Reading Gandhi

Contents: The prologue. Acknowledgements. I. Ways of reading a Text: 1. The background: modernism and postmodernism. 2. Ways of reading a text: textual and contextual. 3. Quentin skinner: \'meaning and understanding in the history of ideas\'. 4. Terence Ball on How to Read a Classic. II. Close reading of Hind Swaraj: 5. Close reading of Hind Swaraj. III. Commentaries on Hind Swaraj and Gandhian thought: 6. Anthony J. Parel\'s commentary on Hind Swaraj. 7. Concept of Satyagraha with special reference to Bhikhu Parekh\'s views. 8. Gandhi\'s critique of modernity. IV. Concepts and movements: 9. Nationalism. 10. Gandhi\'s views on communal unity. 11. Gandhi on untouchability. 12. Gandhi on women\'s question. 13. Relevance of Gandhi. The epilogue. Appendices. Question bank on reading Gandhi. The syllabus. Bibliography. Index.

"The present work is primarily written to meet the needs of students of Delhi University offering the paper \'Reading Gandhi\' in BA Honours 1 year. The course on \'Reading Gandhi\' is about how to read a text, with special reference to the writings of Mahatma Gandhi. The discovery that the same text can be read in a number of ways is exciting enough and a scrutiny of Mahatma Gandhi\'s writings after being equipped with such knowledge is an exercise the students are bound to enjoy as a scholarly enterprise. A detailed discussion on the background of the topics, references and cross-references further facilitate the young and inquisitive minds to understand things in the right perspective, encouraging them to explore further.

It is also hoped that the book would be of interest to general readers fascinated by Gandhian thought and the various interpretations of it." (jacket)