Restless as Mercury

M. K. Gandhi’s autobiography The Story of My Experiments with Truth is famouslyincomplete stopping abruptly in 1920. But while he gave up writing his memoirsGandhi continued to speak and write about his life family work colleagues thosewho opposed and venerated him his hopes anxieties challenges fasts manyjail stints his enthusiasms and disappointments. When knitted together theseautobiographical observations scattered over several pages of the Collected Worksof Mahatma Gandhi as well as in some works that were published in his lifetimeunder his gaze make for a gripping and powerful story. ‘Restless as mercury’ is howhis only sister Raliyat described the young Mohandas and her stunningly accuratecharacterization of her brother provides the title of this work which GopalkrishnaGandhi has reconstructed from Gandhi’s own words.