Publisher's Synopsis
This volume is intended to complement Gandhi s Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth. Picking up the story after the events in the Autobiography, it begins with the Salt March in 1930, Gandhi s most well-known and successful nonviolent civil disobedience campaign, and ends with his last writings before his assassination in 1948. Using Gandhi s writings, as well as writings of associates, personal friends, and opponents, the book highlights major themes in Gandhi s life s work, including economic reform, nonviolent noncooperation, satyagraha, swaraj, Hindu-Muslim unity, eradication of oppressive treatment of untouchables, and the experience of God and faith. The selections illuminate who Gandhi was and what he accomplished. Reviews: I like this anthology for at least three reasons: one, its selections; two, the editors notes that provide context and explanation; and, three, the editors ability to present both the political and the ethical Gandhi. -- Rajmohan Gandhi, Research Professor, Center for South Asian & Middle Eastern Studies Sterling P. Olmsted, Ruth Olmsted and Mike Heller filled a gap in Mohandas Gandhi's life that gives details of social change at a crucial time in Indian History. They illustrate how Gandhi experimented with truth until the end of his life. It is the principle that Gandhi lived by, doing what could be done to create a better society for the Indian community he lived in. But his message is global. The editors have brought his teaching and spirit to us and our struggles again today. They offer valuable insight for those who are interested in nonviolence. -- Mubarak Awad, President/Director of Nonviolence International From back cover: This collection is a gift to the millions of us who revere but find it difficult to understand Mahatma Gandhi. Along with the nearly simultaneous reissue of Eknath Easwaran s Gandhi the Man, it re-presents to a world sinking in violence the compelling words of one who conquered all violence in himself and set about systematically sharing his great discovery with all. . . . With its superbly selected quotes served up in full explanatory material, including explanations of terms unfamiliar to the Western reader, this book imparts a vivid sense of the indefatigable passion that marked the mature years of Gandhi s career. -- Michael Nagler, President of the Metta Center for Nonviolence Education This volume of carefully selected and deftly edited writings . . . successfully catches glimpses of Gandhi s journey from truth to truth during the last eighteen momentous years of his life, and unfolds his views on important political, economic, social and moral issues. The collection once again attests the power of Gandhi s words and deeds. The book will certainly facilitate readers to understand Gandhi better and will urge them to interpret and reinterpret Gandhi in changing times. -- Usha Thakkar, Honorary Director, Institute of Research on Gandhian Thought & Rural Development, and, Honorary Secretary, Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya, Mumbai Mahatma Gandhi breathed life into what we in the West call nonviolence and what he called satyagraha. With Mohandas K. Gandhi: The Last Eighteen Years, A Nonviolence and Social Change Source Book, Sterling Olmsted, Professor Emeritus of Wilmington College (OH), Ruth Olmsted of Excelsior College, and Mike Heller of Roanoke College bring the last 18 years of Mahatma Gandhi s life into the view of 21st century readers. Their selection of Gandhi s writing and their study guide help us understand better Gandhi s life and servant-leadership and pose questions whether and how Gandhi s experiments with truth remain relevant to the challenges that we face in today s world. -- Joe Volk, Executive Secretary, Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)
