Gandhi: A Photo Biography

This is an amazing record of the life of one of the most inspiring figures of the twentieth century, with over 300 photographs drawn from a comprehensive visual archive compiled over 12 years.

In one of the most extraordinary lives ever lived, Mahatma Gandhi (18691948) effected tremendous political change and wielded enormous influence. His teachings on non-violence elevated him in the eyes of many to the status of a saint. Among those profoundly influenced by his philosophy of peaceful resistance was Martin Luther King Jr, who adopted Gandhi's methods in his own struggle for civil rights. In Peter Rhe's book, Gandhi's life is told by means of an extraordinary collection of nearly 300 photographs, many never seen before. These pictures document Gandhi's early life in India, his law studies in London, his work in South Africa, and his return to lead the struggle for Indian independence, which won him the title of 'father of the nation'. We can see the sweep of world politics and the struggles of the poor in the life of one man whose impact on the world is matched by few in the history of mankind. As Albert Einstein said: 'Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.'

Peter Ruhe lives in Berlin and Mumbai, India. He is a specialist in the conservation of visual material depicting Gandhi and has worked on numerous television productions and multimedia events across the world. He is the founder of Gandhiserve, a registered charity that aims to teach others about Gandhi's life and work and has contributed to the establishment of the Gandhi Information Centre in Berlin. In 1992 Ruhe was recognized by the Gujarati Writer's Association in Rajkot, India, for his astonishing support of Gandhi. Ruhe's over-arching aim is to assimilate first-hand information about Gandhi and India's freedom movement in order that, accordingly, he may help the owners of any valuable material to maintain and make available their treasured films, letters, photographs and documents.