Gandhi's other great trial & Manu Gandhi

Among all Gandhians or associates of Mahatma Gandhi, Mridula Gandhi (1927-1969) stands out. Manu, as she was known, was with Gandhi when he faced his most acute inner crisis.

- Ashish Mehta

She was with him when it resolved to give him a "clear glimpse of truth and purity". She was a partner, on equal terms, in his final yajna (sacrifice), and she was with him when he breathed his last. Yet, Manu had remained something of an enigma.

The mystery around her was partly due to a set of diaries she maintained during the two periods of her stay with Gandhi. Much of its content had not been in the public domain, but they came to be lodged in the National Archives of India about a decade ago. They have been published in two volumes, the first in 2019 and the second recently. This may be the most awaited event in the world of Gandhian scholarship in our times. The Diary of Manu Gandhi (NAI and Oxford University Press), edited and translated from Gujarati by Tridip Suhrud, enhances our understanding of Gandhi's sadhana, and also helps us appreciate Manu's contribution to it, as a witness and a collaborator.