Ebook: Indian critiques of Gandhi

Through examinations of Gandhi's critics, both individuals and groups, this book shows the complexity of Indian society and opinion at the time of the Indian Independence Movement.

Although Gandhi has been the subject of hundreds of books and an Oscar-winning film, there has been no sustained study of his engagement with major figures in the Indian Independence Movement who were often his critics from 1920–1948. This book fills that gap by examining the strengths and weaknesses of Gandhi's contribution to India as evidenced in the letters, speeches, and newspaper articles focused on the dialogue/debate between Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore, Sri Aurobindo, Bhim Rao Ambedkar, Annie Besant, and C. F. Andrews. The book also covers key groups within India that Gandhi sought to incorporate into his Independence Movement—the Hindu Right, Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs—and analyzes Gandhi's ambiguous stance regarding the Hindi-Urdu question and its impact on the Independence struggle.

“…a valuable contribution to the study of Gandhi and Indian nationalism. Indian Critiques confirms the pluralism of Indian opinion that existed in the pre-Independence decades and, in fact, evinces the basis of the future pluralistic nation.” — Canadian Journal of History

“…a useful volume for any course on Gandhi and modern Indian religion and society.” — Religious Studies Review

"Too many books on Gandhi give the impression that he was a solitary hero who had no critics or allies. This book places Gandhi in context, that is, the context of his contemporaries and peers in the struggle for Indian independence, adding new insights and raising new questions. This is an important work." — Fred Dallmayr, author of Beyond Orientalism: Essays on Cross-Cultural Encounter

Contributors include Robert D. Baird, Harold Coward, Joy Dixon, Timothy Gorringe, Hussein Keshani, Julius Lipner, Roland E. Miller, Robert N. Minor, Ronald Neufeldt, Daud Rahbar, T. S. Rukmani, and Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh