Describe Gandhi as a writer

Describe Gandhi as a writer.

what is Gandhi’s Contribution as writer- Discuss his greatness in this regard.

Discuss Gandhian style of writing.

          M.K Gandhi was not basically a writer. He was a leader in social and political fields. He started writing during his stay in Africa. His life style is reflected in the autobiography. He became a knowledge person and made him conscious of Writing. Moreover his profession also influenced in careful creation. He began to use writing for various motives. There is explanation, appeal, or clarification. Clarity and simplicity have remained great merits. Figurative use isn’t found as his purpose was to describe plainly. Digressions have come. Yet we have to remember that the narration is interesting, orderly, assertive and very much effective.

Simplicity in Narration:-

          Gandhi’s aim was functional when he wrote Autobiography. As there’s this motive he kept in mind the readers. The greatment of his writing is simplicity. It is quite plain, easy, graceful and yet forceful. He narrates plainly what he felt. His heart is revealed directly. Even the torments and secrets have been put straightforward. Thoughts, ideas become very clear, as a result. The preface asserts all this.

          “I am not going to conceal or understate any ugly things that must be told. I hope to acquaint the reader fully with all my faults and errors. My purpose is to describe experiments in the science of Satyagraha, not say how good I am”.

          To have simplicity is really a difficult task. But as his living was so was his style. It is in quite contrast to the great leaders and writers of the time. During 1920’s writers like Gandhi, Aurobind, Naidu, Jawaharlal Nehru, Nirad Chaudhary and C. Rajgopalachari. They all were pedantic and figurative and rearmed in their writing. Yet it is remarkable that Gandhi stood tall in comparision to them.

Lucid and Forceful Flow:-

          The autobiography is a picture. It is rellected marvelously. Things comes so swiftly that any one is swept away with it. But for the writer it is a hard task to put into black and white. After all he write and as a writer conscious how to put the things. Lucidity is achieved through simple and short sentence. Logical order, brevity, sincerity have come over there. Difficult philosophical and heavy matters have even put in a very plain way that there’s no burden found of such things. Notice how forceful and lucid statements are found.

          “Labour is power.”

          “Hate the sin and not the sinner.”

          “Ahimsa is not goal. Truth is the goal.”

          We can easily understand hardbarish meaning through easy style.

Persnasiveness (Power of Explanation) : -

          Classical influence could be seen on him. The way classical writers explain anything he does the same. In the childhood Hindu classics the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Later on writings of Ruskin, Carlyle and Tolstoy. Ruskin’s “Unto this last’ had a deep mark. He has affinity to him. Prophetic tone came from there which helps him to explain his arguments e.g.

          “Earn your crosses by all means but understand that your wealth is not yours; it belongs to the people. Take what you require for your legitimate needs and use the reminder for society.”

          “Truth is like a vast tree which gield more and more fruit, the more you nurture it.”

          For the explanation whenever it is necessary he defines the thing first. This clarifies any matter. Above sited second example prove it. There are others:-

          ‘Satyagraha in its essence is nothing but the introduction of truth and gentleman in political i.e. the national life.” So on

          For persnation  he often uses phrases, clauses, quotations and repeatitions. See how self realizations came to him.

          “Because it came to me without my seeking, because I had an aptitude for it.”

          Gandhi also uses very good quotes. They came from his various readings. Being a Gujarati many Gujarati writers have appeared. even from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and other religious books things appear. e.g. regarding ‘Moksha’.

          (vPyi (vn)vt<ºt[ (nrihirAy d[(ht: i

        rsvt< rsi[D¼yAy pr> dOTvi (nvt<t[ ii

        For the protection of week

(nb<l k[ blrim –

(He is the help of the helpness.)

          From Gita:-

          “Finally, this is better that one do

          His own task as he may even though he fail.”

          There are such some but they are not plenty. Restricted used has been done. This saven burden of readers. It also saves from much ornamentation.

Antithesis(contrast) : -

          Through contrast or parallelism desired effect is brought out. The arguments become forceful. Ideas are stressed. Gandhi has used this style. e.g.

          A half- hearted operation is much more dangerous that no operation.

          Suffering is the law of human beings war is the law of the jungle.

Figurative Language:-

          Gandhi never thought to make the language ornamental. But he is not unconscious to it. His language is prosaic not poetic. Yet effective examples of his use of metaphors and similes. They give deeper meaning or explain the things. The following examples show that when he used these tools they are apt.

          ‘Three parts of bible and one part Shakespeare – is the description of the English language.’

          ‘Truth is like a vast tree.’

          ‘The path of self purification is hard and steep.’

          ‘Pilgrimage to swaraj’ is as a painful climb. It will not spring like the magician’s mango.”

          They are effective. They persuade the readers. Meanings get edge and this is what his purpose was.

Contribution to Journalism:-  

          Gandhi’s Contribution in writing is many folded. He began writing for journals, magazines and newspapers. Autobiography came later. During African stay, he largely wrote for ‘Indian Opinion’. In it becomes his reflection of various moods, experiments with truth. ‘Young India’ and ‘Harijan’ were also started by him. These were for his missions in life. Circulation of these magazines was large. It shows his good managerial and writing style. Skill for work and vigorous arguments have created lasting effect. Journalism grew because of him. In India it became a powerful medium. For him it was ‘literature of knowledge’.

Contribution to Indian Languages:-

          It is a question did Gandhi leave any field untouched. Hardly any could be the answer. He wrote in Gujarati and English. He enhanced the tradition of bilingualism. Regional languages got encouragement. His language becomes attraction for the periods as it has simplicity, pointedness and directness. It breaks the pedantic tradition and bring the dawn of Indian literature. Philosophical, journalistic and creative writing owe a great debt to Gandhi. Translations too came later on. His ‘Sarvodaya’ translations of ‘Unto this last’ of Ruskin is a great gift. Gita also remained a great interest for him. This led many translations. Biographics and autobiographics to flourished during his time. Speeches were written. Another thing is that there are plenty of works written on him. All this has enriched literature.

          The influence is measureless. He remained a great learning house for all of us. Words wouldn’t be suffice for such a supernatural human being.