| Ages 9 and up
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, known by his followers as Mahatma -- or "great soul" -- was born in India in 1869 and grew up to become one of the most influential and well-respected political and social leaders the world has ever known.
Readers aware of Gandhi's lasting influence may be surprised to learn that he was a small, shy boy and a weak student who barely graduated from high school and failed classes in college. Demi traces his transformation, as a law student in London, into an English gentleman and his years practicing law in South Africa, where he first encountered racism. At that point he became "determined to root out the disease of prejudice," and this would plant the seeds for his life's work. Returning to India, he used nonviolent tactics to fight against its rigid caste system and oppressive British rule.
Gandhi's teachings inspired Martin Luther King's nonviolent civil rights movement in the United States and Nelson Mandela's anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. His philosophies of nonviolence and peaceful protest continue to inspire people around the world. In beautiful language, Demi captures the spirit that was Mahatma Gandhi and pays homage to this great man. The message of this book -- that peaceful love triumphs over violent hatred -- is alone worth its purchase price.
This is the second in a planned series of biographies from National Braille Press. We hope to offer biographies of interesting and inspiring people who will speak to readers of all ages, races and creeds.
Other biographies from NBP:
Mother Teresa
Jesus
A Touch of Genius
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