Other editions of book An Autobiography

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948) was a pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement, who has grown to become the world's icon of peaceful resistance and nonviolent revolution, resistance to tyranny through mass civil protest. His philosophy and leadership helped India gain independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom all across the world. The Story of My Experiments with Truth is the autobiography of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, covering his life from early childhood through to 1920. It was initiated at the insistence of Swami Anand and other close co-workers of Gandhi to explain the background of his public campaigns for justice. In 1999, the book was designated as one of the "100 Most Important Spiritual Books of the 20th Century" by HarperCollins publishers.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869–1948) was a pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement, who has grown to become the world's icon of peaceful resistance and nonviolent revolution, resistance to tyranny through mass civil protest. His philosophy and leadership helped India gain independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom all across the world. The Story of My Experiments with Truth is the autobiography of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, covering his life from early childhood through to 1920. It was initiated at the insistence of Swami Anand and other close co-workers of Gandhi to explain the background of his public campaigns for justice. In 1999, the book was designated as one of the "100 Most Important Spiritual Books of the 20th Century" by HarperCollins publishers.

"I have nothing to teach the world. Truth and non-violence are as old as the hills" - M.K. Gandhi ...It is not my purpose to attempt a real autobiography. I simply want to tell the story of my numerous experiments with truth, and as my life consists of nothing but those experiements, it is true that the story will take the shape of an autobiography. But I shall not mind, if every page of it speaks only of my experiements. I believe, or at any rate flatter myself with the belief, that a connected account of all these experiments will not be without benefit to the reader. My experiments in the political field are now known, not only to India, but to a certain extent to the "civilized" world. For me, they have not much value; and the title of 'Mahatma' that they have won me has, therefore, even less. Often the title has deeply pained me; and there is not a moment I can recall when it may be said to have tickled me But I should certainly like to narrate my experiments in the spiritual field which are known only to myself, and from which I have derived such power as I possess for working in the political field. If the experiments are really spiritual, then there can be no room for self praise. They can only add to my humility. The more I reflect and look back on the past, the more vividly do I feel my limitations.....

Translated by Mahadev Desai and with a New Preface The only authorized American edition Mohandas K. Gandhi is one of the most inspiring figures of our time. In his classic autobiography he recounts the story of his life and how he developed his concept of active nonviolent resistance, which propelled the Indian struggle for independence and countless other nonviolent struggles of the twentieth century. In a new foreword, noted peace expert and teacher Sissela Bok urges us to adopt Gandhi's "attitude of experimenting, of tesing what will and will not bear close scrutiny, what can and cannot be adapted to new circumstances," in order to bring about change in our own lives and communities. All royalties earned on this book are paid to the Navajivan Trust, founded by Gandhi, for use in carrying on his work.