An Autobiography or The Story of My Experiments with Truth
By M. K. Gandhi
This is a collection of episodes from the life of Mahatma Gandhi penned for Navajivan, a weekly newspaper that he published. Gandhi writes at the beginning of the book: “ It is not my purpose to attempt a real autobiography. I simply want to tell the story of my numerous experiments with truth, and as my life consists of nothing but those experiments, it is true that the story will take the shape of an autobiography. ” The book is divided into five parts. The first details experiences from Gandhi’s childhood and his education in England. The second and third parts talk about his life in South Africa while the last two portions trace his role in India’s struggle for independence. The events of the book end in the early 1920s as Gandhi says, “ My life from this point onward has been so public that there is hardly anything about it that people do not know .”
Long Walk to Freedom
By Nelson Mandela
As I finally walked through those gates to enter a car on the other side, I felt — even at the age of seventy-one — that my life was beginning anew. My ten thousand days of imprisonment were at last over. Imprisoned for twenty-seven years, Long Walk to Freedom is the autobiography of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela that begins from his childhood and upbringing, and then proceeds to illustrate his fight against apartheid, colonial rule, and his harrowing experience in prison. He started his autobiography in prison and released the book in 1995, five years after his freedom. In spite of being subjected to unimaginable human atrocities, Mandela never stopped his struggle to obtain freedom for his African people. Mandela was a troublemaker and had run away from home as a child. In his youth, he studied law and fought for human rights. The second part of his autobiography covers his time in prison, the guards, his encounters with other prisoners, the unlikely friendships that were formed and the enemies he made. Mandela died on December 5th, 2013 and continues to inspire millions today.
Freedom at Midnight
By Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre
American journalist Larry Collins and French journalist Dominique Lapierre had already written bestsellers Is Paris Burning? and O Jerusalem! before they turned their attention to India. Known for their research work, they set out to write a book on the final year of India’s struggle for freedom. The duo conducted hundreds of interviews and pieced together a story of epic proportions. Freedom at Midnight was published in 1975 and was an instant best-seller. Even today it is considered as one of the most unbiased and comprehensive works on the topic.
The book focuses on the main actors of the time - Gandhi, Nehru, Jinnah, and Mountbatten. It explores the massive work involved in the transfer of power to the newborn states of India and Pakistan and all the politics involved, especially with respect to the princely states. It talks about the devastating partition of the country. It takes you through tumultuous events leading up to Gandhi’s assassination.
