The African Element in Gandhi

This book is a richly detailed account of the people and events surrounding Gandhi’s experience in Africa and its aftermath. It provides an original; narrative of how Gandhi’s stance in relation to emancipatory struggles evolved over time, focusing especially on the period since the high noon of his South Africa days. The relationships between Gandhi, Africa and its leaders w3as mutually productive and symbiotic; a connection which has often been underanalysed. Through extensive examples and a close reading of documents from the era, the author makes clear the significance of passive or civil resistance as a strategy and traces its contours over Gandhi’s lifetime. The resulting book opens up fertile areas of research and presents us with a holistic picture of the continuing relevance of Gandhi for Africans and Africa for Gandhi.