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Life of Mahatma Gandhi
671 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1997
24 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
Louis Fischer
173 books21 followersForeign correspondent and analyst of world affairs.
Fischer worked as an European correspondent first in Berlin later in the Soviet Union. The works he wrote during his stay in the Soviet Union are criticised for its apologism and the denial of the Ukraine famine.
Louis Fischer first visited Gandhi in 1942 and again in 1946.
Fischer worked as an European correspondent first in Berlin later in the Soviet Union. The works he wrote during his stay in the Soviet Union are criticised for its apologism and the denial of the Ukraine famine.
Louis Fischer first visited Gandhi in 1942 and again in 1946.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 15, 2021
As one who has been keenly attentive to the life and teaching of Gandhi since a young age, I decided it was finally time to read what I've been told many times is the quintessential biography of Gandhi. So, I finally did. My assessment? Great content in an 'okay' book. Fischer did a fantastic job of telling the story of this fascinating person who has had such an impact on the world, but the narrative of the story Fischer writes is a bit dry. This may be in large part because the book was written decades ago, but even for that time period it's a tad bland. If you're a fan of Gandhi, this is a must-read, however, and you will probably enjoy it as much as I did. If you're one who is intrigued a bit by Gandhi and just looking to 'get to know him' a little more, you might find yourself trudging through these 600 pages.
November 2, 2018
Biographies take me forever to read, but they are worth it. Especially when they are written about such incredible people, like Gandhi! I was very impressed by his self-control, his commitment to do what he felt was right, and his cry for brotherhood among all people.
January 11, 2020
I admire the art of biography and Louis Fischer has done an exceptional job with Gandhi. He presents a subject who is fallible, but virtuous through his stubbornness, crafty in his actions, expansive in love and vision, resistant to the death and aware, in ways that the average character is not, of his powerful influence within his world and society. From English student, to South African lawyer, to Indian politician, colonial rebel, absent husband, distant father, social arbitrator, ascetic and saint, Fischer paints a narrative of a selfless giver, tireless in his efforts, who undecidedly uses his authority and influence to exact his deepest, and self sustained, truths. This is an extraordinary work, always delightful to find devotion, genius and detail combined.
May 2, 2020
This is an old, conservative biography in a reverent style. Fischer's bias is very clear; this is not an objective look at Gandhi the man. It's a very detailed account of how his personal beliefs informed his political activities - and of course the impact he had - with a wealth of relevant quotes from his writings and conversations. Personally, I found it most useful as an overview and who's who of the independence movement, and combined with how readable it is I would recommend it as preparatory reading before moving onto more scholarly works concerning this topic. It also offers great insight into attitudes around the time of writing, which is invaluable for anyone exploring the changing perceptions of Gandhi over the last 70+ years.
December 27, 2020
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3527867.html
The Oscar for Best Original Screenplay was not completely fairly awarded in the case of Gandhi, as the screenplay was not particularly original. The film is pretty strongly based on Louis Fischer's 1950 biography.
Written soon after Gandhi's death, it is largely positive but does not gloss over some of the negative aspects of Gandhi's beliefs and behaviour. He was a terrible parent to his sons, emotionally distant and borderline abusive. He was also an anti-vaxxer who believed that all illness could be healed by meditation and diet. He lost touch with his own political movement towards the end. One also has to wonder what Kasturba really thought; we don't hear much from her between their marriage as horny young teenagers to her death sixty years later.
However, Fischer as a journalist does very well at explaining the situation of both South Africa and colonial India to the general reader, and making it clear just how important Gandhi was to the political developments of both. In particular, he stresses Gandhi's commitment to non-violence even more than the film does. And I think it's fair to say that without a Gandhi-like figure, India would certainly have become independent, probably somewhat sooner, but at a much greater cost of lives lost in conflict.
I was also interested to learn that Gandhi's family were always political - his grandfather served as prime minister of Porbandar, the small state where he was born, and his father was successively prime minister there and in three other states, Rajkot, Wandaner and Bikaner. The book does get a little unmoored at the end when Fischer appears in his own narrative and gives us verbatim notes of his (many, long) conversations with Gandhi, but in general I found it readable enough.
The Oscar for Best Original Screenplay was not completely fairly awarded in the case of Gandhi, as the screenplay was not particularly original. The film is pretty strongly based on Louis Fischer's 1950 biography.
Written soon after Gandhi's death, it is largely positive but does not gloss over some of the negative aspects of Gandhi's beliefs and behaviour. He was a terrible parent to his sons, emotionally distant and borderline abusive. He was also an anti-vaxxer who believed that all illness could be healed by meditation and diet. He lost touch with his own political movement towards the end. One also has to wonder what Kasturba really thought; we don't hear much from her between their marriage as horny young teenagers to her death sixty years later.
However, Fischer as a journalist does very well at explaining the situation of both South Africa and colonial India to the general reader, and making it clear just how important Gandhi was to the political developments of both. In particular, he stresses Gandhi's commitment to non-violence even more than the film does. And I think it's fair to say that without a Gandhi-like figure, India would certainly have become independent, probably somewhat sooner, but at a much greater cost of lives lost in conflict.
I was also interested to learn that Gandhi's family were always political - his grandfather served as prime minister of Porbandar, the small state where he was born, and his father was successively prime minister there and in three other states, Rajkot, Wandaner and Bikaner. The book does get a little unmoored at the end when Fischer appears in his own narrative and gives us verbatim notes of his (many, long) conversations with Gandhi, but in general I found it readable enough.
May 20, 2019
"Are we now in possession of history when we have these [contemporary] accounts in hand? Yes, in the sense that we are in possession of wine when the first pressing of the grapes is in hand. But it has not fermented, it has not aged.... The contemporary has no perspective, everything is in the foreground and appears the same size." Barbara Tuchman Practicing History
I only read the first 100 or so pages of Mr. Fischer's classic. I found myself feeling anxious that there was more to the story than perhaps he could have known to have included at the time. I'll move on to India's Struggle For Independence and see if that is the "fermented" history I'm looking for on the period. Ideally, I'd love to find a work similar in tone, scope, and effectiveness as Robert Caro's biography of LBJ.
I only read the first 100 or so pages of Mr. Fischer's classic. I found myself feeling anxious that there was more to the story than perhaps he could have known to have included at the time. I'll move on to India's Struggle For Independence and see if that is the "fermented" history I'm looking for on the period. Ideally, I'd love to find a work similar in tone, scope, and effectiveness as Robert Caro's biography of LBJ.
January 3, 2019
Best one so far written on Mahatma
June 14, 2019
Wonderful in every sense. The world needs another Ghandi right now.
February 7, 2021
An amazing read about an amazing human being.
Read
November 19, 2021i will read this when i feel mentally unstable enough to.
Read
December 29, 2024Eye opener about the Father of the Nation (India)
November 1, 2019
Good book to know perspective of Gandhi and his ideology.
January 18, 2020
If there is one person in the world history who truly changed the world, it was Mahatma Gandhi. He is a perfect example of a person who took a second birth in one lifetime. He wasn't born great. He had a temper and temperament in his younger days. The calm and serene Gandhi the world knew later was a product of rigorous self training and self discipline. He truly transformed himself.
He wasn't a Jesus or Christ. He wasn't enlightened with any extra ordinary faculty. He was a simple man who made mistakes. But the best thing is - he admitted his mistakes and made ample reforms. He wasn't someone who just contemplated and made loftly plans to achieve big things. He worked daily and hourly for what he believed was right and just.
When asked, what is your message to the world, Gandhi replied - ' My life is my message'. Gandhi lived a high moralistic life, one of truth and non violence. The story of his life so influenced me that I have been trying to copy him. Gandhi once said - Don't follow me. Its enough that I am following myself. And I am a poor copy of myself.' His principles were so high that he himself sometimes failed to follow them. Yet he persevered.
This book gives you hope. Hope that you too can change. Like Gandhi changed himself.
He wasn't a Jesus or Christ. He wasn't enlightened with any extra ordinary faculty. He was a simple man who made mistakes. But the best thing is - he admitted his mistakes and made ample reforms. He wasn't someone who just contemplated and made loftly plans to achieve big things. He worked daily and hourly for what he believed was right and just.
When asked, what is your message to the world, Gandhi replied - ' My life is my message'. Gandhi lived a high moralistic life, one of truth and non violence. The story of his life so influenced me that I have been trying to copy him. Gandhi once said - Don't follow me. Its enough that I am following myself. And I am a poor copy of myself.' His principles were so high that he himself sometimes failed to follow them. Yet he persevered.
This book gives you hope. Hope that you too can change. Like Gandhi changed himself.
September 17, 2023
I give this book 3 stars, based on the fact it was well written and informative (by a person close to the source).
As for Gandhi, I came away with the feeling that he seemed to live under the dictum, do as I say, live as I say, wear what I say or, I will fast until I die (like a petulant child).
As for Gandhi, I came away with the feeling that he seemed to live under the dictum, do as I say, live as I say, wear what I say or, I will fast until I die (like a petulant child).
August 11, 2025
Excellent bio reveals an extraordinary and complex man with all his strengths and weaknesses. Long but never drags.
August 21, 2017
A giant.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews