Mohandas K. Gandhi

My first acquaintance with the Gita began in 1888-89 with the verse translation by Sir Edwin Arnold known as the Song Celestial. On reading it, I felt a keen desire to read a Gujarati translation. And I read as many translations as I could lay hold of. But all such reading can give me no passport for presenting my own translation. Then again my knowledge of Sanskrit is limited, my knowledge of Gujarati too is in no way scholarly. How could I then dare present the public with my translation? It has been my endeavor, as also that of some companions, to reduce to practice the teaching of the Gita as I have understood it. The Gita has become for us a spiritual reference book. I am aware that we ever fail to act in perfect accord with the teaching. The failure is not due to want of effort, but is in spite of it. Even though the failures we seem to see rays of hope. The accompanying rendering contains the meaning of the Gita message which this little band is trying to enforce in its daily conduct.--Mahatma GandhiWilder Publications is a green publisher. All of our books are printed to order. This reduces waste and helps us keep prices low while greatly reducing our impact on the environment.

Culled from the "Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi", this volume contains a representative selection of his writings focusing on themes which were central to Gandhi's philosophy. The book is divided into eight sections and discusses the following in detail: Gandhiji's complete rejection of what is known as modern civilisation together with its materialistic nature; the doctrines of swaraj and swadeshi, which meant more to him than mere independence from the British; the creed of non-violence, the centrepiece of his political theory; his role in mass movements, particularly in the Non-Co-operation Civil Disobedience and Quit India movements; his views on women and sex; his arguements against caste and untouchability; his thoughts on capitalisnm and socialism; his commitment to a united India, his firm belief in religious tolerance and, finally, his lifelong struggle towards the attainment of both home rule and self rule.