Gujarat Government bans Joseph Lelyveld's book on Mahatma Gandhi

Published By : Admin | March 30, 2011 | 05:30 IST

Joseph Lelyveld’s book ‘Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle With India’ received a strong condemnation from the Chief Minister and the Gandhi followers in Gujarat.

Shri Modi demanded a public apology from the author and the publisher of the book. “The writing is perverse in nature. It has hurt the sentiments of those with capacity for sane and logical thinking”, the Chief Minister said announcing the ban on the book.

On his blog, Shri Modi said, “Mahatma Gandhi’s life and work have always been analyzed. But recently a foreign author named Joseph Lelyveld has portrayed Mahatma Gandhi with abnormal and outrageous mentality in his book. I express my rebuke regarding the same”.

He said, “We take great pride and honor to have such legendary leaders of the Indian legacy and hence the depiction about Mahatma Gandhi made by Joseph Lelyveld deserves to be despised. We wish that the author and the publisher of the book accept their mistake and render a public apology. This shall not be tolerated under any circumstances. Government of Gujarat has already decided to completely ban the book.”

“I believe, considering the agitation of people in India, even the Central Government shall announce ban on the book with immediate effect”, he said.

Explore More
শ্রী রাম জন্মভূমি মন্দিরের ধ্বজারোহণ উৎসবে প্রধানমন্ত্রীর বক্তব্যের বাংলা অনুবাদ

জনপ্রিয় ভাষণ

শ্রী রাম জন্মভূমি মন্দিরের ধ্বজারোহণ উৎসবে প্রধানমন্ত্রীর বক্তব্যের বাংলা অনুবাদ
Third India-Nordic Summit: Nordic nations to invest $100 bn in 15 years

Media Coverage

Third India-Nordic Summit: Nordic nations to invest $100 bn in 15 years
NM on the go

Nm on the go

Always be the first to hear from the PM. Get the App Now!
...
Prime Minister shares a Sanskrit Subhashitam emphasising that well-ordered standards must guide human conduct
May 20, 2026

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today shared a Sanskrit Subhashitam, noting that righteous conduct is like a lamp that illuminates not only an individual but the entire society. Shri Modi highlighted that adopting this very ideal, the people of our country are engaged in nation-building today with complete restraint, capability, and devotion to duty.

The Prime Minister posted on X:

"श्रेष्ठ आचरण वह दीपक है, जिससे व्यक्ति के साथ-साथ समाज भी आलोकित होता है। इसी आदर्श को अपनाते हुए हमारे देशवासी आज पूरे संयम, सामर्थ्य और कर्तव्यनिष्ठा से राष्ट्र निर्माण में जुटे हुए हैं।

तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ।
ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि।।"

The determination of what ought to be done and what ought not to be done should not rest upon subjective opinion or momentary impulse but upon a well-ordered standard grounded in the Śāstra, which imparts direction and discipline to conduct. Therefore, a person ought to act in accordance with that established system of standards, so that one's conduct becomes balanced, validated and meaningful.