Book review
It is 1925 and India's struggle for independence is in disarray, impeded by factionalism among its leaders and rising incidents of communal disharmony across the country. Meanwhile, having withdrawn himself from active politics, the Mahatma is in the Sabarmati ashram in Gujarat, immersed in what he considers the most important undertaking of his life: the creation of an ideal community that is dedicated to the highest standards of self-discipline, tolerance and austerity. Into this world comes Madeline Slade, the daughter of a British admiral, who has set her heart on being Bapu's greatest disciple.

Thus begins an extraordinary association between two individuals driven by distinct passions. For Gandhi, true spirituality lies in `self-rule'—a mastery of the self that liberates the being from all forms of craving, physical and emotional—and total dedication to practical work in service of society; Mira, as Gandhi renames Madeline, believes that the path to ultimate truth and perfection is complete surrender to the human embodiment of the Eternal Spirit, and this she perceives in Gandhi himself.

It is not long before Mira's all-consuming desire to serve Bapu translates into a desperate need to be close to him at all times and clashes head on with the exacting moral and spiritual codes he has laid down for himself and those around him. And as the self-doubting Mahatma, seeking to distance himself from Mira yet loath to let go of her love, wrestles with his inner phantoms, Mira's life begins to take another dramatic turn...

In his bold, fictionalized exploration of this complex and tumultuous relationship, Sudhir Kakar displays once again his skill at handling delicate material with remarkable sensitivity, instinctive empathy and high imagination.


Press Review(s) for Mira and the Mahatma

'Kakar excels in turning his cultural and spiritual heritage into a narrative of identity.' — India Today



About the author Sudhir Kakar is a distinguished psychoanalyst and writer. His critically acclaimed novels, The Ascetic of Desire and Ecstasy, published by Penguin in India, have been translated into several languages around the world. He lives with his wife Katha, a writer, in Goa.