Professor Sunil Khilnani explores the life and legacy of the Mahatma Gandhi: lawyer, politician and leader of the nationalist movement against British rule in India. He is generally admired outside India, but is the subject of heated debate and contention in his homeland. Some view him as an appeaser of Muslims, and blame him for India’s partition. Others regret Gandhi’s induction of Hindu rhetoric and symbols into Indian nationalism, revile him for his refusal to disavow caste, believe he betrayed the labouring classes, and are appalled at his views on women. “It’s unsurprising that Gandhi provokes such a barrage of attacks,” says Professor Khilnani. “His entire life was an argument – or rather, a series of arguments - with the world.”
Producer: Mark Savage