Gandhi's Passion

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More than fifty years after his death, Mahatma Gandhi remains an inspiration worldwide, yet modern India appears to have strayed from his nonviolent ideals, particularly with its nuclear ambitions. In response to contemporary developments, Stanley Wolpert presents a nuanced biography of India's "Great Soul." He chronicles Gandhi's journey from a privileged childhood to his rise as a leader and his assassination by a fellow believer. Gandhi's path, akin to that of Christ, was shaped by his deliberate embrace of suffering as a means to attain divine truth. His early campaigns against discrimination in South Africa and his pivotal role in India's struggle against British rule reveal a man grappling with inner conflicts, overshadowed by his political acumen and moral clarity. Drawing from diverse influences in Hinduism, Jainism, Christianity, and Buddhism, Gandhi emphasized love for adversaries as a transformative force in conflict. His steadfast opposition to intolerance and oppression inspired India profoundly, leaving a legacy that motivated figures like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela to advocate for change through peaceful civil disobedience. By portraying Gandhi as a complex human rather than a deified figure, Wolpert offers a fresh perspective on the personality and motivations that fueled his quest for India's freedom.