Gandhi's Ascetic Activism: Renunciation and Social Action

Mahatma Gandhi continues to inspire those who seek political and social liberation through nonviolent means. Gandhi placed brahmacharya and other renunciatory disciplines at the center of his nonviolent political strategy. Through a comprehensive study of Gandhi’s own words, select Indian religious texts, myths that he used, and the historical and cultural context of his activism, Dr. Veena R. Howard shows how Gandhi’s ascetic disciplines helped him cultivate personal strength to mobilise millions. Howard’s book gives an insightful perspective on the creative possibilities Gandhi discovered in combining personal renunciation and the power of sacrifice for modern-day social action.