Skip to main content

Primary sourceBook1924

Sermon on the Sea

Mahatma Gandhi · 1924

A 1924 published edition of Gandhi's own sermon, with an introduction by John Haynes Holmes.

This published sermon preserves Gandhi's own words as presented to an international readership.

Ask Mahatma Gandhi about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
Front cover of an orange hardcover book titled 'Sermon on the Sea' in large dark letters, with decorative bird and wave illustrations and a dark box reading 'By Mahatma Gandhi'. A library barcode label reading 'UC-NRLF' is affixed at the top left.
Mohandas K. Gandhi, Sermon on the Sea, introduction by John Haynes Holmes, ed. Haridas T. Muzumdar. Chicago: Universal Publishing Co., 1924.

About this source

What it is

This is a book titled 'Sermon on the Sea', written by Mohandas K. Gandhi and published in 1924 by Universal Publishing Co. in Chicago. It includes an introduction by John Haynes Holmes and was edited by Haridas T. Muzumdar.

Why it matters

This text shows how Gandhi's ideas reached an international audience through publishers and editors who admired him, such as Holmes, an American minister and civil rights advocate. It reflects the spread of Gandhi's moral and spiritual teachings beyond India.

Look closer

  • Why might an American publisher choose to print Gandhi's sermon with an introduction by an American minister?
  • What do the illustrations on the cover suggest about how the book was marketed?
  • What might be lost or changed when a sermon is edited and published for a foreign audience?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Mahatma Gandhi on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

More Mahatma Gandhi sources

Meet the AI Mahatma Gandhi →
Cover of the 1910 English edition of Indian Home Rule by M. K. Gandhi, a translation of Hind Swaraj, printed by the International Printing Press in Phoenix, Natal. Text reads 'No Rights Reserved'.Book

Primary source

Hind Swaraj

Mahatma Gandhi · 1909

Indian postage stamp marked INDIA 500 and 2017, titled 1942 FREEDOM MOVEMENT. It shows a black-and-white portrait of Mahatma Gandhi seated, bare-chested and wrapped in a cloth. Beside him is a quotation: 'The mantra is: Do or Die. We shall either free India or die in the attempt; we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery.' Attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, August 8, 1942.Speech

Primary source

Quit India speech

Mahatma Gandhi · 8 August 1942

Cover of a brown paper pamphlet titled 'The Great Trial of Mahatma Gandhi & Mr. Banker'. A white library label reads A 842,495. A boxed 'Message for India' quote is printed in the middle. The publisher is Ganesh & Co., Madras. The cover is torn at the edges and has a yellow dot and a Google watermark at the bottom.Document

Primary source

Great Trial of 1922

March 1922

Black-and-white film frame. On the left, title card reads 'Breaking the Salt Law at Dandi' with the number 3. On the right, a photo shows a bent-over man in light clothing picking up salt from the ground, with people in white standing behind him.Photograph

Primary source

Photograph of Gandhi picking up salt at Dandi

Unknown press photographer · 6 April 1930

Speech

Primary source

Spiritual Message to the World

Mohandas K. Gandhi · 17 October 1931

Ready when you are

Start chatting with Mahatma Gandhi now.

20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.

Trial Humy for freeGet a quote for institutions