If you are looking for a book that will inspire you to live a life of truth, nonviolence, and service, you might want to read “The Story Of My Experiments With Truth” by M K Gandhi. This book is the autobiography of one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century, who led India to independence from British colonial rule through his philosophy and practice of Satyagraha, or civil disobedience based on moral force.
The book is a candid and humble account of Gandhi’s personal journey from his childhood in Gujarat, India, to his early adulthood in England and South Africa, where he faced racial discrimination and injustice. He describes his experiments with various aspects of his life, such as diet, religion, education, marriage, politics, and social work. He reveals his successes and failures, his joys and sorrows, his doubts and convictions, and his struggles and triumphs. He also narrates his involvement in various movements and campaigns for civil rights, social justice, and national liberation. He explains how he developed his core values of truth, nonviolence, and service, and how he applied them in his interactions with others.
The book covers the period from Gandhi’s birth in 1869 to 1921, when he became the leader of the Indian National Congress and launched the Non-Cooperation Movement against the British government. The book ends abruptly after a discussion of the Nagpur session of the Congress, where Gandhi advocated for a resolution on swaraj, or self-rule. The book was written in weekly installments and published in his journal Navjivan from 1925 to 1929.
Reasons to read the book
You should read this book if you want to learn how to:
- Seek and follow your own truth with courage and conviction
- Resist oppression and injustice with nonviolent means
- Serve humanity with compassion and humility
- Transform yourself and the world with your actions
- Lead by example and inspire others with your vision
- This book is not only relevant for those who are interested in Gandhi’s life and legacy, but for anyone who wants to discover their own purpose and potential. Whether you are a student, a teacher, a lawyer, a doctor, a politician, or a social worker, you can benefit from reading this book and applying its principles in your own field.
Lessons from the book
Some of the lessons I learned from reading this book are:
- Truth is not something abstract or absolute, but something that can be experienced and realized through experimentation and practice. Gandhi calls his autobiography “The Story Of My Experiments With Truth” because he considers his life as a series of trials and errors to find out what is true for him. He says that truth is “the sovereign principle”, which includes “love” and “ahimsa” or “nonviolence” as its natural corollaries.
- Nonviolence is not just a negative concept of refraining from violence, but a positive concept of expressing love and goodwill towards all living beings. Gandhi defines nonviolence as “the greatest force at the disposal of mankind”, which is “mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man”. He believes that nonviolence can overcome any form of evil or tyranny, if practiced sincerely and persistently.
- Service is not just a duty or an obligation, but a joy and a privilege. Gandhi regards service as “the law of our being”, which means that we are meant to serve others as an expression of our true nature. He says that service is “the best way to find yourself”, because it helps us to forget our selfishness and egoism, and to realize our unity and harmony with all creation.
Buy this must read book - online today using below link
Subscribe , Follow on