The Story of My Experiments with Truth
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The Story of My Experiments with Truth (or My Experiments with Truth) – the autobiography of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (or Mahatma Gandhi) covers his life from early childhood through to 1920, and is a popular and influential book. It was initiated at the instance of Swami Anand and other close co-workers of Gandhi, in his mother-tongue Gujarati entitled satya na proyogo (Gujarati: સત્ય ના પ્રયોગો — literally, Experiments with Truth).
Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948) was a charismatic leader who brought the case for India's independence to world attention. His philosophy of nonviolence, for which he coined the term satyagraha, has influenced nonviolent resistance movements to this day.
Etymology
For Gandhi, Truth was the sovereign principle; inclusive of many other spiritual principles and schools of thought."...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 experiments, it is true that the story will take the shape of an autobiography...", He adds in the introduction. And hence the title My Experiments with Truth. However, he further notes that "... [the experiments] will of course include experiments with non-violence, celibacy and other principles of conduct believed to be distinct from truth."
In this autobiography, Gandhi has recounted the period from his birth (1869) up to the year 1921. In the last chapter, he notes, "My life from this point onward has been so public that there is hardly anything about it that people do not know..."
Overview
Spiritual angle
In his own words Gandhi takes us through some of the experiences in his life, with each chapter forming at least one important learning lesson to him. Going through the introduction section of the autobiography may suggest what to expect during the five parts that follow.The spiritual angle becomes evident when Gandhi writes, "...What I want to achieve - What I have been striving and pining to achieve these thirty years - is self-realization, to see God face to face, to attain Moksha (Salvation). I live and move and have my being in pursuit of this goal."
One of his main beliefs was using nonviolence as a means of protesting against acts of oppression and using international law to seek justice. This meant he never raised his fists or lowered himself to barbarism however much he was provoked, violated or attacked. As Gandhi said:
- An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
- There are many causes I am prepared to die for but no causes I am prepared to kill for.
Gandhi found that uncovering the truth was not always popular, as many people were resistant to change, preferring instead to maintain the existing status quo because of inertia, self-interest or misguided beliefs. He also discovered that once the truth was on the march nothing could stop it. All it took was time to achieve traction and gain momentum. As Gandhi said:
- The Truth is far more powerful than any weapon of mass destruction.
Gandhi questioned religious practices and doctrines regardless of traditions or beliefs. On the subject of Christianity he noted that:
Although Gandhi was born a Hindu he was critical of many religions, including Hinduism. He wrote in his autobiography:
- Thus if I could not accept Christianity either as a perfect, or the greatest religion, neither was I then convinced of Hinduism being such. Hindu defects were pressingly visible to me. If untouchability could be a part of Hinduism, it could but be a rotten part or an excrescence. I could not understand the raison d'etre of a multitude of sects and castes. What was the meaning of saying that the Vedas were the inspired Word of God? If they were inspired, why not also the Bible and the Koran? As Christian friends were endeavouring to convert me, so were Muslim friends. Abdullah Sheth had kept on inducing me to study Islam, and of course he had always something to say regarding its beauty.
- As soon as we lose the moral basis, we cease to be religious. There is no such thing as religion over-riding morality. Man, for instance, cannot be untruthful, cruel or incontinent and claim to have God on his side.
- Hinduism as I know it entirely satisfies my soul, fills my whole being ... When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and when I see not one ray of light on the horizon, I turn to the Bhagavad Gita, and find a verse to comfort me; and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow. My life has been full of tragedies and if they have not left any visible and indelible effect on me, I owe it to the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.
- Yes I am. I am also a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist and a Jew.
Political and Scientific angle
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From the political stand-point, one can infer his thoughts of marrying politics and spiritual quest when he says, "...My experiments in the political field are now known, not only in India, but to a certain extent to the 'civilized' world."
Regarding the scientific validity and fidelity of the experiments, Gandhi notes, "...I claim for them nothing more than does a scientist who, though he conducts his experiments with the utmost accuracy, forethought and minuteness, never claims any finality about his conclusions, but keeps an open mind regarding them... Yet I am far from claiming any finality or infallibility about my conclusions... For me they appear to be absolutely correct, and seem for the time being to be final."
Albeit, Gandhi requested the readers to treat his experiments as illustrative only, suggesting that others should carry out their own experiments in this light rather than imitating him in verbatim.
First publication and later editions
After its initiation, "The Story of My Experiments with Truth" remained in the making for 4-5 years (including the time while Gandhi was imprisoned at Yeravda near Pune, Maharastra), and then it first appeared as a series in the weekly Gujarati magazine Navjivan during 1925-28 which was published from Ahmedabad, India.In a book-form, it was first published (in Gujarati) by Navajivan Trust, Ahmedabad in two volumes (Vol I–602pp–1927; Vol II–608pp–1929) at a subsidized rate and has run though five editions/reprints since then - last in January 2001. After the first publication, it was revised and translated into English by Gandhi's close associate and aide-de-camp Mahadev Desai.
The English translation first appeared as a series in "Young India", another English language weekly of Navajivan Trust.
About the Translator
- See main article: Mahadev Desai
Owing to his love for literature and to support his education, Mahadev Desai elected to translate John Morley's book On Compromise into Gujarati language in a competition for best Gujarati translation sponsored by Forbes Gujarati Sabha (See: Alexander Kinloch Forbes). After wining the prize, he went to meet with Gandhi (who returned to India in 1915) in Ahmedabad to seek his advice. Some authorities, however, suggest that Desai met with Gandhi in relation with a letter that the former has sent expressing his views and criticism on Gandhi's proposed ashram in Ahmedabad. Anyhow, this was their first meeting, and in November 1917, Mahadev Desai decided to join Gandhi on a full-time basis – an intimate association that lasted for nearly 25 years until the early death of Desai in 1942.
In Verrier Elwin's words: "..[Mahadev Desai] was much more than [Gandhi's official secretary]. He was in fact Home and Foreign Secretary combined. He managed everything. He made all the arrangements. He was equally at home in the office, the guest-house and the kitchen. He looked after many guests and must have saved 10 years of Gandhi's life by diverting from him unwanted visitors..."
Book Reviews
Some critics have suggested that Gandhi has assumed the basic knowledge of the events and socio-political situation of India during late 19th – early 20th century on the reader's part. It may be advisable to supplement the reading with other (recent) authors like Yogesh Chadha (Gandhi: A Life) who could help provide the background information and insight of that era.
- Book Reviews
- Amazon.com: [Customer Reviews]
- Development in Action (UK): [Book Review by Joni Hillman]
- [Sciences Book Review]
- South Asian Women's Forum: [Book Review]
References
Editions in print
- India - ISBN 81-7229-008-X
- United States - authorized edition with forward by Sissela Bok, Beacon Press 1993 reprint: ISBN 0807059099
- Dover Publications 1983 reprint of 1948 Public Affairs Press edition: ISBN 0-486-24593-4
Editions online
- Wikisource:
- Mahatma.org.in: [Online edition]
- Gandhiana.org: [My Experiments with Truth (Paperback)]
- NIT, Calicut: [Nalanda Digital Lib.]
Other external links
- Gandhi Book Centre: [Introduction to Autobiography]
- MKGandhi.org – Gandhi’s Associates: [Mahadev Desai]
- The Hindu: [Mahadev Desai] - By Ramachandra Guha
See also
- Mahatma Gandhi
- Gandhism
- Richard Attenborough — Gandhi (1982)
- Leo Tolstoy — The Kingdom of God Is Within You (1894)
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