Translator's Preface



The first edition of Gandhiji's Autobiography was published in two volumes, Vol. I in 1927 and Vol. II in 1929. The original in Gujarati which was priced at Re. 1/- has run through five editions, nearly 50,000 copies having been sold. The price of the English translation (only issued in library edition) was prohibitive for the Indian reader, and a cheap edition has long been needed.



It is now being issued in one volume. The translation, as it appeared serially in Young India, had, it may be noted, the benefit of Gandhiji's revision. It has now undergone careful revision, and from the point of view of language, it has had the benefit of careful revision by a revered friend, who, among many other things, has the reputation of being an eminent English scholar. Before undertaking the task, he made it a condition that his name should on no account be given out. I accept the condition. It is needless to say it heightens my sense of gratitude to him.



Chapters XXIX-XLIII of Part V were translated by my friend and colleague Pyarelal during my absence in Bardoli at the time of the Bardoli Agrarian Inquiry by the Broomfield Committee in 1928-29.



Mahadev Desai, 1940.





Introduction



Introduction

Part I



I. Birth and Parentage



II. Childhood



III. Child Marriage



IV. Playing the Husband



V. At the High School



VI. A Tragedy



VII. A Tragedy (Continued



VIII. Stealing and Atonement



IX. My Father's Death and My Double Shame



X. Glimpses of Religion



XI. Preparation for England



XII. Outcaste



XIII. In London at Last



XIV. My Choice



XV. Playing the English Gentleman



XVI. Changes



XVII. Experiments in Dietetics



XVIII. Shyness My Shield



XIX. The Canker of Untruth



XX. Acquaintance with Religions



XXI. 'Nirbal Ke Bala Rama'



XXII. Narayan Hemchandra



XXIII. The Great Exhibition



XXIV. 'Called', but then ?



XXV. My Helplessness





Part II



I. Raychandbhai



II. How I Began Life



III. The First Case



IV. The First Shock



V. Preparing for South Africa



VI. Arrival in Natal



VII. Some Experiences



VIII. On the Way to Pretoria



IX. More Hardships



X. First Day in Pretoria



XI. Christian Contacts



XII. Seeking Touch with Indians



XIII. What it is to be a 'Coolie'



XIV. Preparation for the Case



XV. Religious Ferment



XVI. Man Proposes, God Disposes



XVII. Settled in Natal



XVIII. Colour Bar



XIX. Natal Indian Congress



XX. Balasundaram



XXI. The £3 Tax



XXII. Comparative Study of Religions



XXIII. As a Householder



XXIV. Homeward



XXV. In India



XXVI. Two Passions



XXVII. The Bombay Meeting



XXVIII. Poona and Madras



...

Show full text: 963,658 characters