Free Downloads Gandhi: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

                
              
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Gandhi: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948) was one of the few men in history to fight simultaneously on moral, religious, political, social, economic, and cultural fronts. During his time as a lawyer in South Africa he developed his strategy of non-violence: the idea of opposing unjust laws by non-violent protest. He led the Indian National Congress party in three major campaigns against British rule, each culminating in his arrest.In Gandhi, a short introduction to Gandhi's life and thought, Bhikhu Parekh outlines both Gandhi's major philosophical insights and the limitations of his thought. Written with extensive access to Gandhi's writings in Indian languages to which most commentators have little or no access, Parekh looks at Gandhi's cosmocentric anthropology, his spiritual view of politics, and his theories of oppression, non-violent action, and active citizenship. He also considers how the success of Gandhi's principles were limited by his lack of coherent theories of evil, and of state and power. Gandhi's view of man as ascetic allows no room for expressions of the cultural, artistic, or intellectual. Furthermore, he was so hostile to modern civilization that he was unable to appreciate its complex dialectic or offer a meaningful narrative.Nevertheless, Gandhi's life and thought had an enormous impact on the Indian nation, and he continues to be widely revered--known before and after his assassination as Mahatma, the Great Soul.
Series: Very Short Introductions (Book 37)
Paperback: 152 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press; 1 edition (June 7, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0192854577
ISBN-13: 978-0192854575
Product Dimensions:  6.7 x 0.4 x 4.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review:  4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #766,597 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)   #69 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Hinduism > Gandhi   #146 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical > Asia > India & South Asia   #768 in Books > History > Asia > India
For those seeking a very brief introduction to Gandhi's life and thought, this ought to do the trick. At one point in my life I read intensely if briefly about Gandhi, reading a couple of dozen books by and on him. This book would not break into the books that I would most recommend, but it would be one that I would recommend as a possible first book. Parekh has a deep understanding of the context of Gandhi's thought, which was not purely Indian despite being largely grounded in Hinduism, with major outside influences.The book is stronger on Gandhi's thought than his life. The biographical details are, in fact, quite minimal, but many books emphasize Gandhi the person so much more than Gandhi the thinker, this is a welcome correction. Although anyone wanting to know about Gandhi should immediately go on from this to read a good biography on Gandhi (the classic biography by Louis Fischer remains a great first read about Gandhi, though the best English language biography is that by Judith Brown), as well as Gandhi's own so-called autobiography, this gives one a glimpse into what made Gandhi click.Anyone wanting to know about Gandhi should plan minimally on reading as well an anthology of Gandhi's own writings in addition to the autobiography (the three-volume edition edited by Iyer is the best), as well as the aforementioned books by Fischer and Brown. I also strongly recommend the book on Gandhi by Ved Mehta, which is deeply insightful and refutes many Western misunderstandings of his thought. Gandhi is one of the most inspirational figures of the past century. The impact on my own life has been considerable. It was because of him that I became a vegetarian and through his reverence for life I became deeply interested in showing respect for all humans and nonhumans. Definitely read this book, but plan on reading much more. Gandhi is not one of the great systematic thinkers of our age, but he is one of the most moral and visionary. He also combined idealism and pragmatism more successfully than any other figure I can name.
This book is commendable, in part because it refuses to view Gandhi through the gauze-covered lenses of romanticism and cheap sentiment. Parekh is short and direct, but instead of concentrating on the Mahatma's biography and political career it highlights Gandhi's place as a thinker -- as a political theorist, social critic, philosopher of religion, and cultural visionary. Parekh does not indulge in hagiography: his exposition is fair and broadly sympathetic, yet never blind to criticisms that might be plausibly leveled at Gandhi as an intellectual figure. The result is often disarming, in two distinct ways. First, Gandhi does not always come across as an infallible oracle of sacred insight. And second, when his arguments and analyses seem most convincing, they are often anything but congenial to the received socio-political wisdom of advanced modernity.Gandhi's limitations are displayed most clearly in Parekh's account of his religious thinking. The religious environment of Gandhi's childhood was, as Parekh puts it, "eclectic:" his mother was associated with the syncretistic Pranami sect of Hinduism, which venerated the Koran as a holy book along with Vedantic scripture, and his father, a chief administrator of the court of Porbandar, freely associated with Jains and Christians. This cosmopolitan religious background inclined Gandhi toward a position that contemporary theologians have dubbed "religious pluralism" â the conviction that all religions are valid paths toward transcendence and the holy, differing only in the vocabulary in which the sacred order is described and the perspective from which it is appropriated. Thus, as Parekh describes it, "For Gandhi, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and other religions were all based upon specific conceptions of a personal God. They involved distinct forms of prayer, worship, rituals, and beliefs about his nature and relation to the world, and were all "sectarian." The "pure" or "true" religion lay beyond them, and had nothing to do with organization, belief, and rituals. It consisted in nothing more and nothing less than the belief that the universe was pervaded and governed by the cosmic power, and the decision to organize one's entire life accordingly. It involved living in the constant, intimate, and unmediated presence of the cosmic spirit, and represented the purest form of spirituality." (p. 32)
This was one of the best Very Short Introductions I've read. The author did an excellent job distilling Gandhis life and philosophy to around 140 pages. I discovered that I need to read more books about or by Gandhi. I agree with approximately 75% of his political and "spiritual" views. His views on human dignity, non-violence, non-compulsion, and the importance of agency all strike a chord with me.
The first half or so of the book is dedicated to a chronological biography. The second half has sections dedicated to the different facets of Gandhi's contributions.Not only was Gandhi a remarkable man, but I think Parekh does his memory justice with an equally thoughtful and evenhanded treatment of his legacy.Well done!
This book provides a great overview of Ghandi's ideals and logic. It also balances world views and conflicts and Ghandi's presumed purpose.
It's a very short introduction to Gandhi. Not knowing much about the man I think this book did a good job of teaching the basics.
Bought the book for college, but ended up being interested nonetheless.
everyone should read this
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