Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World

Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World, 1914–1948 is a non-fiction book by Indian historian Ramachandra Guha (born 1958), published by Penguin Random House in September 2018. One of the most extensive biographies on the sole icon of the Indian independence movement, Mahatma Gandhi, it has garnered wide recognition and accolades. The book runs in excess of 1100 pages.

Spanning the years from 1914 to 1948, the biography covers Gandhi's return to India from South Africa and his transformation into a mass leader of India's freedom movement. Guha meticulously chronicles Gandhi's leadership in campaigns such as the Non-cooperation movement, the Salt March, and the Quit India Movement, offering insight into his philosophy of satyagraha and nonviolence. The book also delves into his conflicts with contemporaries like B. R. Ambedkar and Subhas Chandra Bose, portraying Gandhi as a deeply principled yet complex figure.

A distinguishing feature of the book is its rigorous use of archival material, including newly uncovered letters, memoirs, and official documents. Guha’s scholarship benefits from years of research across archives in India, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. This foundation allows the book to challenge several myths surrounding Gandhi, particularly those propagated by his critics or simplistically hagiographic portrayals. His personal life, including his controversial experiments in celibacy and his strained relationships with his sons, is examined with care and context.

The biography is considered a sequel to Guha’s earlier work, Gandhi Before India (2013), which focused on Gandhi’s formative years in London and South Africa. Together, the two volumes form what many scholars regard as the most comprehensive account of Gandhi’s life to date. Guha's writing blends narrative history with political analysis, positioning the book as both a scholarly reference and a literary achievement.

Beyond the narrative, Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World explores Gandhi’s enduring legacy, both within India and globally. Guha examines how Gandhi’s influence extended to figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Aung San Suu Kyi. The biography ends with Gandhi’s assassination in 1948, framing it as not just a national tragedy but a pivotal moment in world history. The book’s epilogue reflects on the contested nature of Gandhi’s memory in contemporary Indian politics.