Description
Language: EnglishPages: 350 (10 B/W Illustrations)About the BookNine years younger than Gandhi, ChakravartiRajagopalachari, or Rajaji, was described by him as his conscience keeperand, at one time, as his only possible successor. As his southern general,Rajaji campaigned for freedom, promoting khadi and prohibition. Though theyshared nearly thirty years of colleagueship, hardship, friendship andkinship-when daughter Lakshmi married Devadas Gandhi-Rajaji remained throughouta man of his own mind.The eighty-odd largely unpublished letters fromthis contrarian statesman to his leader Mahatma Gandhi, and those to hisson-in-law Devadas Gandhi and to his grandson that are presented here are fromfamily archives and public repositories. The letters span the years between1920 and 1955, in the run-up to Independence and its early years. Described arethe struggles and endeavours, large and small, made in the public arena,besides the inner world of friends, Q home and hearth, with both spherescoalescing seamlessly. Frank, brave, at times bitter, the letters areremarkably free of recrimination or anything that could diminish the dialogue.Observed always is a healthy respect for the freedom to differ, to persuade, toagree to disagree, but never to let down or part.Compiled, edited and annotated by Gopalkrishna Gandhi,in a manner he believes his father, Devadas, would have approved, these lettersare accompanied by a deeply felt and illuminating introduction. They offer us arare glimpse into the lives of two of the tallest Indians of our age, whenidealism rode strong but was also challenged.&n
About the Author
Gopalkrishna Devdas Gandhi is a retired IAS officer and diplomat, who was the 22nd Governor of West Bengal serving from 2004 to 2009. He is the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. As a former IAS officer he served as Secretary to the President of India and as High Commissioner to South Africa and Sri Lanka, among other administrative and diplomatic posts. He was the United Progressive Alliance nominee for Vice President of India 2017 elections and lost with 244 votes against NDA candidate Venkaiah Naidu, who got 516 votes.
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