The Story of My Experiments with Truth · Chapters

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Chapter companions for The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi.

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Chapter 1
Translator's Preface
The translator describes the fortunate accident of being tasked with translating Gandhi's autobiography into English for Young India. He acknowledges the translation's imperfections but notes that the author himself carefully revised the meaning, and Shrimati Miraben (Miss Madeleine Slade) revised the language. The preface is dated 1 August 1927 from Satyagrahashram.
Chapter 2
Part I
Gandhi begins his autobiography, introducing his early life, family background, and the beginning of his experiments with truth. He reflects on his childhood, his marriage to Kasturbai, and his early education, setting the stage for his lifelong pursuit of self-discipline and truth.
Chapter 3
Birth and Parentage
Gandhi introduces his family lineage, describing his grandfather Uttamchand Gandhi and his father Karamchand Gandhi (Kaba Gandhi), a principled and truthful man who served as Prime Minister in several Kathiawad states. He also portrays his mother Putlibai as deeply religious, saintly, and disciplined in her vows. Gandhi reflects on his own birth in Porbandar in 1869 and his early schooling, noting his sluggish intellect and poor memory.
Chapter 4
Childhood
Gandhi recounts his early school years in Rajkot, his mediocrity as a student, his shyness, and his strict honesty. He describes an incident where he refused to copy a spelling during an inspection, and the profound impact of the plays 'Shravana Pitribhakti Nataka' and 'Harishchandra' on his moral development.
Chapter 5
Child Marriage
Gandhi recounts his marriage at the age of thirteen, describing the circumstances, his feelings at the time, and the lasting regret he feels. He details the triple wedding arranged by his elders for convenience and economy, his father's accident on the way to the ceremony, and the innocent yet fateful beginning of his married life.

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Translator's Preface

Part I

Birth and Parentage

Childhood

Child Marriage