In the shadow of Mahatma. Review on In the Shadow of Mahatma - Sita Gandhi

IN THE SHADOW OF MAHATMA are memoirs of grand daughter of Mahatma Gandhi, Sita Gandhi.She was first born to Gandhi’s second son Manilal and his wife Sushila.

I watched a movie, I think, last year on Mahatma’s first son Harilal which showed discord and love both, between father and son as Harilal didn’t like being disciplined.Later on Gandhiji disowned him.But Manilal unlike Harilal, was disciplined and obedient.He carried on the work which Mahatma started on Phoneix settlement in South Africa publishing a newspaper called Indian Opinion.Sita when grown up also helped her father in this endeavour.

Sita Gandhi is no more now, but her daughter Uma Dhupelia-Mesthrie who is a professor in South Africa got her mother’s memoirs from a journalist who was entrusted with the job of bringing out a biography or memoirs sort in Sita’s later years before her death.

Its an interesting read as I came to know that time has not changed a bit in this matter that grandparents especially when separated by a country from grandchildren are more or less strangers to each other.Gandhi was in India and Sita in South Africa and both, even her parents had different views about things like education.Gandhi wanted a non formal education for her and Sita and her parents wanted a formal education.Initially she was stranger to him, but through her interaction in sevagram and leading a ashram life during vacations, she got close to him.Gandhiji used to write letters to her, both at Akola and Banaras where she studied and was very particular about her handwriting and grammar!

The book is full of rare letters between Mahatma and his granddaughter and rare photographs.

Two new things I knew from this book that Sita’s mother was deaf and other thing that she was betrothed to a man called Krishan who disappeared during partition and Gandhiji was against the betrothal as he wanted a vow from both of them that they will not communicate for seven years, only then he will allow this wedding.

The book is a good read and very short.

Thanks for reading my review.