The Story of My Experiments with Truth

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. I never had great regard for this man. I could never digest his larger-than-life-solemn sacrificing self, a riddle which has intrigued me ever since I was introduced to this father of our nation. When history became referring to this man for his morals and values that India and Indians had imbibed from him; I became suspicious. Some articles on the Internet revealed his other side; hideous.

And then one day, I laid my hands on his autobiography, The Story of My Experiments with Truth; I almost thought that maybe now I will find the answers to my questions. This book is a diary of his life from his birth till 1921. But yes...there has to be a BUT in between, trust me now I’m confused about my POV towards him after putting the book down.
It has been quite a while since I’ve read a book so closely, pondering over many instances for long. I was impressed by the way he worked himself towards life, his meticulous and calculated actions. What impressed me more was his outright acceptance of the down trodden class/caste.
 What did not impress me at all, were his confessions. Acts of malice once done cannot be rectified, they can only be repented. But this repentance should come across through your actions and not confessions. If he knew he was wrong in the way he treated his wife, did correct the same even after realizing it at such an early stage in his marriage?

Mr. Gandhi was apparently a man who was righteous and believed in doing what was right. But universal ‘right’ and his ‘right’ weren’t quite in harmony

One or two circumstances were out-right unacceptable. I somehow could not keep pace with his ideologies on many things. His hypocrisy allowed him to experiment with his way of life but he didn’t allow any of his children to experiment and enlighten themselves as their father had.  He almost postulated his actions upon them.

I have a question that unsettles me again and again. What made him accept the title bestowed upon him?

Though I thank him for bringing concepts of Swaraj and Ahimsa home, I still won’t stop till I find answers. Until then, I refuse to accept this respect-worthy man as a true Mahatma.

I suggest that all Indians must read this book and not to keep accepting things as they are.

It is truly a learning experience.

(Ps. I know that many would not accept my opinions. I apologize to them before-hand. Reviews are very subjective after-all.)