CompleteMartialArts.com - Gandhi: 'Hind Swaraj' and Other Writings (Cambridge Texts in Modern Politics)
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Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
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Average Customer Rating: 
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 954.035
EAN: 9780521574310
ISBN: 0521574315
Label: Cambridge University Press
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 286
Publication Date: 1997-01-28
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Studio: Cambridge University Press
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Editorial Reviews:
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Hind Swaraj is Mahatma Gandhi's fundamental work, and a key to the understanding both of his life and thought, and South Asian politics in the twentieth century. This volume presents for the first time the original 1910 edition of this work, including Gandhi's Preface and Foreword, not found in other editions. This is the first fully annotated edition of the work, and the volume also includes Gandhi's correspondence with Tolstoy, Nehru and others. Anthony Parel's introduction sets the work in its historical and intellectual contexts. Short bibliographical notes on prominent figures mentioned in the text and a chronology of important events are also included as aids to the reader.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Gandhi's Masterpiece
Comment: This is an excellent edition of Hind Swaraj. It includes several important letters between Gandhi and such important political figures as Nehru. It also includes Gandhi's very own reading list recommendation (for example, he suggests that his readers consult Thoreau and Tolstoy amongst other things).
Swaraj, for Gandhi, does not merely entail Indian sovereignty but rulership over one's own self. This inner svaraj is the condition for the possibility of external national independence. Therefore, to achieve national independence one must first achieve personal independence. For Gandhi, this meant that - given the fallenness of Britain - even the colonists were not free. In this respect Gandhi thought that the British must be pitied and not hated. These are some of the central arguments in Hind Svaraj.
Much of the book is taken up with a description of the fallen state of 'modern civilization' which Gandhi views as being like a disease in need of curing. The cure is through improved religiosity. The symptoms of modern civilization involve the development of railways, industrial infrastructure and the intervention of doctors and lawyers. On the face of things, Gandhi seems to be rabidly anti-technological and anti-modern. This is not entirely accurate however: Gandhi is not against technology but is against the "fetish" (or "craze" as he also calls it) of technology. This fetishization is symptomatic of the degeneration of modernity for him. Likewise, he is critical of doctors and lawyers not because doctors and lawyers are inherently bad, but because of the cynical industry that they are grounded in.
A great book, and much misunderstood.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Awesome book
Comment: This book is simply awesome. I call this one of the best books I've ever read. It presents Gandhi's views lucidly and you understand the clarity of thought and spirituality of a person who lead India to freedom.
To all Indians who are unaware of their own civilization, this book also contains portions where Gandhi gives reasons for why he regards Indian civilization to be the best. (I accept that I'm being chauvinistic).
However, this book is not meant for Indians alone, it is for people who wish to be open-minded, who dare to think outside the box, who wish to understand the world, mainly who wish to search for the all-pervading truth.Satyameva Jayathe (Truth always wins)
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Summary: Gandhian Politics
Comment: Gandhi explains in Hind Swaraj some of his fundamental ideas on how to obtain Home Rule in India. One aspect of Indian society Gandhi criticizes is the relationship between Muslims and Hindus. Gandhi tries to convey the idea that religious identity does not constitute for nationality. He feels that in order to obtain swaraj, India's people must unify themselves as a nation. By disbanding disagreements between the two religions, with acceptance and without imposition, Gandhi implies that what is important- Mother India- can be saved. Both Hindus and Muslims should stop seeking concessions from the British, begin the swadeshi movement (Indian-made goods), and that a universal language (Hindi) would also help the cause. Another factor which will lead to swaraj is passive resistance. (Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement 1931-34). Unlike Nehru, Gandhi opposed modernization/industrialization. These views, as well as views about education and economic reform are also included.
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Summary: excellent new edition of Hind Swaraj
Comment: This excellent new edition of Hind Swaraj fulfills the needs of all readers, either for private and academic purposes. Extraordinary is especially the introduction which covers all major subjects which should be taken into account for understanding "Hind Swaraj", e.g. wesetern and eastern influences on Gandhis thoughts, the London & South African years etc. The text itself is issued with a lot of explaining footnotes which also refer on the original (written in Gujarati). It's so far the first edition I know which compares between the english and gujatati text ! The only, minor manko might be the fact that the South African years are treated rather short, but the bibliography and advices for further reading lead the ambitious reader to new sources.
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