Preface

It is not easy to list the number of books that have been written on the life or message of Mahatma Gandhi. They have appeared in almost all the main languages of the world.

The first of these was written while Gandhi was still finding himself in South Africa. This was written by a South African missionary, Rev. Doke. Since then many outstanding biographies have been written by philosophers like Romain Rolland, and illustrious authors like Louis Fischer. Biographies written by D.G. Tendulkar and Shri Pyarelal span many volumes and are invaluable mines of information. They will continue as classic sources of inspiration.

I do not attempt to cite other books and authors for fear of exposing myself to the charge of being invidious. But I have learned much from many of them.

This small book does not lay claims to being comprehensive or exhaustive. It is meant only to serve as an introduction, particularly to benefit children and beginners, and to inspire them to make a deeper study, and to instil the desire to know more, and to benefit from the life and message of Mahatma Gandhi.

Ravindra Varma