Epilogue. Gandhi’s Legacy and the Historical Gaze

In this collection of essays, certain old debates about Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘true’ nature – such as whether he was saint or an astute/disastrous politician, and a practical idealist or an impractical utopist – are no longer placed at the centre of scholarly attention. Till not long ago, attempts at evaluation of the Mahatma’s historical significance have largely aimed at singling out some particular definitions as hermeneutical keys enabling to bring the many aspects of his ideas, experiences and programmes within one all-encompassing scheme. What has replaced this search for unilateral definitions is an interesting study in contrast and comparison between India and other countries, combined with a new reading of Gandhi’s relevance in his times and later.