Gandhi. . - Books - book review

New Internationalist, April, 2002

Would Mahatma Gandhi have used the internet? This is one of the more curious ponderings of Peter Ruhe in Gandhi (Phaidon ISBN 0 7148 4103 X), a photo-biography of one of the most extraordinary lives of the 20th century. This book, the result of almost 20 years' dedicated collecting by Ruhe, contains nearly 300 photos, spans some 70 years and crosses the three continents where Gandhi at various times lived. The breadth and range of pictures is quite stunning: from intimate family snaps to mass satyagraha (non-violent struggle) protests such as the Salt March of 1930; from British colonial brutality on Indian streets to quiet moments with Gandhi on one of his many fasts or simply staring out to sea. Some pictures are of high quality--but just as interesting are the many fragile, more personal snapshots.

While paying due homage to Gandhi's courage, strength and thirst for justice, this book is no hagiography. Mohandas Gandhi the person is there throughout. Early photos of him show an ugly kid (but with a wonderful smile). And Gandhi's deep commitment to detachment was not unproblematic for those really close to him - his wife and children, for example. Ruhe's text suggests a somewhat authoritarian and negligent father and husband.

What is not in question is that Gandhi's ideas and his rebellious integrity still inspire people around the world today. And would he have used the internet? Well, he might have had a bit of a dilemma. The mass communication arid grassroots democracy aspect of web activism would no doubt have appealed - but to the century's most famous technophobe? The question remains.

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