Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography, 'The Story of My
Experiments with Truth,' is undoubtedly one of the most influential
books in the 20th century for the insight it provides into the life and
vision of the Mahatma. In the introduction of the book Mahatma reveals
that although he didn't intend to write an autobiography, it was bound
to take the shape of one filled as it was with his lifelong experiments
with truth.
In the autobiography Gandhi chronicles his life from early childhood to
the year 1920. Gandhi's life post-1920 doesn't find any mention in the
book since he opined "my life from this point onward has been so
public that there is hardly anything about it that people do not know..."
The autobiography first appeared as a series in the weekly Gujarati
magazine Navajivan during 1925-28 which was published from Ahmedabad.
The title of the book, 'My Experiments with Truth,' couldn't have been
more apt for it illustrates the life of a man who made it a lifelong
mission to discover truth or Satya. Apart from elaborating on the tenets
of truth and nonviolence, Gandhi also discusses the deep influence of
spiritualism and religion on his life and principles. As one ruffles
through the pages, one is left awestruck at the vast wisdom of the
Mahatma.
The original Gujarati version of the 'My Experiments with Truth' was
first published in a book-form by Navajivan Trust, Ahmedabad in two
volumes. After the first publication, the book was revised and
translated into English by Gandhi's close associate and personal
secretary Mahadev Desai.
