Book Summary: Gandhi, A Spiritual Biography by Arvind Sharma

There are more than 400 biographies written on Gandhi. But this one focuses on the spiritual aspect of Gandhi’s life, the making of a saint.

At a very young age, the play of “Shravanakumara” had made a long-lasting impression on Gandhi, so was another play of ‘Satya Harishcandra’. Pursuit for truth had begun very early for him. As an adolescent, he had read ‘Ramayana’ to make Rama’s resolve to keep the promises made his as well. When he had travelled to England for studies to become a barrister, he could keep the promises made to his mother, to stay away from meat, wine and women. His first mentor Ray Chand and whose practices of Jain religion too had a subtle impact on Gandhi. Jains used fasting to purify themselves, also to protest which became a Gandhi’s way as well later in his life and set his moral compass.

The transforming point arrived in South Africa where he was working on legal matters of a client. Getting pushed out from a train was not just another event for Gandhi. He did not seek revenge but justice. A leader was born in him that night. He called a meeting of all Indians staying in South Africa and delivered his first ever speech. He said, if they desired to be treated properly, they must deserve it. Change was not coming easily. Gandhi was beaten up badly many a times and during his protests, he was arrested and released multiple times. Gradually people on Gandhi’s side increased and finally Govt. offered negotiations to mend their ways. ‘Satyagraha’ – asking for truth began to yield results. Whatever values Gandhi had learnt in his childhood, he could put into practice for the welfare of a larger society.

Upon his return to India, he traveled around entire country to acquaint and then plunged himself into the struggle for independence. The salt march and Gandhi’s ways of protests where no killing was involved surprised the British. Not just them, Gandhi had stirred the local feudal system with campaign against untouchability. Whether it was fight for independence or the social reforms, it was Gandhi’s way of pursuing God. In ‘Bhagavad Gita’, Arjuna was offered spiritual redemption in the battlefield. Gandhi used this expression to say he was doing what he did to attain ‘Moksha’ – salvation through his work.

Thus, this book explores spiritual side of Mahatma Gandhi. Any political decisions and the consequences thereafter are not the scope of this book. For those who want to learn spiritual dimensions of Gandhi, this book makes a good read.