Gandhi: An Illustrated Biography

Description

A champion of civil rights and a leading light in India's struggle for independence, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was one of the iconic figures of the 20th century. He is best remembered for continually challenging British supremacy through acts of non-violent civil disobedience, and he willingly subjected himself to prison for his beliefs. But he was a complex and controversial man, someone whose behaviour in his personal life - especially as a father and a husband - was often at odds with his own teachings. A master of conflict resolution, he was adept at forging alliances with his fiercest critics, yet he could be uncompromising in his treatment of family members and loyal followers. This intimate pictorial biography unpicks the nuances of Gandhi's life and character, charting his evolution from fun-loving schoolboy to the man revered throughout India as the 'Father of the Nation'. Drawing on contemporary accounts and a myriad letters, documents, illustrations and photographs - including many which have rarely, if ever, been published - it reveals a man of contradictions, a fascinating personality whose complexities are sometimes obscured by the enormity of his achivements.

Pramod Kapoor is the founder and publisher of Roli Books. Over the course of his illustrious career he has conceived and produced a raft of award-winning titles, from the hit Then and Now series to the seminal Made for Maharajas and the internationally acclaimed New Delhi: Making of a Capital. In 2016 he was awarded the prestigious Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur - the highest distinction in France - for his unparalleled contribution to Indian publishing and his efforts in promoting India's heritage, both at home and abroad. Gandhi: An Illustrated Biography, his first book as an author, is the fruit of years of painstaking research on a subject close to his heart. Kapoor is dedicated toward decoding Gandhi for modern generations.

'A whole treasure chest of photos ... a highly accessible and readable biography. A rare collector's item' - Shyam Benegal, film director 'Even those familiar with Gandhi's story will discover things to surprise, delight, and inform them in this moving book' - Sunil Khilnani, Director, King's India Institute & Professor of Politics, King's College, London 'Elegant and deceptively simple ... the tragic grandeur of Gandhi's life is palpable on every page' - Vinay Lal, University of California 'A quick and easy introduction to Mahatma Gandhi' - Mature Times