About Book

Jyotirmaya Sharma critically examines Mahatma Gandhi’s religion of ahimsa (nonviolence), showing how Gandhi’s thought was both deeply rooted in religion and yet entangled in contradictions that continue to shape contemporary debates. The book reveals Gandhi’s nonviolence as not simply a political tactic, but a spiritual and religious creed that sought to transform individuals and societies. Sharma investigates Gandhi’s blending of Hinduism, truth, and moral discipline with political practice. At the same time, he highlights the paradoxes and limitations of Gandhi’s approach—how the idea of ahimsa was interpreted, reshaped, and sometimes undermined by political chaos and historical realities. The book situates Gandhi as a religious innovator whose philosophy continues to inspire but also invites critical reflection in today’s world. This work is highly relevant to GRACE’s mission because it uncovers the religious foundations of nonviolence and critically analyzes their application in real-world struggles. For communities facing radicalization, extremism, and violence, Gandhi’s spiritualized vision of peace provides a model for integrating faith, morality, and politics toward constructive change. Community Engagement Mechanisms include: • Interfaith Dialogues: Using Gandhi’s idea of Hinduism as an “ocean” to encourage respect for pluralism. • Youth Workshops on Ahimsa: Training young people in truth and nonviolence as life principles, not just protest tactics. • Critical Peace Studies: Encouraging debate on the limitations of Gandhi’s thought, preparing communities for practical challenges. • Ethics & Politics Seminars: Bridging religious belief with civic responsibility in counter-radicalization programs. Elusive Nonviolence offers a balanced, critical engagement with Gandhi’s philosophy, neither glorifying nor dismissing him. It adds depth to the repository by showing that nonviolence is both a moral creed and a contested idea, requiring ongoing reinterpretation.Strengths: • Deep scholarly analysis of Gandhi’s philosophy. • Unveils both strengths and contradictions of ahimsa. • Connects religion, politics, and peace in an integrated framework. • Glossary and structure make it accessible to diverse readers. Weaknesses / Limitations: • Critical stance may be challenging for readers expecting a celebratory view of Gandhi. • Focused largely on Gandhi’s Hindu philosophical grounding, with less attention to comparative global traditions. • May feel dense for non-academic audiences.