📚 Chapter 07 · Topic 01 · Books & Authors

Books by Indian Freedom Fighters

Important books written by Gandhi, Nehru, Ambedkar, Tilak, Bose, Gokhale, Tagore and other freedom fighters.

📖 Mahatma Gandhi

Book	Key Content
My Experiments with Truth (autobiography)	Gandhi’s life story from childhood to 1921; philosophy of non-violence and truth
Hind Swaraj (1909)	Critique of modern industrial civilisation; advocacy for Indian self-rule through non-violence; written on a ship voyage
The Story of My Experiments with Truth	Same as autobiography — original Gujarati title
Satyagraha in South Africa	Account of Gandhi’s non-violent resistance in South Africa
Key to Health	Gandhi’s views on health, diet, and nature cure

📖 Jawaharlal Nehru

Book	Key Content
The Discovery of India (1946)	India’s history, culture, and philosophy; written at Ahmednagar Fort prison
Glimpses of World History (1934)	World history from ancient times to 1930s; written as letters to daughter Indira Gandhi from prison
An Autobiography (1936)	Nehru’s life and the Indian independence movement; written in prison
Letters from a Father to His Daughter	Letters to young Indira explaining history and nature
India and the World	India’s foreign policy and international relations

📖 B.R. Ambedkar

Book	Key Content
Annihilation of Caste (1936)	Critique of the Hindu caste system; argues for its complete abolition
The Buddha and His Dhamma (1956)	Ambedkar’s interpretation of Buddhism; holy book for Navayana Buddhism
Pakistan or the Partition of India	Analysis of the demand for Pakistan and partition
Who Were the Shudras?	Historical analysis of the origin of the Shudra varna
Thoughts on Pakistan	Earlier version of Pakistan or the Partition of India

📖 Other Freedom Fighters

Author	Book	Key Content
Bal Gangadhar Tilak	Gita Rahasya (Srimad Bhagavadgita Rahasya)	Commentary on Bhagavad Gita emphasising karma yoga; written in Mandalay prison (1910–14)
Bal Gangadhar Tilak	The Arctic Home in the Vedas	Theory that the original home of the Aryans was in the Arctic
Subhas Chandra Bose	The Indian Struggle	History of Indian independence movement 1920–1942
Subhas Chandra Bose	An Indian Pilgrim (autobiography)	Bose’s early life and political journey
Lala Lajpat Rai	Unhappy India	Response to Katherine Mayo’s “Mother India” (1927)
Dadabhai Naoroji	Poverty and Un-British Rule in India	Drain of wealth theory; economic exploitation by British
Rabindranath Tagore	Gitanjali; Gora; The Home and the World; Nationalism	Poetry; novels; essays on nationalism and spirituality
Sarojini Naidu	The Golden Threshold; The Bird of Time; The Broken Wing	Poetry collections; “Nightingale of India”
Vinoba Bhave	Talks on the Gita; Moved by Love	Bhagavad Gita commentary; Bhoodan movement
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad	India Wins Freedom	Account of partition; autobiography

⭐ Nehru’s Prison Writings: Jawaharlal Nehru wrote three of his most important books while in prison: (1) “Glimpses of World History” (1934) — written as letters to Indira Gandhi from Naini Prison; (2) “An Autobiography” (1936) — written in Almora Prison; (3) “The Discovery of India” (1946) — written in Ahmednagar Fort Prison. These books reflect Nehru’s intellectual depth and his vision for India. “The Discovery of India” was later adapted into a TV series “Bharat Ek Khoj” by Shyam Benegal.

✅ Revision Checklist

✅ Gandhi = My Experiments with Truth (autobiography) + Hind Swaraj (1909)
✅ Nehru = Discovery of India (Ahmednagar Fort) + Glimpses of World History + Autobiography
✅ Ambedkar = Annihilation of Caste + The Buddha and His Dhamma + Pakistan or Partition
✅ Tilak = Gita Rahasya (Mandalay prison) + The Arctic Home in the Vedas
✅ Bose = The Indian Struggle + An Indian Pilgrim
✅ Dadabhai Naoroji = Poverty and Un-British Rule in India = drain of wealth
✅ Lala Lajpat Rai = Unhappy India = response to Katherine Mayo
✅ Maulana Azad = India Wins Freedom = partition account
✅ Tagore = Gitanjali + Gora + The Home and the World