Kastur: In Gandhi’s Shadow, His Guiding Light

U • History • News

We all know about Mahatma Gandhi’s work, but few know of the role his wife Kasturba played in it. Kasturba was not a mute but was, in fact, a great freedom fighter, a pioneering satyagrahi and often her husband’s chief strategist and harshest critic. All Indians Matter presents a sixpart series, ‘Kastur: In Gandhi’s Shadow, His Guiding Light’, to bring into focus the woman Kasturba really was. Join me, Ashraf Engineer, as I interview Tushar Gandhi, great grandson of Kasturba and the Mahatma, an author, a peace activist and someone who’s striving to keep Gandhi relevant in today’s India. Together, we play back the saga that was Kasturbas life.

Kastur: In Gandhi’s Shadow, His Guiding Light

1 min 2 sec

We all know about Mahatma Gandhis work, but few know of the role his wife Kasturba played in it.Kasturba was not a mute but was, in fact, a great freedom fighter, a pioneering satyagrahi and often her husbands chief strategist and harshest critic. All Indians Matter presents a sixpart series, Kastur: In Gandhis Shadow, His Guiding Light, to bring into focus the woman Kasturba really was. Join me, Ashraf Engineer, as I interview Tushar Gandhi, great grandson of Kasturba and the Mahatma, an author, a peace activist and someone whos striving to keep Gandhi relevant in todays India. Together, we play back the saga that was Kasturbas life.
Kastur: In Gandhi’s Shadow, His Guiding Light – Part 1

1 hr 9 min 12 sec

Mahatma Gandhis life is well documented but not as much effort has been devoted to the woman who influenced him the most his wife, Kastur, or Kasturba as she came to be known. She was an extraordinary woman, who gave up her traditional life to take on great hardship and sacrifice to support her husband. Shes often a mere footnote in history but she was a huge factor in all of Gandhis work and had a larger impact on the Freedom Struggle than most believe. The objective of this series, Kastur: In Gandhis Shadow, His Guiding Light, is to know the woman who was Gandhis greatest constant and harshest critic. Where did she come from What was she like What was it like to live and grow up with Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi And what was her contribution to Indias freedom All Indians Matter speaks to Tushar Gandhi, great grandson of the Mahatma, an author, a peace activist and someone whos striving to keep Gandhi relevant in todays India. Tushar is also writing a book on Kasturba called Kastur Ni Diary.
Kastur: In Gandhi’s Shadow, His Guiding Light – Part 2

54 min

Gandhi set sail for England when he was just 18 years old. Kastur and he were parents by then and they stayed apart for three years. How did Kastur evolve during those years and how did they shape her life This is Part 2 of Kastur: In Gandhis Shadow, His Guiding Light. All Indians Matter speaks to Tushar Gandhi, great grandson of the Mahatma, an author, a peace activist and someone whos striving to keep Gandhi relevant in todays India.
Kastur: In Gandhi’s Shadow, His Guiding Light – Part 3

43 min 30 sec

Gandhi had planned to return to India and his wife Kastur as soon as his legal assignment in South Africa was completed but he stayed back to lead the fight against the move to deprive Indians of their vote. This meant a prolonged separation from Kastur and his growing children. He returned eventually to India and then again to South Africa. This is Part 3 of Kastur: In Gandhis Shadow, His Guiding Light. All Indians Matter speaks to Tushar Gandhi, great grandson of the Mahatma, an author, a peace activist and someone whos striving to keep Gandhi relevant in todays India.
Kastur: In Gandhi’s Shadow, His Guiding Light – Part 5

46 min 20 sec

With satyagraha having been vindicated in South Africa, Gandhi felt free to return to India and fulfil his promise to Gopal Krishna Gokhale to become part of the Freedom Struggle. By his side, as always, was Kasturba. This is Part 5 of Kastur: In Gandhis Shadow, His Guiding Light. All Indians Matter speaks to Tushar Gandhi, great grandson of the Mahatma, an author, a peace activist and someone whos striving to keep Gandhi relevant in todays India.
Kastur: In Gandhi’s Shadow, His Guiding Light – Part 4

1 hr 2 min

Mohandas and Kastur Gandhi returned to India briefly in December 1901. This set off a chain of events that would take them to South Africa once again and eventually culminate in Gandhi devoting himself fully to Indian Independence. This is Part 4 of Kastur: In Gandhis Shadow, His Guiding Light. All Indians Matter speaks to Tushar Gandhi, great grandson of the Mahatma, an author, a peace activist and someone whos striving to keep Gandhi relevant in todays India.
Kastur: In Gandhi’s Shadow, His Guiding Light – Part 6

47 min 17 sec

Kasturba, as weve seen, was an extraordinary woman, someone who drove Mahatma Gandhi to become what he did. In the concluding part of this series, we trace her final days and hours, and try to understand her better. This is the concluding part of the series Kastur: In Gandhis Shadow, His Guiding Light. All Indians Matter speaks to Tushar Gandhi, great grandson of the Mahatma, an author, a peace activist and someone whos striving to keep Gandhi relevant in todays India.