Interesting read, but how accurate I cant say. Last edited 1 month ago by John Gandhi Behind the Mask of Divinity Gandhi Cover page by Prometheus Books. Author Colonel G. B. Singh Country United States Language English Genre Non-Fiction Publisher Prometheus Books Publication date April 2004 Media type Print Hardcover & Paperback Pages 356 ISBN 978-1-57392-998-1 Followed by Gandhi Under Cross Examination Gandhi Behind the Mask of Divinity is a book by US Army Colonel G. B. Singh. Written nearly 60 years after his assassination, Singh challenges the image of Gandhi as a saintly, benevolent and non-violent leader of Indian independence with a biography of the so-called real Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, told through Gandhis own writings and actions over the course of his life. The book claims that Gandhi emulated racism from the Hindu ideology of caste towards the Blacks of South Africa and the Untouchables, instigated ethnic hatred against foreign communities, and, to this end, was involved in covering up the killing of American engineer William Francis Doherty. Singh puts forward that the portrayal of Gandhi as a great leader is the work of the Hindu propaganda machine and Christian clergy with ulterior motives; and, furthermore, it was based on irrationality and deception which historians have failed to critically examine. Book organization ReviewsEdit Scholarly A comprehensive, annotated bibliography on Mahatma Gandhi-related literature briefly mentions the book as a Highly critical account. Every move by Gandhi is interpreted by the author to be racist, which argument is very questionable”.[5] Dr. Baldev Singh, frequent writer on Indian politics, Punjab and Sikh issues reviewed the book and opined that the book has exploded the Gandhi myth and the author has brought out the truth from Gandhis own mouth[1] Xavier William in the Midwest Book Review (2004) accused the author of mud slinging and compared it to another anti-Gandhi piece written by Khushwant Singh.[6] Thomas W. Clark, who reviewed the book for American Humanist Associations The Humanist, stated that most readers will find the book overwrought and unnecessarily inflammatory.[7] As for Singhs accusations of Gandhi destroying incriminating documents to cover up his racist views, Clark labeled them unsubstantiated hypothesis and simply speculation. Clark instead recommended B. R. Ambedkar What Gandhi and the Congress Have Done to the Untouchables (1945) as a more substantial and balanced account of some of Gandhis shortcomings.[7] Katie Violin of The Kansas City Star also criticized the book and stated that Gandhi as a racist doesnt add up.[8] Professor Manfred Steger, author of Gandhis Dilemma: Nonviolent Principles And Nationalist Power, wrote a review of the book in the December 2005 issue of The Historian.[9] He stated that the author doesnt offer hard evidence for the first thesis in the book - the alleged Hindu propaganda machine, and found Singhs eagerness to accuse without raising or answering relevant questions deeply disturbing. At the same time, Steger said that the author offers much better evidence for the second thesis - Gandhis racist attitude.[9] He stated, Perhaps one of the strongest sections of the book is the authors examination of pertinent primary and secondary literature revealing Gandhis attitude toward black Africans during his two decades in South Africa. Steger noted that numerous other balanced critiques of Gandhi exist, such as the works by Ved Mehta, Partha Chatterjee, and Joseph Alter. In comparison, Steger concluded, that the book was a one-sided attack on Gandhi, without offering the larger, more complex picture of Gandhis ethical and political engagements, thus turning it into a strident polemic.[9] Alan Caruba, the editor of Bookviews mentioned the book in its December 2004 issue, and stated We need to remember that even great men had their flaws and Col. Singh, a career military officer and student of Indian politics, Hinduism, and of Gandhi, presents his facts in a compelling way.[10] In his book, Gandhis Philosophy and the Quest for Harmony, the author Anthony Parel termed Singhs book as scurrilous, crude bias and deplorable ignorance.[11] Political United States Congressman Edolphus Towns called the book definitely controversial but worth reading to broaden perspective on Gandhi and understand the foundations of India.[4] Towns mentioned the book in his Congressional debate during the Proceedings and Debates of 110th United States Congress (First Session). See also References MobileDesktop Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted. Privacy
Posted on: Wed, 28 May 2014 20:05:32 +0000
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