Gandhi and the Gita
- Publisher
- Canadian Scholars' Press Inc.
- Initial publish date
- Oct 1998
- Category
- History, Sacred Writings, Hindu
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781551300191
- Publish Date
- Oct 1998
- List Price
- $39.95
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Out of print
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Description
There have been many statements made by comparative philosophers and Sanskritists about Mahandas Karamchand Gandhi and the Bhagavad Gita. The general thrust of scholarly opinion seems to be that Gandhi's translation—with its implicit interpretation—is unsatisfactory. Gandhi's interpretation is assumed to be an unscholarly and misleading exegesis.
Gandhi and the Gita investigates this question. Bakker makes a compelling argument for his assertion that Gandhi relied on the study of books to a far greater extent than many academics assume. Unlike some traditional Hindu seekers of knowledge who rely exclusively on meditation and Inner Truth, Gandhi combined a concern with the inner light with the life-long study of the written word. In fact, of all books Gandhi particularly cherished the Bhagavad Gita, and it provided the theoretical underpinning of his praxis.
About the author
Hans J.I. Bakker is Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Guelph.
