes great only when he has understood clearly what rock-bottom means.Gandhiji did commit many "mistakes", but the important thing was He never repeated them.In that, He learnt from his mistakes.
And though He has repeatedly reminded the reader that his book is not a code of conduct for the youth of today, somehow his simple illustrations do find their way to the reader's conscience.His opinions on education,racism,religion,marriage, even carnal pleasures makes me ask a lot of questions not only to myself but also of the society I live in.
All said and done,here is a book on the man,everybody loved but few knew.....His personal memoirs have shown that it is possible for a common man,a village bumpkin to rise above mediocrity and carve his/her name in the history of mankind.And I thank my scepticism and the myths people around me generated about him that culminated in me finishing this book.There is a new believer in town,Sir and Bless you for having had the patience and wisdom of sharing your personal life with us.
Peace
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