NEW DELHI: The three-day whirlwind tour of US President Barack Obama and wife Michelle came to a fitting
end with a grand banquet hosted by President Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Bhawan on Monday evening.
Obama takes back with him not just the experience of India but memorabilia of a leader he has evoked several
times in the past three days. Patil presented the US president with a bust and two books on Mahatma Gandhi
including a photo-biography by German Peter Ruhe and `The Life of Mahatma Gandhi' by US journalist Louis Fischer. ...
In this compelling photo biography,
almost 300 images document Gandhi's incredible story. The fascinating photographs are
primarily drawn from an extraordinary archive compiled by Peter Rühe who has worked
for over 20 years preserving fragile family photographs and bringing together official
and informal collections. In this unprecedented visual survey, 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.'
This 28 minutes video presents footage (unedited film material) of the launch of the Indian edition of Peter
Ruhe's photo biography "Gandhi" by then Indian Home Minister L.K. Advani, held at India International
Center, New Delhi, 25 January 2002. Watch on YouTube
The Reader's Voice:
"A picture equals thousand words. In this collection of
rare photographs of a rare individual history of an idea unfolds. It is also a window
into British India at its last stages. Book itself is tastefully produced and photographs
are of excellent quality. I strongly recommend this book. Gandhi's letter to Hitler
is poignant, particularly in the light of recent developments in the world where war is
looming large."
A reader from Liverpool,
UK
"A brief biography along with the finest, most extensive
collection of Gandhi photos ever published. A real treat."
"This coffee-table publication deserves to be in the
library of every Indian university and embassy abroad. It would be one way of keeping
alive the ideals and principles of the one Indian with whom India is identified more than
by anyone else."
Shanti Karuna,
India
"I have read many books about, and by M.K. Gandhi and
what was lacking, for me, was what Rühe has brought to us - a fantastic pictorial
history. I saw the book advertised in a yoga magazine and I couldn't wait to get
online to order it from Amazon. The book is wonderful. Rühe's love of, and
dedication to Gandhi shines through this book and I wasn't disappointed. I found the
book very inspiring and moving. It helped to consolidate all that I have read about
Gandhi. Otherwise, my image of Gandhi would have remained as a man in a loin cloth with
glasses and a shaven head. The pictures of his younger days are a joy to see. If you also
love Gandhi and his ideals then I recommend that you buy this book and keep it close to
hand. You'll never grow tired of it. If anything, it will inspire you and make you
want to find out more about him. It would also be an excellent choice for a school,
college or university library. For me, the book brought Bapu to life and if I could
praise Rühe in person, I would."
Karen Stringfellow,
UK
"This book is an amazing compilation of photographs,
in chronological order, telling you about the life and philosophy of Gandhi. The pictures
tell the story themselves and help you get a feeling of how things really were and the
true magnitude of the movement for an independent India."
A reader from Albuquerque, New Mexico,
USA
"Excellent book, the photo-biography on Mahatma
Gandhi the Father of India was a real pleasure to read and a wonderful account of his
life told in pictures... "
A reader from Los Angeles, California,
USA
V I D E O (Real) of India launch by Indian Home Minister L.K.
Advani.
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Double click on images for enlargements and captions
