The Story of My Experiments with Truth · Character

Putlibai Gandhi

Gandhi's mother, whose fasting, vows, and quiet devotion planted the seeds of his lifelong hunger for self-purification.

supporting

First appearance: Birth and Parentage

As a supporting figure in The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Putlibai Gandhi is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Gandhi's mother, known for her religious devotion and influence on his early life.

In the storyPart IOpen this moment free

Putlibai, Kaba Gandhi's fourth wife, raised her youngest son in a household saturated with vows, fasts, and visits to temples, her religiosity unshowy but absolute. Her willingness to keep difficult vows, even when it worried her family, modeled a form of discipline Gandhi would later remake as satyagraha. She is the quiet origin of his conviction that truth and self-denial are inseparable, a thread running from Porbandar to the ashrams.

See Putlibai Gandhi in Part I Book page

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Character Web

1 connection

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Relationship types

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Character groups

Diverse associates and followers
South African merchant supporters

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak of Gandhi’s physical…

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In the story

Putlibai Gandhi appears across 10 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Part I
Gandhi's mother, known for her religious devotion and influence on his early life.
Birth and Parentage
Gandhi's mother, deeply religious and saintly, known for her strict observance of vows and fasts, and her strong common sense.
A Tragedy
Implied as part of the staunch Vaishnava family traditions that Gandhi feared to betray.
Glimpses of Religion
Gandhi's mother, who visited temples and exposed him to various religious traditions.
Preparation for England
Gandhi's mother, initially reluctant but eventually gives permission after he takes vows.
Outcaste
Gandhi's mother, who gives her permission and blessings for his voyage.
Experiments in Dietetics
Gandhi's mother; her definition of meat (including eggs) is cited as binding on his vow.
XXI: निर्बल के बल राम
Referenced through the vow Gandhi took before his mother, which helped him resist temptation.
Raychandbhai
Gandhi's mother, whose death during his time in England was kept from him until his return.
Result of Introspection
Implied in the context of family responsibilities, though not directly named.

Chapter companion notes

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See Putlibai Gandhi in Birth and Parentage

See Putlibai Gandhi in Part I